新西兰英语 780 Auckland’s transport future

 　　Traffic jams are common in Auckland. They are bad for business and bad for commuters who sit in their cars on the way to work getting more and more annoyed by congestion¹.

　　The Prime Minister, John Key, announced this week more money to improve Auckland’s transport. The first announcement was money for the City Rail Link underground in the central city. This is a plan that the Auckland City Council really wants to happen. However, the money will not be available until 2020, in 7 years although if the number of rail passengers increased, this could happen sooner.

　　The second announcement today was about two tunnels under the Waitemata Harbour, each 3 lanes wide from the city to the North Shore. Although the Auckland City Council would also like a rail tunnel, that is not part of the government’s plan at the moment. The money for these tunnels will not be available until 2025 or 2030. Meanwhile the Auckland Harbour Bridge is very congested during rush hours.

　　The third announcement was more money for the AMETI project. AMETI is Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative² and it includes an East-West road link between the Southern Motorway³ and the South-Western Motorway so that trucks do not have to go into the city. AMETI also includes improved roads between Panmure, Pakuranga and Botany to help economic growth in this area. This money is available now and the government wants this project to move faster.

　　The total cost for these transport plans is $10bn. Where will the money come from? Most will come from the taxpayer⁴.

　　The reason for these transport improvements is the fast growth of the city. About one third of New Zealand’s population lives in Auckland and the city is growing at a rate of 1,000 people a week, or more.

　　Listen to July 3rd 2012 to hear more about the Auckland City Rail Link.

　　Vocabulary

　　?commuters – people travelling some distance to work and home again later

　　?annoyed – a little angry

　　?congestion (n) congested (adj) – crowded, traffic jams

　　?rush hours – around 8am into the city and 5pm out of the city

　　?Initiative – new plan, project

1 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

2 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

3 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。

4 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。