Transport: Commute agenda shapes up as battle of roads vs rail

National's policy launch coincided with rush-hour traffic on the opening day of the new tunnel. Photo / Richard Robinson

National's strategists should perhaps have taken note of warning signs and advertisements before releasing their transport policy on opening day for Auckland's new motorway tunnel.

Especially as their campaign chairman, Transport Minister Steven Joyce, presided over one of the region's biggest jams three summers ago by declaring the Northern Gateway toll road free for its first two days.

Now - as then - the Transport Agency has been urging drivers to be careful and patient as they queue to reach the new tunnel in peak-hour traffic in which delays of more than 30 minutes were reported on opening day.

That was when two lanes through the tunnel - the first of the Government's seven Roads of National Significance - were opened to traffic.

"Victoria Park Tunnel is opening this weekend - expect delays ..." said agency newspaper advertising.

Prudent campaign planners should perhaps have taken it as an omen not to count their chickens too early.

"With the opening of the completed Victoria Park tunnel for the first time today, it is timely to look forward and start assessing additional opportunities to upgrade our roading network," Mr Joyce said in releasing National's transport policy.

But as he promised to put National's foot to the pedal in evaluating four more projects as possible Roads of National Significance, Labour was promoting itself as a public transport party, vowing to pull the tarmac rug from under "unnecessary" highway projects which it says would lock New Zealand into a high-carbon future.

It has taken a big swing at the Government's flagship roading programme, vowing to ditch the so-called "holiday highway" between Puhoi and Wellsford and to use $1.2 billion of the $1.7 billion price tag to pay a half-share of an inner-Auckland rail tunnel.

Labour and the Greens have borrowed policy from a Campaign for Better Transport proposal for the highway to be abandoned in favour of allocating $320 million for a Warkworth bypass and safety improvements to the existing State Highway 1 heading north.

Although Labour also wants trains and coastal shipping to carry far more freight, it promises to keep investing in "vital" roading such as an east-west heavy traffic corridor from East Tamaki to Onehunga, a priority of Auckland business leaders.

The Greens want a moratorium on big new urban highways, and for the money to go on "more sustainable" projects such as regional transport centres and walking and cycling infrastructure to be fully paid for by the Government.

National is accusing Labour of planning to abandon projects promising economic growth and of reversing its own initiative before the 2008 election in dedicating all fuel taxes to the national land transport fund.

It says Labour would also sabotage KiwiRail's $4.6 billion "turnaround" plan, to which the Government is contributing $750 million, by requiring rolling stock to be bought at a premium to support local jobs.

But Labour, which bought KiwiRail back from private ownership before losing office, says National is squandering an opportunity for rail to play a bigger role in building a more sustainable New Zealand.

Highlights

National
Evaluate four more highway projects to add to the seven-strong Roads of National Significance programme. Complete Auckland rail electrification.

Labour
Oppose widening Roads of National Significance programme. Scrap $1.7b 'holiday highway'.

Greens
Up to 100 per cent funding for public transport, cycling and walking and regional transport centres.

Act
Avoid locking into "large and inflexible" transport investments.

Maori Party
Affordable and comprehensive public transport with $1-a-day fares.

Mana
Spend fuel taxes on reducing environmental effects of transport.

United Future
Support public-private partnerships for urgent highway projects that the community backs.