The Campaign For Better Transport

Incredibly, our campaign for a waterfront tram has been adopted by the ARC and the Sea+City development team.  The Campaign for Better Transport and MOTAT pitched the idea to the ARC in 2008, and Mike Lee and Sea+City have well and truly picked up the ball and run with it.

 The Herald reports:

Trams are being prepared for a comeback on Auckland’s waterfront, in time for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

More than 50 years since trams disappeared from city streets, the Auckland Regional Council has approved the first stage of a proposal which could ultimately be part of the region’s wider public transport network.

The initial stage will focus on the Tank Farm redevelopment by ARC group subsidiary Sea+City, which will receive $6.3 million to $7.4 million from Auckland Regional Holdings to develop a 1.5km tram circuit by July next year.

Future developments, such as an extension to Britomart across a future Viaduct Harbour bridge, will be left to the new Super City council.

Sea+City expects to initially use two heritage trams from the Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat), although the regional council is also discussing with Victorian state government officials a possible long-term loan of some Melbourne trams as the service grows.

NZ Herald reports:

Waterfront trams are being tipped as key Auckland tourist attractions, with a possible later benefit for public transport.

Although the Auckland Regional Council has no plans for a modern light rail network to serve commuters, its transport committee voted yesterday to press on with an investigation of potential tram routes through the Tank Farm to Britomart.

A staff feasibility report prepared after an approach by the Campaign for Better Transport and the Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat) said Auckland’s waterfront was a major destination and attraction for residents and visitors alike, and should be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

The NZ Herald reports on our presentation to Auckland City:

Auckland City officials will consider a push by transport campaigners trams to be included in the proposed $2 billion-plus Tank Farm waterfront development.

The Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat) says 4km of high-quality tracks and low-profile powerlines could be laid between Britomart and the Wynyard Quarter for about $16 million.

Campaign for Better Transport spokesman Cameron Pitches told the city’s transport committee yesterday that electric “street cars” could be obtained for between about $500,000 and $2 million each, depending on whether they were heritage trams supplied by Motat or sleeker and more modern conveyances.

He said the tracks would be capable of carrying a mix of heritage and modern trams, which would be quieter than buses, emissions-free and “pedestrian friendly”.