Transport directors appointed

29 August, 2007

Mark Benjamin, Andrew Buxton and Tony Marks have been appointed to the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) board for terms of three years.

Auckland Regional Council Chairman Michael Lee, who chaired

the ARTA Appointments Panel, said the Authority would benefit from the appointees’ private sector financial, management and transport expertise as Auckland public transport entered into a challenging phase of expansion.

“The region’s rapid transit network is taking shape, with the completion of the Northern Busway early next year followed by the electrification of commuter rail.

“In addition, the introduction of a regional fuel tax will provide certainty in long-term funding that will allow unprecedented public transport improvements, putting Auckland on target to ease economic constraints caused by congestion.

“The immediate objective is to significantly increase patronage – more bums on seats  We believe the new board members bring skills from the private sector that will help ARTA achieve these goals.”

The ARTA Appointments Panel has 15 members, comprising the chairman, seven regional councillors and representatives of the region’s seven local councils.

(ends)

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