A sensible transport strategy will require the courage to look beyond the commercial interests of a one-dimensional transport and infrastructure industry,
With a freshly minted transport minister taking the helm this week, it’s a good time to consider why we lack a fair and objective conversation about transport in New Zealand.
The main reason for opposing investment in public transport and rail is that these modes reduce the reliance on and demand for private cars and heavy road freight. Obviously, there are business owners in the automobile industry, the heavy road freight industry and the roading industry who have an interest in maintaining a reliance on and demand for their products and services. Not to mention the greenfield land development sector that has benefited enormously from state-funded highways. No surprises there, these entities are simply protecting their businesses as their shareholders would expect.
An effective national transport strategy, though, is about more than shareholders.
