Public transport advocates are taking legal action over what they say is road building that encourages too much travel by car.
Road construction on Transmission Gully (file image). Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
The group, Movement, has asked the High Court for a judicial review of Transport Agency decisions.
It argues Waka Kotahi / NZ Transport Agency is breaching government policy aimed at combating climate change.
"They're locked into a road-building mantra despite the evidence that that doesn't meet our environmental or public health needs," chairperson Christine Rose said.
The judicial review focuses on Nelson and its consideration of three options to meeting its 30-year transport needs.
The project talks about encouraging walking and cycling, but Movement perceives too much focus on individual car journeys.
This is in conflict with the government's Policy Statement on Land Transport that sets out funding priorities up to 2030, Rose said.
Decarbonisation is one of four priorities in the policy statement.
Patrick Morgan of the Cycling Action Network which backs the judicial review, said with Parliament recently declaring a climate emergency the Transport Agency "must stop prioritising private motor vehicles".
Movement said it had tried but failed for six months to convince the agency to consider this.
NZTA has been approached for comment.