The Government intends to spend a record $24.3 billion on transport through to 2024, nearly double what it did in the last three years, and with 30 percent going to Auckland.
The big spend-up comes despite Transport Minister Michael Wood telling Parliament's Transport and Infrastructure Committee last month that COVID-19 will have a significant impact on funding.
The 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) was released on Tuesday which outlines the planned investments Waka Kotahi-NZ Transport Agency will make over the next three years.
The $24.3 billion includes $15.6 billion from the NLTF and $4.6 billion from local councils. The Government will also invest $3.8 million in additional funding to deliver specific programmes through the NLTP.
Wood acknowledged last month that the NLTP, the three-year transport investment programme which is funded through petrol taxes and road user charges, is under financial pressure.
Waka Kotahi-NZ Transport Agency chief executive Nicole Rosie revealed to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee that the organisation was bleeding $40 million per week due to the lockdown.
But the Government is ambitious, planning to spend nearly 40 percent more on public transport in the next three years, with nearly $6 billion being invested in it, alongside walking and cycling.
Wood said in a press statement that the NLTP will drive the economic recovery from COVID-19 by supporting thousands of jobs across the country.
Areas of funding:
- $7 billion for local road and state highway maintenance
- $6 billion for public transport and walking and cycling
- $3.9 billion for road improvements and resilience
- $2 billion to boost road maintenance and public transport
- $2.9 billion for the Road to Zero road safety plan
- $1.3 billion to implement the NZ Rail Plan
- $30 million to support coastal shipping
Regional spending:
- $751 million for Northland
- $7.3 billion for Auckland
- $1.5 billion for Waikato
- $447 million for Taranaki
- $1.4 billion for Bay of Plenty
- $209 million for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti
- $376 million for Hawke's Bay
- $1.3 billion for Manawatū-Whanganui
- $3.1 billion for Wellington
- $289 million for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough
- $178 million for West Coast
- $1.2 billion for Canterbury
- $1.1 billion for Otago and Southland
