Joint Media release
Auckland Regional Council and Auckland Regional Transport Authority

9 August 2007

Investment in public transport starts to pay dividends

Figures released today by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) and the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) show that investment in public transport in Auckland is paying dividends.

Final patronage figures for the year 2006-07 show total patronage is up 1.2 million passenger journeys from last year to more than 52.4 million.

ARTA’s Chairman, Mark Ford says, “The big winner is rail. Numbers are up by 708,000 to 5,737,000 – a record for the past five years. It is also pleasing to note that on time performance for the recently duplicated part of the Western Line is the best it has been in five years.

“Bus travel is up by 515,000 to 42,730,000 on last year’s figure. This is particularly good news following three years of declining bus patronage. Ferry patronage is slightly up – by about 21,000 to 3,947,000 journeys.”

Auckland Regional Council Chairman, Michael Lee, says, “The development of passenger transport for the Auckland Region has consistently been championed by this council.

“Our investment and faith in the belief that if you give Aucklanders a decent public transport system they will use it, is starting to prove itself. We’re making good progress. Over 50% of ARC rates are going into public transport, and while this is starting to pay off, we still have a long way to go.
People in Auckland are coming back to public transport and that’s very good news.”

Mr Ford says, “You don’t build a quality public passenger transport service overnight – it’s like building a home, a step by step process, particularly when Auckland has been faced with decades of neglect in infrastructural investment. ARTA has a ten-year programme of action in place to redevelop a passenger transport network for Auckland.

“This year’s patronage figures show we are now turning the corner. Investment by our funders, the Auckland Regional Council, Land Transport New Zealand and central government, is getting results.

“Over the next year, Aucklanders will see more development in public transport. The Northern Busway opens early next year, with three additional new bus stations at Sunnynook, Smales Farm and Akoranga. The Northern Express bus service continues to routinely outstrip forecast patronage.

“Rail patronage continues its rapid increase, up 130% over the past four years. In June 2005, we ran 959 train services a week. In July 2007, we are running 1,352 services a week.

The programme for further growth includes:
- The significant redevelopment by ONTRACK and ARTA of Newmarket train station kicked off last month. The station opens in two years.
- The redeveloped Papakura train station opens this month and an upgraded Mt Eden station opens in September.

- Out west, four trains an hour began running at peak times from Henderson to Britomart in July, following the completion of the major part of the Western Line double tracking work.
- Sturges Road station opens in January 2008, with second platforms completed at Ranui and Swanson stations at the same time.
- From March next year, four trains an hour will run from Swanson to Britomart at peak times.

- A trial train service to Helensville begins in July next year.
- The upgraded Avondale station opens in October 2008.
- There will be more frequent services to Pine Harbour and other ferry services.
- The Onehunga rail line will carry commuter services by December 2009.
- Enhanced bus services across North Shore will commence in February, with more express services to the Auckland CBD on the Northern Busway.

“In the years to come we can look forward to many more improvements in Auckland’s developing passenger transport services,” says Mr Ford.

ENDS

© Scoop Media