Transit New Zealand
Auckland Regional Office

6 September 2005
Media Release

Public invited to Travel Demand Management open days

Transit New Zealand is holding a series of open days for the public to find out more about the proposed Travel Demand Management project on the Northwestern Motorway corridor.

The project involves employing various traffic management measures to reduce congestion on SH16 between Grafton Road at the eastern end, to Hobsonville Road at the western end.

With 28 on- and off-ramps, the Northwestern Motorway experiences severe congestion every day, particularly during morning and afternoon peak periods. Delays often reduce travel speed to less than 15km per hour and a journey that may usually take five to 10 minutes can take up to an hour.

Congestion increases costs, causes pollution and the loss of millions of hours of productivity. It is also responsible for increasing driver frustration. It is conservatively estimated that the cost of congestion for the Auckland region is equivalent to about $1 billion a year, or $3 million daily.

The travel demand management project aims to identify measures to maximise the efficiency of the Northwestern Motorway, better inform users of travel choices and enhance safety. Options being considered include improved traveller information and incident response systems, ramp metering, business travel plans, car pooling, improved public transport and real-time traffic monitoring.

“Transit is seeking public feedback on the project,” says Transit project director, Peter McCombs. “The feedback will assist us in identifying community concerns and expectations about the project, as well as determining how travel demand management might be implemented.”

The open days will be held on:

Thursday 8 September 2005 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Massey High School Hall, 274 Don Buick Road, Massey.

Wednesday 14 September 2005 – 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre (activity room at rear), 595 Te Atatu Road, Te Atatu Peninsula.

Friday 16 September 2005 – 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Western Springs Garden Community Hall (‘The Springs’), 956 Great North Road, Western Springs.

Transit officers and the consultant team will be on hand to answer queries about the project at the open days.

ENDS

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