4. Question No. 4—TransportSARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 4—Transport4. SARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam) to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about improving public transport in Christchurch?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): Last week I was very pleased to announce that the Government is making a major investment of $78 million to accelerate the Greater Christchurch Public Transport (PT) Futures bus improvements programme. The programme delivered in partnership with Environment Canterbury will deliver more bus shelters more real-time display units and more bus lanes. This means that the Greater Christchurch community will soon have access to more frequent and reliable transport services reducing household expenses carbon dioxide emissions and encouraging more people to use public transport for their daily travel. Everyone in Christchurch will benefit from this investment which reflects the Government's commitment to a low-carbon transport system and making it cheaper easier and more attractive for Kiwis to use public transport.Sarah Pallett: What benefits for public transport users will the investment in the Public Transport Futures programme deliver?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: We know that the Greater Christchurch area will see an increase in annual public transport trips by about 3.5 million people by around 2030. Our Government's investment to help the PT Futures project will deliver 100 more buses providing a greater number of seats to a greater number of locations at a higher frequency; over 470 more bus shelters to support a more enjoyable travel experience; almost 200 real-time display units providing accurate information on bus arrival times; and 22 kilometres of bus lanes improving bus reliability. Our investment means that these improvements will now be delivered over a five- to six-year period which is around half of the time that was originally planned by Greater Christchurch.Sarah Pallett: How will the investment in the Public Transport Futures programme support the Government's efforts to decarbonise the transport system?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Improving the frequency and reliability of public transport is a key part of our efforts to reduce the transport sector's carbon emissions. This investment will support a reduction in emissions of around about 20600 tonnes of carbon dioxide through to 2030 and more beyond. This comes on top of the investments that we've made to decarbonise the transport system through programmes like the Clean Car Discount the Clean Car Standard the Transport Choices programme the New Zealand Upgrade and the soon-to-be-heard-in-this-House legislation to bring in the Sustainable Public Transport Framework to replace the Public Transport Operating Model which has held back our public transport system for so many years.Sarah Pallett: What other investments is the Government making in public transport infrastructure in our major cities?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: In Christchurch the New Zealand Upgrade Programme has provided $35 million of investment for public transport improvements on State Highway 75 Halswell Road we're delivering further public transport improvements via the Transport Choices programme and we're currently engaging with Christchurch residents and local government about delivering mass rapid transit for Christchurch as well. In regional New Zealand public transport improvements are currently rolling out in Timaru; with a new bus programme to also roll out in Nelson in the coming months; and in Auckland we're making major investments into the Eastern Busway as part of our work to deliver a linked-up rapid transit system to our biggest city.