The Green Party will fast-track the building of a new rail line to Auckland Airport to be completed in 2021, in time for the next America's Cup, if the party is in Government after the election.
"Light rail to the airport is the most urgently needed transport project in Auckland, and it will start this year when we're in Government," said Green Party transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter.
By light rail it would take about 43 minutes to travel from Wynyard Quarter, up Queen St and Dominion Rd to the airport.
The $2.3 billion rail line would be a project of national significance funded from the transport fund. Additional funding sources for this project such as land value capture would also be investigated.
"A new rail line will give people the freedom to bypass congested roads and travel from the city to Dominion Rd and the airport easily and quickly.
"Light rail will mean far more consistent and shorter travel times for people travelling to and from the airport and surrounding suburbs.
"2021 is an ambitious goal that will require unprecedented co-operation between Government and council, and we can make this happen.
"It's absurd that National still thinks this project isn't needed for another 30 years. In that timeframe the number of passengers travelling to and from the airport will double and the number of people working near the airport will triple."
