Do you support or oppose a flyover at the Basin Reserve?
Jeff
Candidate Answers
Candidate
Answer
Council is awaiting NZTA's decision on whether they will underground the road past the War Memorial. Once this decision has been made they will place before the public some alternatives. At that stage, on the information provided, I will make up my mind. Kerry
I oppose the flyover at the Basin Reserve for several reasons.
First of all it\'s unattractive from both an urban design and a cricket watching point of view.
Secondly adding road capacity for general vehicles will increase traffic (the induced traffic phenomenon).
Thirdly, there are immediate possibilities for Basin Reserve public transport priority (north/south) involving bus lanes and bus priority at lights that can be done right now. The separate Pirie St bus tunnel offers priority for Eastbound buses including the Flyer. Emergency vehicles could of course make use of the bus lanes so ambulances would eb less likely to get stuck in traffic.
Fourthly because latest estimates of almost $100million could be better spent on public transport, walking and cycling to make our transport system more affordable, less oil-dependent and to reduce traffic congestion in our city and town centres.
Finally because it offers east to west cyclists nothing but great danger in high winds.
Jeff, I oppose the flyover. I was the first candidate to push IT sector growth in this election campaign, and I find it interesting that several of my opponents agree with me. With a stronger IT infrastructure, we can encourage flexible working hours and teleworking (working from home), and it would be hypocritical to require more roads if we are effectively reducing the number of cars that require them. The expense appears unnecessary as we are now in the 21st century, not the 20th, as the road-biased policies of this central government seem to indicate.
