14 September 2017
Fixing Auckland’s transport needs bold 3-pronged plan
The Auckland Business Forum is calling on the next Government to quickly make a big call to change how Auckland has
traditionally tackled its transport problems.
“If we could duplicate across Auckland the success the Waterview Tunnel project has had on reducing congestion, we would
soon be ahead of the game,” said Michael Barnett, chair of the Auckland Business Forum.
It took nine years for Government, Auckland Council and private sector groups to develop an agreed transport strategy.
“It is an integrated $20 billion-plus package of investments of road and rail network improvements that will enable
significantly upgraded public transport and goods distribution services.”
But if the strategy is to make a Waterview-styled difference to travelling around Auckland, the big call we need to make
is to commit to its delivery as a package within the next 10 years – not 30 years as a first draft proposed. For this
speed-up a 3-pronged action plan is needed:
commitment to a 10-year investment strategy directed at Government and Council allocations, and agreement on where the
revenue will come from.
prioritising the delivery of these projects over the next 10 years – providing Auckland with the impetus to meet its
existing growth challenges.
ensuring that the supply of the projects to market is at a scale and time-line that’s appealing to both domestic and
international investors and partners
The significance of Auckland’s growth challenge is seen in population trends. In the last two years Auckland added
87,500 people, a growth which is higher than that projected for Wellington over the next 30 years – 84,600. An updated
projection has Auckland reaching 2 million by 2029 rather than the mid-2030s which Auckland’s current transport strategy
assumes.
This latest growth surge has generated a 15% increase in freight trips on some roads, and on current trends a third of
Auckland’s arterial roads will be congested through most working days by 2020.
If Auckland is to successfully manage its brand and opportunities on the international stage – such as capably hosting
the America’s Cup defense and APEC conference in 2021 – then it needs to match that with an equally effective commitment
to its growth and infrastructure.
The few days remaining in the election campaign is enough for political aspirants to show their intentions for Auckland
– it is not about more roads versus public transport – we need both. It is not about where the money can come from – it
is obtainable. It is about the next government providing fearless and joined up leadership with Auckland Council and the
private sector to commit to do in 10-years what we have in the past been content to set out in a 30-year agenda.
“It is a big call. But the success of the Waterview Tunnels shows that when we get our act together we get ahead. Let’s
set a goal to duplicate that success across the transport network within 10-years, and much sooner for investments
needing priority for action by 2021.”
ends