10. Question No. 10—TransportHELEN WHITE (Labour) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 10—Transport10. HELEN WHITE (Labour) to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about futureproofing New Zealand's transport system?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): Over the past few weeks we've made several key announcements about futureproofing our transport system. The week before last I announced the projects that will be funded by the Transport Choices package which will make our towns and cities more people-friendly places to live work and visit by investing in public transport walking and cycling in 46 councils across New Zealand. Then on Friday I confirmed the Government's investment in the Eastern Busway extension which has been warmly welcomed by people in Auckland and the eastern suburbs. This will provide reliable high-frequency service to those people saving customers about 20 minutes on their bus or train trip between Botany town centre and Britomart. And on Saturday construction began on O Mahurangi – Penlink a vital connection for North Auckland linking the Whangaparāoa peninsula with the wider Auckland region and providing residents with safer and more sustainable transport choices. The direction of travel is clear. We're getting on with delivering projects or upgrading transport connections for Kiwis while reducing congestion and greenhouse emissions.Helen White: What are some of the key projects being funded by the Transport Choices package?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Transport Choices is about funding quick-win projects that will be delivered over the next two years in councils all around New Zealand. To name just three in Taupō we're funding the district council to build separated cycleways from the town to Acacia Bay giving more transport options across the bridge improving outcomes for new developments in the north and upgrading cycle connections in a number of schools in the area. In Tauranga we're investing in the Arataki multi-modal corridor—very much welcomed by the commissioner of Tauranga the Hon Anne Tolley—with improved pedestrian crossing facilities a separated cycleway and better links for schools in the area. And in Auckland we're investing to vastly improve travel times by upgrading feeder routes for the Northwestern busway which will include 45 new bus stops up to nine kilometres of special vehicle lanes—Simeon Brown: Bus stops won't win an election.Hon MICHAEL WOOD: —and up to 10 new pedestrian crossings. And the member opposite's bench mate should also be very pleased about the investments in the Waimakariri district.Naisi Chen: How will the Eastern Busway improve travel connections for East Aucklanders?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The Government's announcement of a $200 million investment in the Eastern Busway extension which builds on stage one which we've already delivered in this term of Government will cut travel times for residents of East Auckland in places like Pakuranga and Botany for those people who need to get into the city while reducing congestion around the Pakuranga town centre. By 2028 the busway will carry up to 14000 passengers per day more than four times the 3700 bus passengers prior to COVID-19. By 2048 that is expected to increase to up to 24000 passengers per day. This is a game-changer for the people of the eastern suburbs of Auckland and it's been warmly welcomed by them.Marja Lubeck: What benefits will O Mahurangi – Penlink deliver for residents in North Auckland?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: As more people live and work in Silverdale Whangaparāoa and the Hibiscus Coast this new two-lane road and shared path will provide improved travel times and choices for a growing part of Auckland. The project will not simply support the surrounding community through more lanes for cars as a separated shared user path means people will be able to safely walk or travel or bike or scooter helping to support our response to climate change. The project will also support much stronger public transport connections to the successful Northern Busway. Penklink is funded by the New Zealand Upgrade Programme which now has $3 billion worth of projects in pre-construction works with even more major projects set to get under way next year. Our Government is getting on and delivering the projects that matter to Kiwis in the transport system and will reduce our emissions and give more transport choices.