@phil, the good news is that modern trams (which is what 'light rail means') can turn up to 90degrees to get round corners. in some regards they're a more sensible option that diesel buses. the problem of buying private property to allow the light rail to be put down is minimal at best. but in regards your claim about 'modal shift', this would apply if the number of road users wasn't capped. there can only be a given maximum population living in any of the central city suburbs. while this population might increase in density over time, it isn't like the ever-increasing numbers of people being put into greenfields suburbs. what the argument against better public transport keeps overlooking is that light rail isn't being extended to greater wellington, it's for the central city and immediate surrounds (potentially including johnsonville and kilbirnie). these are suburbs that are just close enough to make efficient public transport a better option that driving. and it's these suburbs the green supporters need to focus on. as it is the council is making "big plans" for a growth corridor that will have bad, noise and stink-polluting diesel buses as the local option. it's a stupid, poorly integrated plan that should be taken out back and given a slap...