Light Rail back to the Surface?

The Mayor prefers light rail on the surfaceMayor Wayne Brown shared his thoughts on light rail with Oliver Lewis at Business Desk, and he seems to nail almost every issue with the project so far, and the trade-offs involved. Last week Business Desk had reported that Auckland Light Rail (ALR) was doing another investigation on a surface light rail option, although ALR insisted it was all part of a normal business case process. In an interview this week, Brown said he and Darby, as the council representatives on the light rail sponsors group, had pushed for a surface option to be given greater consideration. “We have insisted that they are at least giving light rail the same amount of respect as metro rail,” he said. Brown also notes that surface-running light rail is likely to deliver better urban outcomes and a more enjoyable rider experience.