Wellington's transport woes may worsen.
The New Zealand Government is pushing forward with plans to build a second Mount Victoria tunnel and duplicate Terrace tunnel alongside highway widening in Wellington. The Green Party's spokesperson for Transport, Julie Anne Genter, has expressed concerns that these projects will only exacerbate traffic congestion and pollution in the city centre.
According to Genter, urban highway widening is an outdated solution that fails to address the root issue of transportation problems. She suggests investing in rail, public transport, and active transport as a more effective way to ensure easy movement around Wellington in the future. The Government's decision to prioritize billions of dollars on road expansion while cutting rail and public transport improvements has been criticized by Genter.
The use of the Fast Track Bill, which bypasses local government, community, and environmental input, has raised concerns about the democratic process being undermined. Julie Anne Genter argues that Wellingtonians should have a say in a project that will significantly impact their city's outlook and future.