NZIER's latest Insight calls for the short-term disruption impacts on local businesses and communities to be incorporated into infrastructure decision-making. The City Rail Link experience and international studies suggest that disruption impacts are non-trivial and can be prolonged than people would think. The high rate of business retention achieved after the Seattle Light Rail project was completed demonstrates that it is possible to mitigate the disruptive impacts on businesses by putting support programmes in place and involving businesses and communities early.