NZ Invests Record Amount in Transport

New Zealand is spending a "record" sum in its land transport programme to tackle the country's "huge transport challenges".

The National Land Transportation Programme (NLTP), which includes funding for rail improvement has been allocated NZ$2.4bn for 2007–8, an increase of 4%.

A record level of funding is being allocated for an ambitious range of projects that will improve the country's roads and passenger transport services and go a long way towards improving New Zealand's huge transport challenges, Land Transport NZ says.

The allocated funds – NZ$165m – for roads and railways are part of passenger transport improvement projects which include rail maintenance in Wellington and refurbishment of the Wairarapa passenger cars and rolling stock. Real-time passenger information systems in Auckland are also to be upgraded.