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FITWellington.​MRTTalkingPoints2026 History

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09 March 2026 at 12:06 PM by John Rankin - better subtitle
Changed line 3 from:

(:typeset-page fontset=kepler colophon=off parasep=number subtitle="Put LRT on the Fast Track" headingcolor=RoyalBlue colorlinks=on watermark=draft :)

to:

(:typeset-page fontset=kepler colophon=off parasep=number subtitle="Put Light Rail on the Fast Track" headingcolor=RoyalBlue colorlinks=on watermark=draft :)

08 March 2026 at 11:37 AM by John Rankin - busy core line
Changed line 8 from:

Don’t be too ambitious to start with — make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition — such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown — keep it as a core (all day, every day) line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future — sell it as something that will help the motorist.

to:

Don’t be too ambitious to start with — make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition — such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown — keep it as a core (busy all day, every day) line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future — sell it as something that will help the motorist.

08 March 2026 at 10:43 AM by John Rankin - all day every day
Changed line 8 from:

Don’t be too ambitious to start with — make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition — such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown — keep it as a core line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future — sell it as something that will help the motorist.

to:

Don’t be too ambitious to start with — make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition — such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown — keep it as a core (all day, every day) line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future — sell it as something that will help the motorist.

08 March 2026 at 10:40 AM by John Rankin - copyfit para
Changed line 16 from:

Implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority. You’ll people with genuine / real expertise, not the usual transport consultants turning up for the fee.

to:

Implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority. You need people with genuine / real expertise, not the usual transport consultants turning up for the fee.

08 March 2026 at 10:38 AM by John Rankin - copyfit para
Changed line 16 from:

In NZ implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority. You’ll people with genuine / real expertise, not the usual transport consultants turning up for the fee.

to:

Implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority. You’ll people with genuine / real expertise, not the usual transport consultants turning up for the fee.

08 March 2026 at 10:36 AM by John Rankin - get the right people
Changed lines 6-7 from:

Well done, keep going and don’t give up — there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail — buses are essential and will always be needed but they alone can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

to:

Well done, keep going, don’t give up — there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail — buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

Changed line 16 from:

In NZ implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority.

to:

In NZ implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority. You’ll people with genuine / real expertise, not the usual transport consultants turning up for the fee.

08 March 2026 at 10:28 AM by John Rankin - copyfit para
Changed line 6 from:

Well done, keep going and don’t give up — there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail — buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

to:

Well done, keep going and don’t give up — there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail — buses are essential and will always be needed but they alone can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

07 March 2026 at 12:10 PM by John Rankin - add draft
Changed line 3 from:

(:typeset-page fontset=kepler colophon=off parasep=number subtitle="Put LRT on the Fast Track" headingcolor=RoyalBlue colorlinks=on :)

to:

(:typeset-page fontset=kepler colophon=off parasep=number subtitle="Put LRT on the Fast Track" headingcolor=RoyalBlue colorlinks=on watermark=draft :)

07 March 2026 at 12:04 PM by John Rankin - resequence paras
Changed lines 10-11 from:

Make the primary criterion of success high ridership — it has to be convenient, popular and seen as a success — forget about the economics — make it about transit-oriented development, affordability and integration with the rest of the PT system — it needs to be free if another PT ticket is purchased, services must be very frequent, fast, high quality, reliable and interchange needs to be seamless. It may take a change of government to implement, but make sure the project is ready to fast-track when the planets are aligned.

to:

Make high ridership the primary criterion of success — it has to be convenient, popular and seen as a success — forget about the economics — make it about transit-oriented development, affordability and integration with the rest of the PT system — it needs to be free if another PT ticket is purchased, services must be very frequent, fast, high quality, reliable and interchange needs to be seamless. It may take a change of government to implement, but make sure the project is ready to fast-track when the planets are aligned.

Added lines 14-15:

Revisions to discount rates for cost–benefit analysis help planners take a longer term view of infrastructure project business cases. The new rules mean on-street light rail (capacity 3000–9000 passengers per hour) becomes more cost-effective than a 2-lane busway (capacity 2000–5000 passengers per hour) for the N–S corridor.

