The government’s 3-year transport spending plan is out. Where’s all the cash going? Surprise, surpise it’s state highways. We’re going to spend $1.5 billion a year on state highways and just $300 million on public transport.
Meanwhile, oil’s above $US70 a barrel and staying there, petrol is pushing $1.70 a litre – the highest it’s been since the 2008 spike, and people aren’t buying cars – new registrations are down 45% in two years – while buses and trains are bursting at the seams with commuters.
Not only is the government displaying a total lack of commitment to cutting carbon emissions from transport, which could easily be done with public transport investment, they’re spending the money on projects that will be white elephants in the years to come.
Finally, you gotta love this:
This is the largest land transport investment in New Zealand’s history, and it represents a 17 per cent increase from the previous three-year period,” NZTA chairman Brian Roche said.
How dumb do they think we are? It’s always going to be a record spend if you don’t account for inflation and population growth. 17% minus 10% inflation over the last three years minus 3% population growth. So a 4% increase in real per person terms. Hmm. Not so impressive now eh?
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