Thursday, July 18, 2013

John Minto: free and frequent buses cheaper than road projects

NZ Herald News: "We all know the problems with Auckland traffic, but the Government's solution - roads, roads and more roads with a smaller chunk for public transport in seven years' time - is a dead-end answer from the 1950s.

Mana's solution is free and frequent buses and trains with free WiFi, which would all cost less than half the proposed spending on big roading projects. Most importantly, it would deliver gridlock-free travel in less than 12 months. No rates increases, no extra fuel taxes, no road tolls, just two great choices - travel on free public transport without traffic congestion or drive a car on gridlock-free roads. The choice is yours. And we'd be helping the environment at the same time. Fifty-six per cent of Auckland's greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and trucks. Public transport is far cleaner and greener and would significantly reduce Auckland's carbon footprint."