Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee:

Strategy strengthens Auckland's transport
25 September 2007

Auckland's annual report measuring progress on strategic transport goals is out today - and it shows the region is getting its act together implementing a regionally-agreed strategy.

The region's 10-year transport strategy, launched in 2005, called for a major increase in public transport investment, in addition to road improvements.
Regional Land Transport Committee chairman Joel Cayford said that since then the Government had showed great support for getting the Auckland transport system moving through its decision to support rail electrification and a regional fuel tax.

The proposed regional fuel tax means that Auckland will, for the first time, have funding to fully back its 10-year strategy to ease road congestion through major public transport improvements.

"Because of those decisions, the region is better placed than ever in recent history to make public transport changes of real substance. Congestion and air pollution are daily reminders that Aucklanders must change their travel patterns," Cr Cayford said.

"Having an agreed strategy has focussed central and local government thinking and expenditure - that's reflected in the high number of transport projects underway and planned in the region, and it is reflected in some very encouraging results contained in this year's annual report."

The 2006/2007 Annual Report on the Regional Land Transport Strategy shows that while three in four commuters still travel to work by car, a growing proportion of Aucklanders are bucking that long-standing trend by catching more trains, and also by walking and jogging to work more often than they were five years ago.

People made 1.24 million more trips using public transport than in the previous year. Bus patronage increased by 1.2%, after three years of decline, while rail and ferry trips continued to grow. Public transport patronage is now slightly higher than the previous peak in 2003.

Population growth continues to stress the transport network and Auckland's environment.

The morning peak continues to experience greatest road congestion delays, averaging 50 seconds per kilometre in March 2007. The PM10 air quality national environmental standard was exceeded on six days in 2006, up from four days in the previous year.

"It is vital to Auckland's social, economic and environmental well-being that the region works towards a common purpose," Cr Cayford said.

"The current 10-year strategy must be pushed out to 50 years to better plan for the transport infrastructure this fast-growing region requires. The Regional Land Transport Committee has started work on that 50-year strategy and the challenge to complete it lies with the new committee formed after local body elections."

The 2006/2007 Annual Report is on the ARC website. It includes a list of transport projects undertaken in the Auckland region and progress made in the past year.

Auckland Transport: Some highlights in 2006/2007

* Government support for upgrading and electrification of Auckland's commuter rail network and a new regional fuel tax funding mechanism.
* A million passengers used the temporary Northern Busway running along the shoulder lane of SH1, and the Albany Park n Ride filled with commuter cars shortly after coming into operation.

* The first Auckland Transport Plan completed, pulling together Transit, ONTRACK and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority's planning
* The first Sustainable Transport Plan sets out ARTA's 10-year strategy to encourage people to make fewer car journeys

* Passenger Transport Network Plan (2006-16) sets out how ARTA plans to double the use of passenger transport
* The Rail Development Plan details a 30-year plan to revitalise rail
* The first Auckland Regional Freight Strategy completed
* Traffic information improved via webcams and radio reports
* Ramp signals operational at five motorway sites
* Regional Cycle Network agreed by all councils
* 138 schools and over 20 workplaces and tertiary institutions are in

Travel Plan programmes
* SH 18: Upper Harbour Bridge finished, construction of the Greenhithe section well underway
* SH 20: Options for undergrounding the Waterview Connection alignment are under investigation, the Mt Roskill Extension should be finished mid 2009, the contract for the Manukau Harbour Bridge Duplication should be awarded soon, enabling works for Manukau Extension of the Southwestern Motorway to SH1 are underway

* Esmonde Road Interchange, North Shore completed
* Waiouru extension connection to the Southern Motorway, together with completion of Otahuhu interchange
* Central Motorway Junction Stages One and Two completed
* The Northern Busway construction (due to be completed in December 2007)

* New rail stations at Manurewa, Panmure, Henderson, Sunnyvale, Glen Eden, Fruitvale Road and Sylvia Park (Papakura has also opened)
* Construction began to upgrade Newmarket junction and station, 7.5 kilometres of double-track opened between Henderson and New Lynn, enabling works for a Manukau rail link started
* Upgrade of Birkenhead ferry terminal completed, work progressing at Bayswater and Beach Haven

ENDS

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