16 June 2004

IA Injects Another $25 Million Into Auckland
Passenger Rail

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

IA today added to its investment in passenger rail infrastructure by offering Auckland Regional Transport Network Limited (ARTNL) a grant of $25.5 million for new and improved local rail stations throughout the Auckland region. IA’s investment in rail now stands at $134 million.

Earlier IA grants include $23 million for double-tracking sections of the western line (allowing a doubling of passenger services); $6 million for upgrading stations at Papatoetoe, Ranui and Glen Innes; $45 million for Britomart, and $16.6 million for improved security and lighting.

IA also offered a grant today of $8 million for Henderson Station.

Today’s grant is to the Stations and Environs Development project - part of the planned Regional Rail Upgrade Project. It will encourage greater use of passenger rail through modern facilities and amenities at rail stations.

After decades of neglect, many stations are unsafe and uncomfortable. Many are also not easily accessed – by car, bike or foot. A standard IA grant condition is that funding for ongoing maintenance and renewals is provided for in the project. This is to help ensure that these upgraded assets are maintained for future generations.

It is projected that by 2023 almost 700,000 additional trips per year will result from this IA funded project that has strong social, environmental and economic benefits for Aucklanders.

The project includes: New stations at Papakura, Homai, Puhinui, Manurewa, Middlemore, Panmure, Orakei, Meadowbank, Morningside, Ellerslie and Baldwin Avenue Lengthening existing platforms, relocating platforms or building new platforms at new stations Upgrading pedestrian crossing facilities Selected park-and-ride and drop-off/pick-up points Selected bus/rail interchange at or near some stations Measures to improve walking and cycling access, including improved lighting.

ENDS

MEDIA STATEMENT 16 June 2004

A MILLION MORE TRIPS PROJECTED FOR PASSENGER TRANSPORT IN AUCKLAND CITY

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

IA has granted $13,660,000 to Auckland City Council today for its Central Transit Corridor (CTC) project.

CTC is a “busway” that will run from Britomart to Newmarket via Customs Street, Anzac Avenue, Symonds Street, Grafton Bridge, Park Road and Kyber Pass.

Along the route a series of bus priority measures will be implemented, including 24/7 bus lanes, removal of car parking and designating Grafton Bridge as exclusive to buses and emergency vehicles between 7am and 7pm.

The result will be a much faster trip for bus passengers travelling from Britomart to the South and East of the City. It is expected that 2000 buses will benefit from the Corridor improvements and in 20 years an additional one million passenger transport trips per year are projected to be generated.

The project fits with IA’s Passenger Transport notional allocation and is closely aligned with other major bus related projects in the city including Fanshaw Street Widening, Central Area West Bus Priorities and the Aotea Bus Stop Development.

IA’s contribution to the project will fund bus lane marking, bus stop construction, pedestrian improvements, kerb re-alignment, streetscaping, paving and canopies along the route.

ENDS

MEDIA STATEMENT 16 June 2004

$5 MILLION FOR WAITAKERE PATHWAYS

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

IA offered a grant of $5.2 million to Waitakere City today, for 16 kilometres of two metre wide walkways/cycleways along the banks of the lower Oratia, Waikumete and Opunaku streams to Henderson City Centre.

The three connected and well-lit pathways will connect communities with the city centre, rail and bus routes, and schools and community facilities.

Most of the pathways will be separate from roads and there will be a number of road and stream crossings.

This project will improve access for alternative transport modes around the area, enhance safety, encourage the choice of walking and cycling, improve safe links between communities and key community areas as well as improving disabled access.

The new pathways are a safe, innovative solution to transport needs in the area, and provide links to other modes of transport in Waitakere.

The project also fits well with other IA funded projects in the area including the double tracking of the western line, the Henderson Rail Precinct and a number of local stormwater projects.

The grant comes under IA’s Travel Demand Management notional allocation.

ENDS

16 June 2004

MANUKAU CYCLISTS GET $4 MILLION BOOST FROM IA

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

Over 40 kilometres of dedicated cycleways on seven separate routes will be developed in Manukau City (mainly along roads) with the help of an IA grant of $4.1 million announced today.

An additional 146,000 annual trips by bike in the city are projected in the first year of the project, growing annually to almost one million after 20 years.

The IA funded cycleways kick off a major Cycle and Walking Strategy that Manukau City Council has developed and forms the backbone to the planned network under the strategy.

