State Aid Sought For Transport Plan

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 3

State Aid Sought For Transport Plan

i.N’ew Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 5. The Auckland Regional Authority will open immediate negotiations in an attempt to obtain Government financial participation in the De Leuw, Cat her bus-rail and highways schemes.

At a special meeting tonight, the authority gave “general approval in principle” to the schemes, which it has been estimated will cost together at least £l6O million over the next 20 years. The authority, in a series of major policy decisions on the proposals, also decided to: (1) Request investigations into extending the suggested underground railway line through the central city to join up with the North Auckland line as part of initial development of the rapid rail system. The De Leuw. Gather proposal would end the line initially at the Town Hall. (2) Ask the Government to assume responsibility for building the downtown subway extension and operating the rail services. (3) Negotiate with the Government on sharing the ope-

rating costs and charges—estimated at £l.l million annually —for a scheme using a Town Hall rail terminus.

(4) Split responsibility for the proposed highways system between the National Roads Board and the Regional Authority and Auckland local bodies.

(5) Seek a Government take-over of the Auckland harbour bridge. The Government will be asked to assume responsibility for all future work and maintenance on the bridge and to bear administration and other costs while the entire toll revenue is used to pay off the outstanding £7 million loan on the bridge. At this stage the bridge should be made toll-free, the authority decided. It will seek negotiations with the National Roads Board on the take-over.