26 APRIL 2018

Auckland transport strategy – proof of pudding will be in the eating

The AA welcomes today’s announcement of an updated transport strategy for Auckland, but says that the key question for Auckland AA Members is still to be answered: what will it do for congestion?

The Government and Auckland Council today released an updated package of projects intended to keep Auckland moving for the next 10 years (as part of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project), with the centrepiece being an acceleration of the light rail programme.

AA spokesman Barney Irvine says the project list is exciting, and reflects an understanding on the part of the Government and Auckland Council that dealing with Auckland’s transport challenges requires action on all fronts.

But at the end of the day, the plan should be judged on the transport benefits it will deliver.

“The number-one transport concern for Aucklanders is congestion, but the plan provides hardly any detail on congestion outcomes,” says Mr Irvine. “We still don’t have any information about what benefit – if any – we’ll see in terms of travel times and the cost of congestion. Aucklanders are facing a double-whammy of a national fuel tax hike and an Auckland regional fuel tax to help pay for this, and in return they expect to see real progress on de-congestion.”

The AA is keen to see firm congestion targets set for Auckland, with performance against those targets regularly reported on.

Meanwhile, the AA commends the Government and Auckland Council on the increased focus on road safety, with $910 million proposed across a range of areas.

“As a road safety advocacy organisation, this is music to our ears,” says Mr Irvine. “We can’t wait to work with the officials to make it happen.”

Ends

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