Deleted line 17:

Revisions to discount rates for cost–benefit analysis help planners take a longer term view of infrastructure project business cases. The new rules mean on-street light rail (capacity 3000–9000 passengers per hour) becomes more cost-effective than a 2-lane busway (capacity 2000–5000 passengers per hour) for the N–S corridor.

07 March 2026 at 11:58 AM by John Rankin - fix dash characters
Changed lines 6-12 from:

Well done, keep going and don’t give up – there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail – buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

Don’t be too ambitious to start with - make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition – such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown – keep it as a core line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future – sell it as something that will help the motorist.

Make the primary criterion of success high ridership – it has to be convenient, popular and seen as a success – forget about the economics – make it about transit-oriented development, affordability and integration with the rest of the PT system – it needs to be free if another PT ticket is purchased, services must be very frequent, fast, high quality, reliable and interchange needs to be seamless. It may take a change of government to implement, but make sure the project is ready to fast-track when the planets are aligned.

Resist pressure to compromise service quality (frequency, speed, ride quality, capacity, etc) to reduce build costs. Learn from similar projects overseas - for a given budget, it is better to build a shorter line to a higher standard than a longer line to a lower standard. For example, set a goal that MRT vehicles can travel at 50 kph - non-stop - between stations. If the first line is a success, you will get money to extend it.

to:

Well done, keep going and don’t give up — there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail — buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

Don’t be too ambitious to start with — make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition — such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown — keep it as a core line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future — sell it as something that will help the motorist.

Make the primary criterion of success high ridership — it has to be convenient, popular and seen as a success — forget about the economics — make it about transit-oriented development, affordability and integration with the rest of the PT system — it needs to be free if another PT ticket is purchased, services must be very frequent, fast, high quality, reliable and interchange needs to be seamless. It may take a change of government to implement, but make sure the project is ready to fast-track when the planets are aligned.

Resist pressure to compromise service quality (frequency, speed, ride quality, capacity, etc) to reduce build costs. Learn from similar projects overseas — for a given budget, it is better to build a shorter line to a higher standard than a longer line to a lower standard. For example, set a goal that MRT vehicles can travel at 50 kph, non-stop, between stations. If the first line is a success, you will get money to extend it.

07 March 2026 at 11:55 AM by John Rankin - add typesetting instructions
Changed lines 3-6 from:

First, well done, keep going and don’t give up – there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail – buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

to:

(:typeset-page fontset=kepler colophon=off parasep=number subtitle="Put LRT on the Fast Track" headingcolor=RoyalBlue colorlinks=on :)

Well done, keep going and don’t give up – there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail – buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

07 March 2026 at 11:49 AM by John Rankin - first draft
Added lines 1-13:

Meeting with Greater Wellington March 2026

First, well done, keep going and don’t give up – there are genuine affordable modal alternatives between the car and heavy rail – buses are essential and will always be needed but they (alone) can never fill the “missing mode” gap.

Don’t be too ambitious to start with - make the first MRT line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition – such as: Sea Terminals, Rail Station, City Centre to Hospital Parkway and Newtown – keep it as a core line 1, with lots of potential for extensions to new constituencies in future – sell it as something that will help the motorist.

Make the primary criterion of success high ridership – it has to be convenient, popular and seen as a success – forget about the economics – make it about transit-oriented development, affordability and integration with the rest of the PT system – it needs to be free if another PT ticket is purchased, services must be very frequent, fast, high quality, reliable and interchange needs to be seamless. It may take a change of government to implement, but make sure the project is ready to fast-track when the planets are aligned.

Resist pressure to compromise service quality (frequency, speed, ride quality, capacity, etc) to reduce build costs. Learn from similar projects overseas - for a given budget, it is better to build a shorter line to a higher standard than a longer line to a lower standard. For example, set a goal that MRT vehicles can travel at 50 kph - non-stop - between stations. If the first line is a success, you will get money to extend it.

In NZ implementation speed is a critical factor. Starting actually building something inside 3 years should be your priority.

Revisions to discount rates for cost–benefit analysis help planners take a longer term view of infrastructure project business cases. The new rules mean on-street light rail (capacity 3000–9000 passengers per hour) becomes more cost-effective than a 2-lane busway (capacity 2000–5000 passengers per hour) for the N–S corridor.

Page last modified 09 March 2026 at 12:06 PM