Government's transport plan confirms Hawke's Bay's fears, National's Lawrence Yule says

Local MP Lawrence Yule says new transport announcement confirms Hawke's Bay's worst fears. Photo / File

Tukituki MP Lawrence Yule says the Government's National Land Transport Plan confirms Hawke's Bay's worst fears.

"This year will be the first of three rounds of fuel tax increases that will hit Hawke's Bay families hard and increase our cost of living.

"This reaffirms the Government's priority to fund large projects in Auckland at the expense of regions like Hawke's Bay."

Transport Minister Phil Twyford has unveiled a $16 billion transport package, which includes $4b to boost road safety.

Twyford said Labour would deliver a "safer and better connected system" that would reduce the number of "friends and family" killed on New Zealand roads.

"This record investment in our transport system will help grow our regions, make it easier to get around our cities, and save lives on our roads," he said.

"It will deliver the best results for our transport dollar."

Nearly $4b would be spent on public transport, rapid transit, and rail services to ease congestion and make the cities healthier places to live.

Roads to receive safety upgrades will include Dome Valley, Drury to Paerata, Waihi to Tauranga, and the Hawke's Bay Expressway.

A total of $4.3b will be spent on programmes and projects "that will save lives by preventing accidents or reducing their severity".

Blackspots, high risk intersections, safe level crossings, passing lanes and anti-skid surfaces would be a focus.

"This will include revamping intersections to stop collisions, installing median barriers in high-risk areas, and increasing road policing,"

However, Yule claimed Twyford's priority was the new trams system in the Auckland city centre.

"Despite Mr Twyford's claims the regions will see 'record investment,' the major investment in his transport policy is major new trams in Auckland being paid for by cuts to regional highway projects and tax increases.

"National's plans would have seen investment in the Hawke's Bay that would have supported our future growth and made our roads safer."