ARTA Media Release
21 September 2009


ARTA challenge - reduce Auckland’s congestion - go ‘Car Free’

In celebration of World Carfree Day tomorrow, Tuesday 22 September, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is encouraging Aucklanders to leave the car keys behind, help ease congestion and pledge to go car free.

ARTA’s General Manager, Strategy and Planning, Peter Clark says “As most Aucklanders know, car congestion is one of Auckland’s biggest issues. In 2001 there were approximately 700 people using trains to get into the city every morning peak. In 2009, there are now over 5,000 people using trains to get into town every morning peak. This increase is due to massive investment by central government and the region in track and station improvements, investment in upgraded rolling stock and increases in services.

“In respect of the contribution made to decongesting the city, using New Zealand Transport Agency methodology and our own survey results, around 75% of these new passengers previously used their cars to get into the city. Using analysis of $25,000 annual decongestion benefit for each additional public transport user who previously used a car, that equates to around $80 million decongestion benefits for rail alone. If we look at the northern busway, using similar methodology, annualised decongestion benefits are worth around $42 million.

“Looking at it another way, rail improvements over the past few years and the busway have resulted in 5,400 cars being removed off the most congested roads in the country every morning peak for Auckland’s CBD alone. This has freed up ease of use of these roads for commercial and other trips which cannot use public transport and hence has a significantly positive impact on economic productivity and performance.

“So on World Car Free Day, make your contribution to decongesting Auckland, leave the car at home and either sit back and enjoy a chauffeur driven ride on public transport, or get out in the fresh air and walk or cycle to your destination”, says Mr Clark.

Aucklanders can get involved by visiting maxx.co.nz and pledging to go car free any day this week. Those who make a pledge will also enter a draw to win $200 of free travel or a Giant mountain bike worth over $800.

World Carfree Day is an international initiative that began in 2000 to coincide with European Mobility Week, and has now grown to involve over 1000 cities in 40 countries around the world. It aims to celebrate and promote more sustainable means of travel.

ENDS

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