Philippa Orr’s Post

Forward planning, for population growth, housing demand and the infrastructure and services to support them is a difficult job (not impossible, but difficult). Firstly it's a moving target, dynamic not linear. The further out you look the higher the likelihood that your projections are off (up and / or down). Secondly, the costs are enormous. Planning for and delivering infrastructure to support growth requires money that we don't currently have for things that are likely to happen (making a poor business case). But if you don't invest in the future...when you get there (all of a sudden, at a particular point in time) we are surprised that we don't have the underlying services to support what (has seemingly just appeared) should have been evident years before. I want to bring this back to the proposed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system that has been proposed for (Greater) Christchurch as part of the 30 year Spatial Plan. We have been talking about options for improved Public Transport in the City for as long as I can remember (and I'm 60 and have spent most of my life living here). Back in the 1970's, houses and land were acquired (North Madras Street) and houses were demolished to build a Northern Express way...but along came a new Mayor (I won't mention who) and decided that this was a bad idea and the plan was scrapped. Now the (mostly) recently completed Northern Corridor is a great transport addition to the link between Christchruch and Waimakariri...but it stops part of they way into the city and has caused more problems than its solved (Cranford Street). Today (with a significantly increased demand...and much increased price) we are still arguing over a solution. Furthermore, MRT is the backbone of the proposed drive for housing intensification along the route...without it...housing will continue to sprawl outwards. My point here is...this stuff isn't Rocket Science (difficult yes...impossible no). Plan for the future (up or slightly up) and get on with building it so that when we get to a particular point in time (say 30 years) we have the required infrastructure to support the population and housing that we knew that we were going to have.

Ontario is rapidly growing—we need made-in-Ontario solutions to ensure our public transit network grows with it. That’s why our government is investing over $350 million to upgrade 121 GO Transit bi-level rail coaches to support our plan to ensure two-way, all-day service to growing communities like #Barrie. https://lnkd.in/gQSgeNyY

Great news for communities from #Ashington to #Newcastle. Northumberland County Council have released a press release today confirming that Northern #rail passenger services will commence on 15 December on the new #NorthumberlandLine. #sustainablerailtravel #connectingcommunities #investment North East Chamber of Commerce

Leicester City Council has decided to retender for a major railway station upgrade after receiving only a single bid, blaming ‘the state of the industry’ for the lack of interest. Read More >>> https://lnkd.in/e6EAKJfz #LeicesterCityCouncil #TenderingFailure

🚨 Press Release: Cobh and Harbour Chamber Expresses Continued Frustration Over Road access 🚨 The Chamber has been actively highlighting the need for the redevelopment of the R624 for over 50 years. The recent An Bord Pleanála decision further underscores the urgent need for investment in infrastructure to support both commercial and residential development, which is crucial to our community’s growth, safety and sustainability. The current inadequate infrastructure significantly impacts any future development of the area. The R624 as the sole access road to the area needs to be upgraded to a national road and to come under the Transport Infrastructure Ireland's remit. We urgently call on public representatives and Cork County Council to prioritise this issue and work collaboratively to achieve this. The Cobh and Harbour Chamber remains committed to engaging with stakeholders on behalf of our region. The Cobh and Harbour Chamber notes with huge disappointment the impact which the recent decision by An Bord Pleanála to decline permission for the proposed port facility at Marino Point will have on the continued and future development of the Great Island and Harbour area. Bord Pleanála Case reference: PL04.312981 Planning Authority Case Reference: 206955 Image Credit: Cobh News Chambers Ireland James O'Connor TD Mark Stanton Pat Buckley Mary IND Linehan Foley David Stanton TD Eamon Ryan Darragh O'Brien TD James Lawless Peter Burke Cliona O'Halloran Liam Quaide Paschal Donohoe Jack Chambers Michael McGrath Simon Coveney Simon Harris Micheál Martin Cork County Council Port of Cork Company Ltd. Visit Cork Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail #CobhAndHarbour #CorkDocklands #HousingCrisis #InfrastructureMatters #Cobh #Cork

