Artist impression of light rail outside Wellington Railway Station. Image / LGWM
Artist impression of light rail outside Wellington Railway Station. Image / LGWM
OPINION
Wellington's multi-billion-dollar transport plan needs special legislation and decision making with backbone to haul its timeframe out of never-never-land.
That could be done with special legislation for mass rapid transit, a second Mt Victoria tunnel, and the extension of the Arras tunnel to sort out the Basin Reserve choke point.
An artist's impression of the possible grade separation at the Basin Reserve. Image / LGWM
This is how the Arras tunnel got built in the first place.
Pukeahu National War Memorial Park was the Government's key project to commemorate the centenary of World War I.
It was to be built in time for Anzac Day 25 April 2015, which marked 100 years since the landings at Gallipoli.
The work to construct the Arras tunnel and National War Memorial Park was a significant challenge.
Part of State Highway 1 had to be placed underground and special legislation was passed with consents and rules to make it possible to meet a tight deadline of two and a half years.
That legislation was called the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Act.
It's not out of the question that something similar could be put in place for Let's Get Wellington Moving, but a fast tracked consenting process alone is not enough to get the project moving.
Parties to the transport project, being Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council, and Waka Kotahi NZTA, would also have to be prepared to allocate more expenditure in the earlier years of their budgets.
Politically, that could be challenging because it would mean a nasty surprise in rates bills.
Artist impression of bus rapid transit at Post Office Square. Image / LGWM
But keeping rates down is partly to blame for the poor infrastructure we're stuck with today whether that's three waters or transport.
Besides, it will only get more expensive to build the longer the city waits and Wellington has already been waiting an extraordinarily long time for a modern solution to its transport network.
A graphic outlining the history of Let's Get Wellington Moving was published as part of a proactive release of documents following last week's announcement.
It's a painful reminder of how long the city has been talking but not doing. It starts with the release of the Ngauranga to airport study in 2007 spiralling all the way to the current round of consultation.
A history of Let's Get Wellington Moving. Image / LGWM
There's a sense of déjà vu because in November 2017 the public was being consulted on four scenarios for Wellington's transport future.
Fast forward to the present day and Wellingtonians are again being asked to provide feedback on four options to transform Wellington's transport network.
It really makes you wonder what on earth officials were doing in between. The fact that none of the latest four options has light rail running to the airport suggests officials spent a lot of time throwing out average ideas and replacing them with good ones.
Artist impression of bus rapid transit at Post Office Square. Image / LGWM
On announcing the latest options, acting programme director David Dunlop said they were in the investigative stage, next there will be a detailed investigation, followed by a detailed design.
"Through each of these phases there will be engagement, this won't be the last engagement."
Dunlop appeared to say this out of reassurance, but it was also mildly horrifying.
The public has been consulted on Let's Get Wellington Moving for so many years now it would be really good if the city's political leaders just made a decision and stuck with it.
For that reason, the project cannot risk being left to endure multiple election cycles before spades are in the ground.
Putting criticism to one side, the options presented to the public last week are quite promising.
The plan now considers the opportunities to build more houses, pedestrians and cyclists will no longer be squeezed through Mt Victoria, new public transport will serve Wellingtonians not just visitors. A big concrete flyover is no longer proposed for the Basin Reserve.
But all this has taken too long already - there's a sense Wellingtonians will believe it when they see it.
Construction must start sooner than 2028.
Senior Wellington journalist Georgina Campbell's fortnightly column looks closely at issues in the capital.
