News release
20 April 2005

Western Corridor draft report released

An integrated transportation plan for the Western Corridor ' from Ngauranga Gorge to Peka Peka ' moved a step closer today with the release of a draft report on a range of transport solutions.

The draft report has yet to be received and considered by the Transit New Zealand Board and Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Five initial scenarios (below) have been developed in draft form from the findings of the first stage of the Western Corridor Transportation Study - a joint Greater Wellington Regional Council and Transit New Zealand project.

In this first stage all potentially interested parties including the general public were asked their views on issues, transport alternatives and options for the corridor.

The study aims to come up with a final package of short, medium and long-term solutions to ease traffic congestion and to provide safer, more efficient and more reliable transport options along the western corridor.

This plan forms part of the Wellington Regional Land Transport Strategy 2005-2015 and will include a 20-year costed programme of improvements, along with strategies to manage travel demand.

The five scenarios cover markedly different approaches to the solution, including canvassing the debate of whether to pursue Transmission Gully or upgrade the existing highway corridor.

Specifically, they target:

· Passenger transport and travel demand management
· Roading
· Improved reliability
· Congestion relief
· Project efficiency

Greater Wellington Regional Land Transport Committee Chair Cr Terry McDavitt says these were initial scenarios designed to inform how distinctly different proposals will perform against the study's objectives.
'It is certain that none of these scenarios as outlined will be the preferred package. The preferred package will be determined by further technical work and feedback generated by the release of the report and will most probably constitute elements from most if not all of these scenarios,' he says.
The release of the options triggers the next stage of the study ' an invitation to the public to have their say. A month-long round of consultation will get underway next week and feedback from this process will form the basis of a draft corridor implementation plan. Details regarding the consultation process will be made available, information distributed and open days are planned.

'We need public opinion throughout every stage of the project because it must meet the regional, as well as national, needs,' says Cr McDavitt.

'This study takes a long-term perspective, in accordance with the Land Transport Management Act, which requires thorough investigation, consultation and review. This study is providing us with the best opportunity to consider all transport modes in an integrated way.'

Transit Chief Executive Rick van Barneveld says that there was obviously much interest in the state highway options for the corridor.

'It is important to note that while the preliminary costings for a coastal expressway may appear to be a cheaper solution than Transmission Gully, this is not necessarily the case.

'There is a significant cost risk that major social and environmental mitigation, including potentially more expensive options, could be required on the coastal route ' particularly for the Mana Bypass and Centennial Highway ' and this could erode the cost difference. I expect this will be a significant issue for the Transit Board to consider before endorsing a final report,' he says.

Cr McDavitt says the whole corridor is under review and there is also much that can be achieved north and south of this area.

'We need to consider where any package would fit and what could be mixed and matched to provide the best outcome for communities. There needs to be a multi-modal approach so we come up with an affordable solution to take us into the future.'

Greater Wellington and Transit are asking the public to look at the whole range of options and become familiar with them before any decisions are made on a preferred way forward.

ENDS

For more information, please contact

Cr Terry McDavitt
Chair Regional Land Transport
Greater Wellington Regional Council

P 938 7036
E tmcdavitt@paradise.net.nz

Rick van Barneveld,
Chief Executive
Transit New Zealand

Phone: (04) 496 6601

ENDS

Questions and Answers on the Western Corridor Study

· Is this the definitive package of solutions or are there more that will be considered'

These are initial scenarios designed to inform us how distinctly different proposals will perform against the study's objectives. It is absolutely certain that none of these scenarios as outlined will be the preferred package. The preferred package will be determined by further technical work and feedback generated by the release of this report and will most probably constitute elements from most, if not all, of these scenarios.

· If so what are the other solutions likely to be considered'

As above - recombining elements from the five scenarios.

· Is this study more about affordability or safety or efficiency and reliability'

It's not more about affordability but obviously that is a key factor as it always is in any New Zealand infrastructure project.

· What is Planned Balance Sheet weighting' I understand this is a technical tool ' what is it and why was it used'

Legislation now requires that transport proposals should contribute to a set of objectives rather than a single outcome. Examples of such objectives are shown in the New Zealand Transport Strategy and the Wellington Regional Land Transport Strategy. This requires proposals to be formulated against a multiple objective context. A Planning Balance Sheet (PBS) is a tool to assess proposals against multiple objectives. A PBS enables competing proposals to be compared as a matrix of performance against objectives so that the trade-off of objectives in going from one proposal to another is made explicit.
· Once you do decide on an option how is it going to be paid for'

Any preferred package will be very expensive and how it can be funded will only be resolved with the co-operation of central government, regional and local councils and Transit and Land Transport New Zealand over the coming months.

· You say in the media release that the coastal option could cost as much as Transmission Gully. How can that be'

While a coastal option could be cheaper from a pure roading perspective you have to look at all the factors. Both Transit and Greater Wellington believe that once you seek community views on the level of impact of the coastal route issues will be raised such as: would any road or rail corridor go through the Ngati Toa Domain' An elevated viaduct could be needed around Goat Point and possibly a double-decker roadway along part of Centennial Highway. A coastal route would take longer to build than TGM but could be constructed in stages. Once you started on a TGM option you would need to keep going. It wouldn't be efficient to build it in stop-start stages.

· Isn't Transmission Gully Motorway gold plated' Couldn't you build just a two-lane road for half the price'

Because of the steep grades and difficult terrain, much of Transmission Gully needs to be at least three lanes from an operational point of view to allow slower traffic lanes. A four-lane motorway also provides much greater safety and allows better access for emergency vehicles than a two-lane road. Because of the difficult terrain and ground conditions, the additional cost of the two extra lanes is estimated at only 10-20% more than a two-lane option.

· How will this affect my rates'

At this stage we cannot give a clear picture on any impact on rates, as it will be dependent on the shape of the preferred package.

· Don't such improvements encourage people to live further out and commute in their big vehicles'

The impact on urban dispersion is an element of the decision-making framework but not the only element. Travel Demand Management is an active component of these scenarios and our assessment is that it will be an important element in the consultation process.

· There are lots of improvements currently going on along this corridor. Will they predetermine the option selected'

No they won't. The fact they were funded shows they were good projects in and of themselves so that the work will not be wasted whatever solution is ultimately chosen.

· Will the changes mean a safer access in and out of Wellington along the coastal highway'

Safety is an important objective of this study and we are confident that the preferred package selected will improve safety in the corridor.

· What will be the social and environmental impacts on the Kapiti coast and environs in general'

Social and environmental considerations are also one of the assessment criteria in this study. As a result we are confident that impacts on the environment will be carefully considered alongside the consequences of doing nothing.

Following the second round of consultation the likelihood of obtaining planning consents and the possible mitigation required will be assessed. A costed risk profile will be developed for each element.

· You've done lots of studies in the past and nothing has happened. How can we be sure that this time something will happen'

We can't provide assurances but there is a great willingness among all the parties involved to find a fundable solution. This is the most comprehensive and multi-modal study to date and we are confident we have teased out all the options though further work on variations will certainly come out of the public consultation. We remain open to hearing any new options.

· You say it is comprehensive but it is a very drawn out process. When will it finish'

It may seem that way but we do need to hear from everyone who wants to have meaningful input. We need to give everyone a chance to comment. We will live with the solution for a long time so we need to get it right.

· What happens once all this consulting and talking is over' When will the decision be taken'

The study target is for a clear way forward to be determined by the end of this year.