Mass Rapid Transit Talking Points 2026

{=Scale over decades=}

Treasury's 2024 revisions to discount rates for cost`-benefit analysis let planners take a longer term view of infrastructure project business cases. The new rules lift the value of long-term benefits. The change makes on-street light rail (capacity 3000-9000 passengers per hour) more cost-effective than a 2-lane busway (capacity 2000-5000 passengers per hour) for the N`-S corridor.

Don't be too ambitious to start with -- make the first MRT (mass rapid transit) line something that will rally the maximum possible support and minimise opposition -- such as: Ferry 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.

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.

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: Ferry 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.

{=Carpe diem=}
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.

Meeting with Greater Wellington 10:00 ';am;', 2026-04-16

Meeting with Greater Wellington 10:00 ';am;' 2026-04-16

Meeting with Greater Wellington 2026-04-16, 10:00';am;'

Meeting with Greater Wellington 2026-04-16.

Meeting with Greater Wellington March 2026

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

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.

Make ''high ridership'' the primary criterion of success -- it has to be accessible, 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.

{=Be useful to many people=}

{=Find people who deliver=}

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.

{=Scalable across decades=}

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

{=Scalable across decades=}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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.