ARTA Media Release
19 June 2008

ARTA Concerned Regional Arterial Roading Funding Lagging

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) released its Draft Auckland Regional Arterial Road Plan for consultation this week.

The plan has been prepared by ARTA in collaboration with the region’s road controlling authorities and other key transport stakeholders.

ARTA's General Manager, Strategy and Planning, Peter Clark says, “The development of this draft plan recognises the critical role that regional arterial roads play in Auckland’s transport network.

“ARTA is concerned that investment in regional arterials has fallen behind. In order to bring the network up to the required standard, it is our view that additional funding is required to reduce the disparity between state highway and regional arterial road funding.”

“Current assessment of the existing and predicted (2016) performance of our regional arterial roads indicates relatively poor performance due to long-term under-resourcing of the network in comparison to the growth in demand for its use.”

Mr Clark says, “The increasing cost of fuel also poses a challenge for the regional arterial network to support viable alternatives to car travel. Most major bus routes in Auckland are located on regional arterials, so this is of particular importance in reviewing this plan.

“ARTA is focused on making better use of existing road space through giving greater priorities to buses and placing emphasis on moving freight efficiently. We also wish to better meet the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, and encourage the development and implementation of engineering measures to improve road safety.

“Regional arterials link districts or urban areas within the region, connect regionally significant facilities and play a critical role in the movement of people and goods in the region. We need to share the road, and move goods and people around the region much more effectively.”

The Auckland Regional Council's Chair of Transport and Urban Development and the Regional Land Transport Committee, Christine Rose, says using arterial road corridors more efficiently by providing for cars, freight, buses, cyclists and pedestrians addresses the needs of all users. “This is the most effective and sustainable way to make the most of our transport network. Taking a strategic, multi-modal approach to transport corridors, as signalled in the Draft Regional Arterial Road Plan, allows agencies and the public to achieve affordable access in times of fuel price increases and as public transport, walking and cycling become more popular.”

Mr Clark says in essence ARTA supports and encourages providing:
• Bus lanes on all major public transport routes
• Transit and HOV lanes in locations where it would be difficult to justify the use of bus lanes due to low bus numbers
• Cycle lanes in appropriate locations
• Clearways on arterial routes where bus or transit lanes are not appropriate to facilitate the efficient and safe movement of people and goods
• Freight priority lanes in locations where there is a need to improve the reliability of freight and where the advantages conferred by freight lanes over general traffic justify their implementation
• Improved pedestrian facilities and crossings.

“This Draft Regional Arterial Road Plan gives guidance on the future direction and use of regional arterial roads. Many of the proposals within this document could affect the way in which we travel around our region. Consequently, ARTA would like to hear from you on any issue relating to regional arterial roads, specifically concerning the key transport issues affecting regional arterial roads, the transport priorities for investment on regional arterial roads, and the management of regional arterial roads,” Mr Clark says.

Submissions for feedback close at 4pm on 8 August 2008.

The Draft Regional Arterial Road Plan can be found on www.arta.co.nz. Hard copies can be requested by calling ARTA on (09) 379 4422.

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