Construction of a light rail network that could cost more than $1 billion could get under way in Auckland within a year - if the city's transport agency and council give it the green light, Radio New Zealand reports.
Auckland Transport hopes to decide by late March whether light rail is the best option to serve the central suburbs, where it said key bus routes are already congested.
The network being investigated travels along major arterial routes, such as Dominion, Sandringham, Manukau and Mount Eden roads, and covers more than 30 kms.
Auckland Transport chairman Dr Lester Levy said light rail could move three times as many passengers as bus, but he would not put a figure on what it might cost.
“The costs are not insignificant,” he said. “But for that kind of solution, it's a very cost effective way of moving forward.
“This is being demonstrated by the way light rail is being picked up in many countries, and quite close to home such as Sydney, the Gold Coast and Canberra.”
Radio New Zealand understands the cost could range between $1 billion and $2 billion, but would be staged if the project did get the go-ahead.
Dr Levy said finance would come from the private sector, and could be structured so there would be no payments needed during the early years of the project.