The cycleways will be predominantly along major roads (30.9km), with the remaining 9.8 kilometres being dedicated cycle paths.

This is another innovative alternative transport strategy that IA is pleased to be able to action through our final funding round.

Manukau’s comprehensive Walking and Cycling Strategy is now able to proceed with seed monies from IA’s Travel Demand Management funding category.

The cycleways are at the following locations: Great South Road - Takanini to Otahuhu Papatoetoe - Otara - East Tamaki Mangere Bridge to Auckland International Airport Mangere - Papatoetoe - Manukau City Centre Cavendish - Liverpool - Nesdale - Roscommon Waiouru - Otahuhu to East Tamaki Manukau City Centre Cycleways.

Ends.

MEDIA STATEMENT 16 June 2004

IA GIVES $1.75 MILLION GREEN LIGHT TO GPS

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

North Shore City and Rodney District buses will get green lights faster and more often, and passengers waiting at bus stops will be able to see exactly when the next bus will arrive, with the help of a $1.75 million funding decision by Infrastructure Auckland today.

IA offered the grant to North Shore City for innovative Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology that will enable traffic Signal Pre-emption for buses and Real Time Passenger Information at bus stops around the city.

It is the same technology that IA funded Auckland City Council to install in 2002. The two systems will be integrated.

IA is funding almost half of the total project cost, which is $3.82 million. Transfund and North Shore City will provide the remaining funds.

At a time when traffic congestion is on the increase, this is good news for bus users and those considering using a bus as a means of getting around the city.

The project promises to reduce journey times for Rodney District and North Shore City bus passengers and improve the reliability of bus services. It will also remove uncertainties of bus travel so passengers won’t be left anxiously wondering if, or when a bus will arrive.

ENDS

MEDIA STATEMENT 16 June 2004

$3.3 MILLION FOR REGIONAL STORMWATER PROJECTS

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

IA offered a total of $3.3 million to four stormwater projects today bringing IA’s total and final amount granted to stormwater projects throughout the region to $88 million.

Grants were offered to four projects under the regional policy provisions for the Tamaki Estuary (Auckland City) and one local project in Pukekohe.

The regional application for the Tamaki Estuary (Auckland City Council) was jointly submitted by Landcare Research, Housing New Zealand Corporation, The University of Auckland and Auckland City Council. It was accepted by the IA Board in February this year.

Each of the three projects contributing to the Tamaki estuary will treat stormwater on-site, using devices recommended in Auckland City Council’s On-site Stormwater Management Manual.

They are all situated in the Tamaki Edge development area and will improve water quality in the Tamaki Estuary which is used extensively for land and water based recreation.

The Upper Pukekohe South Water Quality Works project provides for public stormwater infrastructure to enable residential development on Pukekohe Hill. The project will see the creation of a dam and stormwater pond, restoration, riparian planting, roadside stormwater channels and erosion protection works. IA is supporting the work with a grant of $1.6 million, with additional funds being contributed by developers and the Franklin District Council.

Details of the latest grants are summarised and described below:
Project Applicant Grant offered
1. Talbot Park Stormwater Treatment Housing New Zealand $550,229
2. Landcare Research-Tamaki Campus Landcare Research $45,077
3. Auckland Netball Centre Auckland Netball Centre Inc $1,104, 567
4. Upper Pukekohe South Water Quality Works Franklin District Council $1,595,575
TOTALS Region wide $3,295,448

ENDS

MEDIA STATEMENT 16 June 2004

IA INJECTS $9.5 MILLION INTO NEW HENDERSON
RAIL STATION

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

A grant of $9.5 million was offered to Waitakere City Council today, for the Henderson Station Precinct, a major project that will see a new rail station built along with transport interchange facilities, and accessibility improvements for cycle, rail, bus, car and foot traffic in the area.

The project is projected to provide for almost half a million additional trips per year by 2023 and means that Waitakere City residents will have access to modern, highly accessible rail facilities which link with the rest of the regional rail and transport network.

The resulting patronage increases will ease the congestion burden on roads and help create further use of complementary rail facilities such as Britomart.

The grant comes at a time when other major improvements are being implemented throughout the regional rail network.

The Henderson Station Precinct fits under the Regional Growth Strategy, the Regional Land Transport Strategy, the Rail Upgrade Project as well as a number of IA funded local transport and stormwater improvements in Waitakere.

IA made another significant grant today to Waitakere City Council for a major cycleway and walkway development in the area.

ENDS

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