Today is the day we are finally going to get a decision on Lower Thames Crossing. After spending over 3 years advising on the project, it's going to be very interesting to see what arguments the SoS puts weight on. Importantly it's going to give an indication as to whether this government supports major road building projects, or whether it is prepared to be more radical and look for alternatives to car use. Even on National Highways' data the traffic reduction at Dartford is only going to be temporary. It is predicted and well established that building more roads simply generates new journeys. Let's hope today is the day that the government is brave, chooses not to spend almost 10 billion pounds on a new road, and instead invests in much needed rail and active transport. #ltc #lowerthamescrossing Browne Jacobson BBC News - Decision on new Thames Crossing expected on Friday - BBC News https://lnkd.in/e-Y56Rzu

I don't have any stake in Vancouver Island Rail other than the same benefits now and into the future that you do. I am independent of ICF or any other organization. That said, I would not turn down a steak for the work I've done :) Bottom line, I don't care who runs it, but I believe we are set up right for it to succeed other than the willingness of the BC and Federal Government's to fund it. Having First Nations heavily involved means less resistance to it returning, and likely more focus on healthy outcomes for Land and the Sea management. Changes cost money, the Nations already have stake in the railway along with Regional Districts and govern it 50-50, so everyone that lives on Vancouver Island owns it too. Changes cost money, so the $431 Million government estimate isn't enough, we can deduce that pretty easy. So let's invest! If TransLink can get another $800 million from Government (enough to put the ultimate solution in place on the Island) why should nearly 1/5th of British Columbia's population living on Vancouver Island be ignored? As a public asset, it will not have the same profit based return encumbrances that private-for-profit solutions would. It changes the game and focuses on the services running on it instead of "when will it pay for itself." It's a configuration along the same lines as highway's. The services run atop, but in the case of roads, they are congested and prone to closure, and maintained on the public dime. The railway is open season for trains, and covers it's own maintenance. The beauty of it all is that the freight analysis already shows the revenues would maintain the tracks in perpetuity, and if correctly applied to PM, CM, and CSI routines it would get better and better year after year. Rumble Room interview 1 https://lnkd.in/gsizZwXa

#LCRCA2024 | Designs for a new £32m St Helens Transport interchange were revealed in October ahead of a planning application being submitted. The interchange will create better links between bus, rail and active travel routes and is part of a wider regeneration set to transform St Helens Town Centre. Funded by the Combined Authority, the interchange is planned to be complete in time for first franchised bus services serving St Helens in 2026. To read the full story👇 https://lnkd.in/eFZgjrfP

Wellington, NZ / July 5, 2024 / RNZ / – Seven significant #roading projects across New Zealand are now underway, according to Transport Minister Simeon Brown. This development is part of the government's plan to prioritize 17 Roads of National Significance (#RoNS) outlined in the recent Policy Statement on Land Transport (#GPS). While cost concerns remain, the government intends to utilize alternative revenue options such as public-private partnerships, road #tolling, equity finance schemes, and value capture. The Northland Roads of National Significance will be treated as a single strategic corridor, with Warkworth to Wellsford being the initial focus. "Delivering on commitments in our coalition agreements, we are moving at pace to progress a new generation of RoNS across the country to support economic growth and get people and freight to where they want to go, quickly and safely," Brown stated. Investigations and planning for the remaining eight projects will commence in the next three years. Brown emphasized the need for fast-track legislation to maintain a pipeline of consented #infrastructure projects. "Investments in these essential corridors will make it easier for New Zealanders to get where they need to go, create a more productive and resilient transport network, drive economic growth, and unlock land for thousands of new houses," he concluded. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Aqualand Australia submits SSDA for first North Sydney BTR: https://lnkd.in/eJRH94uk cc Jin Lin, Woods Bagot and NSW Government #btrnewsau #btr #buildtorent #planning #planningsubmitted #residential #australia #buildtorentaustralia #btraustralia #sydney #sydneybtr #sydneybuildtorent