Bridge partnership announced

Promoters of the walking and cycling pathway on the Auckland Harbour Bridge have signed an agreement to work in partnership with Hopper Developments.

GetAcross spokesperson Bevan Woodward says “We’re very excited to have Hopper Developments as our partners in this project. They have the expertise, experience and reputation critical to ensuring the Pathway is completed. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement which will ensure Aucklanders get a superb walking and cycling facility on their bridge, sooner rather than later.”

Hopper Developments chairman, Leigh Hopper says “We are attracted to this project because it is well thought out, fills a demonstrable public need and appears to be financially sound as a Public Social Private Partnership (PSPP). We believe we can attract the institutional funding support needed to deliver this innovative extension to the public walk/cycleway network with co-operation from key stakeholders.”

Walk Auckland’s Andy Smith says “Hopper Developments have thoroughly reviewed our proposal for the Pathway. It’s great that not only are they prepared to commit their resources and energy to the project but also this agreement is a strong signal to us we’re on the right track.”

A Pathway charitable trust is being formed to enable formal agreements to be entered into. The Trustees are Christine Rose, Alex Swney, Andy Smith and Bevan Woodward.

Concept designs for the Pathway have been prepared by architects Copeland Associates and structural engineers, Airey Consultants. These are currently being reviewed by NZTA and are expected to be made public about the time of bridge’s 51st anniversary.
ENDS

Frequently Asked Questions about the proposed Pathway on the AHB.

Who are the promoters of the AHB Pathway?
The project is primarily overseen by the Pathway Steering Group, the members are:

Jon Ramage, CEO, Y&R
Alex Swney, CEO, Heart of the City
Christine Rose, ARC’s Chair of Transport
Chris Darby, NSCC Councillor
Roger Twiname, Director, Airey Consultants
Richard Leggat, Chair, BikeNZ
Anne Hartley, NSCC Councillor
Mark Roberts, Sustainable Business Network & Cycle Action Auckland
Barry Copeland, Copeland Associates

Will the majority of the toll be consumed by collection costs?
No, only about 9% of the toll is used to pay for its collection, the rest of the toll goes to debt repayment, maintenance, security, insurance, operations and administration. The tolling system is based on public transport fare collection technology that provides patrons with a wide range of payment options whilst minimizing the transaction cost.

Why should walkers and cyclists pay when motorists don’t?
Ideally there would be no toll for walking and cycling access, but the reality is that the Pathway is highly unlikely to happen within the next 25 years without such a toll as the NZTA do not regard it as a funding priority. Motorists paid a toll to use the Auckland Harbour Bridge for 25 years, from 1959 until 1984.

What about the clip-on’s ability to carry the loading?
The eastern (south-bound) clip-on has ample capacity, as detailed by Beca’s September 2009 analysis.

Has this option for a Pathway under the deck been considered previously?
Yes, this option was explored by Beca in their Feasibility Report (see diagram below) and in the Maunsell access study, but was disregarded early as “Security was found to be a defining issue”. However, by tolling the Pathway, a high level of security is funded to ensure user safety, and the toll itself has some security benefits (reducing the likelihood of loitering).

Is it a priority for the region?
Yes, the walk/cycle way not only fixes most the most significant gap in Auckland’s walking and cycling network, it is a cornerstone project for improving walking and cycling in the Auckland region - similar to Britomart Station being the cornerstone project for the revival of Auckland’s once dreadful rail passenger service.

Currently Auckland has the reputation of being one of the worst cities in the world for walking (pg 28, ARTA’s Sustainable Transport Plan 2006-16) and only 1% of Aucklanders regard cycling as “always safe” (ARC’s Community Perceptions Report 2007).

Do Aucklanders want it?
Yes, in November 2007 Y&R commissioned market research to gauge the level of support amongst Aucklanders for the walkway and cycleway. Very strong support was revealed, with 76% in support, 12% against and 12% unsure. See the survey results at: www.caa.org.nz/AHB/Support/MarketResearch.pdf

Aren’t the clip-ons too unstable for a walkway and cycleway?’
The clip-ons are currently undergoing major strengthening, which includes the addition of 900 tonnes of steel at an estimated cost of $86 million. This strengthening will reduce movement, making the walk/cycleway safe and comfortable:

"Through innovative thinking, further structural elements have been incorporated into the current strengthening works at relatively low cost to future proof for future walking and cycling options on the box girders [clip-ons]."

Isn’t it too steep to walk or cycle over the Auckland Harbour Bridge?
The gradient of the Bridge is 3 degrees (5%). This is considered a gentle grade and rated “easy” by the National Cycleway guidelines.

Will the Pathway affect the flow of traffic across the Bridge?
No, the shared Pathway is under the traffic deck and does not affect the configuration of traffic lanes in any way.

Why not wait until the next harbour crossing, or use racks on the front of buses to carry bikes?
The Transport Agency’s Waitematā Next Harbour Crossing Study 2008 determined the next harbour crossing shall be a tunnel for vehicles, with walking and cycling access to be provided on the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge. However, waiting for the harbour road tunnel to be built means waiting 20 years or more for walking and cycling access across the harbour.

Putting bikes on buses to cross the Bridge is not a satisfactory option, as cyclists enjoy cycling for fitness and convenience, and don’t want the delays and financial cost of taking a bus. A bus fitted with a rack can carry a maximum of 3 bicycles at time, thus it is not appropriate for the estimated demand of 800 to 1,500 cyclists per day.

Cyclists currently use ferries to cross the harbour; however the demand is now exceeding capacity at peak times, hence Fullers Ferries support walking and cycling access on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

What about the proposed “ANZAC” Bridge?
The ANZAC Bridge has been suggested to replace the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge and do away with the need for a tunnel. It would run through the Wynyard Quarter across the harbour to the Onewa Rd/SH1 interchange.
As such a bridge would not be completed within 15 years, the opportunity exists for the Auckland Harbour Bridge Pathway to be built now and to potentially continue to provide walking and cycling across the harbour after any new crossing.
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