uckland Transport media release

9 September 2013

Auckland Transport invests more than a billion dollars in Auckland

Auckland Transport has today released its annual report for the year to 30 June 2013.

The report shows Auckland Transport has invested a further $1.07b in Auckland’s infrastructure including $297.8m spent on public transport, $123m on roads and $31m on parking.

The surplus before tax of $467.7m is $465.3m above the budget of $2.4m. A number of non-cash and abnormal items have impacted the result including the transfer of some sections of former state highway to Auckland Transport.

Auckland Transport chairman, Dr Lester Levy, says it has been another big year. “Few cities in the world have worked harder or invested more in fundamental change to their transport system, in such a short time.”

He says there have been a number of highlights including the government announcing its support for construction of the City Rail Link and for accelerating the AMETI project including the East-West link.

The 2013 financial year saw integrated ticketing introduced, the $100m Wiri depot being built to maintain the electric trains, a new central city parking zone, ferry services beginning to Hobsonville and Beach Haven, construction work continuing on the AMETI project and the first work on a radical re-design of the entire bus network.

Auckland Transport’s Chief Executive Officer, David Warburton, says the past year has been challenging for staff. “Auckland Transport has a big job to do. I thank our staff for their commitment to transforming Auckland and its transport system.”

Dr Warburton says the changes are happening at great speed. “The first of Auckland’s new trains will be unveiled this week and all 57 trains will be in operation by mid-2015.”

But Dr Levy warns that Auckland’s predominantly road-based system still has fragile arteries and lacks realistic alternatives and resilience. “Aucklanders have a right to expect better and change is coming fast.”

He says more frequent and more reliable public transport services to more areas of Auckland will be enabled by electric trains, integrated fares and full delivery of the re-designed bus network and new service contracts.

“We are carefully listening to our customers expressing the need for Auckland Transport to be more customer-led.”

What is Auckland Transport

- The council-controlled organisation builds, maintains and upgrades Auckland’s transport infrastructure. It also plans, funds and co-ordinates bus, rail and ferry services, co-ordinates road safety and travel demand initiatives, such as travel plans and prepares the Regional Land Transport Plan.

- Auckland Transport has assets valued at $14.4b including: 7,258km of local and arterial roads; 1004 bridges and culverts; 6,860km of footpaths; 100,032 street lights; 127,713 road signs; 1569 bus shelters; 7 dedicated bus stations and 5 busway stations; 21 ferry terminals; 42 rail stations on 5 lines; 57 electric trains (on order) and one maintenance depot; 14 multi-storey car park buildings and 933 on-street pay-and-display machines.

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For more information: http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/about-us/publications/Reports/Pages/annualreports.aspx

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