Kerre Woodham: The Government is focusing on getting us from point A to point B

The coalition government has announced the next three years of transport projects, and it should come as no real surprise there's nothing for speed bumps.  

Simeon Brown: We're cutting the funding for speed bumps. We're, in fact, I call it an infestation of speed bumps that we've seen across our roads, whilst potholes have been remaining unfilled. So actually I want to see that money going into filling potholes. Not making it inconvenient for, for motorists trying to get around. 

HDPA: Is it a zero? like it's a zero for the speed bumps?  

SB: That is correct, there's no further funding for speed bumps under this national land transport. The reality is, I think Kiwis are sick and tired of councils up and down this country simply trying to slow them down and cause congestion, rather than actually increase the efficiency of their local roading network. So that's the focus of this National Land Transport Programme. You know councils are road controlling authorities, they can still go and do other things on their roads, they just won't be receiving a subsidy from the government for that.  

So there you go, councils can still spend on speed bumps if that is their heart's desire, if that's what they believe ratepayers truly want – nothing from the government. That was Simeon Brown talking to Heather du Plessis Allan last night. And again, no real surprise that there's not a heck of a lot for cycleways either.  

“We campaigned on building and maintaining our roading network and reducing the amount of money going into cycleways. People voted for that and that's what we're delivering.” 

That was Simeon Brown talking to Mike Hosking this morning.  

So where will the $32.9 billion go? Well, you can see for yourself if you go to the NZTA's website. You’ll need a couple of clicks, it's not all laid out there for you, but a couple of clicks and you'll be there. But much of the money will build roads of national significance as already announced, and roads of regional significance. A good deal will go to pothole maintenance and repair.  

Now you would think if you listened to the Greens and to Labour's transport spokesman that there was nothing going towards the buses or the ferries, but there is: $6.4 billion, almost as much as they're spending on the roads of national significance, will go towards public transport. Well, almost as much as going into state highway improvements officially. But that is not enough for the Greens. I don't think anything would be enough for the Greens, I think they are a maw of wanton need. Julie Anne Genter said the money was well below the investment needed to sustain growth and cut emissions.  

$1 billion was announced for the rail network - Labour says that's not enough. Tangi Utikere says the investment is about $800 million lower than advertised. Labour's already put money towards the lower North Island rail investment package, they did so in last year's budget, and he says, in effect, Simeon Brown's re-announcing an announcement. Which, of course, other political parties never do. Remember the announcement of an announcement? Remember the infestation of that, along with the potholes? So, any transport plan from the coalition government was never going to please the Greens, never, ever, ever. I don't think any transport plan, even from Labour, pleased the Greens, ever, ever, ever. But Simeon Brown says they were elected to focus on roads and highways to make New Zealand's transport networks more efficient, to be able to get us from point A to point B in a more expeditious fashion, and that is what the coalition government is doing. 

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