In the mid-1980s New Zealand sold its national rail assets to private industry in hopes of developing a profitable, efficient rail network. With deteriorating infrastructure and a desire for greener transit, the government has decided to buy it back.
"Initial reaction to the Government's decision to buy back the rail and ferry business from Toll NZ has been positive:"
"The National party are the exception."
"The party says it won't sell Toll's rail and ferry business if it wins the election but says the buy-back decision is reckless given pressures households are facing."
"National think the purchase will end up costing many hundreds of millions more once rolling stock costs were added to the $665m purchase price."
"The National party opposed the purchase but recently announced it would sell no state assets. Previously deputy leader Bill English said it would consider selling it but that has been ruled out."
FULL STORY: Reaction to Government's rail purchase
Train on the Moon? US to Explore Lunar Railway
Program proponents say this “visionary” endeavor “heralds a new era of human presence and economic activity beyond Earth.”
Revitalizing Texas: Sustainable Rail Solutions
An argument for why investing in trains is the key to sustainable growth and economic success in the Lone Star State.
New Orleans Makes Big Plans for Transit
Still recovering from the long-term impacts of Hurricane Katrina, the city is looking to build out and modernize its transit system to improve mobility for its many transit-dependent residents.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
The State of E-Scooters in the US
Eight years after shared e-scooters were first introduced in US cities, the industry still teeters on the edge of success, hindered in part by limited infrastructure.
Rochester Shows Possible Future for Former Highways
A former freeway is undergoing a massive redevelopment that goes beyond highway removal to reconnect and revitalize surrounding areas.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
