Lobby group pushes for rail station-Miramar light rail

13:52, Dec 10 2017
An artist's impression of what light rail would look like on Wellington's waterfront quays. The proposed route would go from Wellington Railway Station to Miramar, via the CBD and airport.
FIT WELLINGTON/SUPPLIED
An artist's impression of what light rail would look like on Wellington's waterfront quays. The proposed route would go from Wellington Railway Station to Miramar, via the CBD and airport.

The light rail debate appears set to heat up again in Wellington, with a lobby group urging planners to put the option firmly on the table among its proposals to fix traffic congestion.

The Let's Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) working group put out four scenarios for public feedback in November, as it continues to look at ways to ease congestion between the airport and the Ngauranga Gorge.

The idea of "mass transit" was included in three of the four options, with a preferred route from Wellington Railway Station to the Basin Reserve, splitting off to Newtown to the west and the airport/Kilbirnie to the east.

The Fit Wellington lobby group has proposed a route (in orange) from the rail station to Miramar, via the city centre and airport. The green line represents the "mass transit" route proposed by the Let's Get Wellington Moving working group.
Fit Wellington
The Fit Wellington lobby group has proposed a route (in orange) from the rail station to Miramar, via the city centre and airport. The green line represents the "mass transit" route proposed by the Let's Get Wellington Moving working group.

But Fair and Intelligent Transport Wellington (Fit Wellington) says light rail needs to be firmly in the mix, and has come up with an alternative route –  a proposed "Scenario A+".

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It builds on the project's Scenario A, which prioritises public transport, walking and cycling in the central city.

The proposed route would probably start at Wellington Railway Station, but the disused harbourside space at Kaiwharawhara Point was also an option.
MONIQUE FORD/STUFF
The proposed route would probably start at Wellington Railway Station, but the disused harbourside space at Kaiwharawhara Point was also an option.

The route would start at the rail station or Kaiwharawhara Pt and head along the waterfront quays to Taranaki St, going underground at Mt Cook from Wellington High School to Adelaide Rd, near the southern end of the Basin. 

It would then take in Riddiford St and Mansfield St, head across the top of Newtown Park past Manchester St, and enter a second tunnel under Mount Albert to Coutts St in Kilbirnie.

From there, it could enter a third tunnel under the airport runway from Coutts St to Miro St, then continue to Miramar via Broadway and Hobart St.

The route would bypass the Basin Reserve, approaching Adelaide Rd via a tunnel under Mt Cook from Wellington High School, then turning into Riddiford St, left.
STUFF
The route would bypass the Basin Reserve, approaching Adelaide Rd via a tunnel under Mt Cook from Wellington High School, then turning into Riddiford St, left.

If tunnelling under the busy runway was not possible, the route could go to the airport via the ASB Sports Centre and Cobham Dr.

The project would cost between $900 million and $1.2 billion and take up to 10 years to complete, Fit Wellington spokesman John Rankin said.

It would also be a more compelling option to get people out of cars and on to public transport.

The group hopes the route could go under the airport runway, but acknowledges the runway may be too busy for such a project.
KEVIN STENT/STUFF
The group hopes the route could go under the airport runway, but acknowledges the runway may be too busy for such a project.

"We think Let's Get Wellington Moving has been premature in splitting the route at the Basin, and there would be more ridership on our route."

The LGWM working group, a joint initiative between Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency, had been "very cautious and unambitious" in its proposals, Rankin said.

Public submissions on the four scenarios (A, B, C and D) close on December 15.

Programme director Barry Mein said it would be inappropriate to comment on individual submissions while the feedback period was still open.

"We had a good meeting with Fit Wellington [on Thursday] and we're really keen to get that and any other submissions through. It's just part of the process."

Light rail for the capital was a hotly-debated topic in the lead-up to September's general election, with the Green Party and New Zealand First both backing the move.

Former Transport Minister Simon Bridges said at the time the Greens had undershot its cost estimate for light rail from the railway station to the airport, putting the cost at upwards of $1.2 billion compared with the Greens' estimate of $630m to $700m.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford said recently future-proofing a route for light rail was an "absolute minimum" for the capital.

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