Corridor will give public transport better options

25 August 2005

Completion of Western Corridor will give public transport better options

A commitment by government to complete the Western Corridor in 8 years will allow improvements to the region’s bus services to be planned with greater certainty.

Bruno Petrenas, chairman of the Auckland District of the New Zealand Automobile Association, said that as well as the $830 million a year of commercial and economic benefits that will result from completing the Western Ring Route, the corridor would also provide significant social benefits through safer and more reliable “cross region” bus services that would be able to be provided.

For example, a direct bus from Henderson to Manukau City currently has no choice but to use a maze of local streets, often resulting in disruption to other motorists.

“With a direct cross-region route available, commuters will not just get a faster journey using their own car but they will also have a choice that includes an efficient bus service.”

Mr Petrenas said that the Association strongly backed the call for an accelerated work programme to finish the Western Corridor within 8 years, and setting out a vision statement for meeting future demand.

The planned overall network was originally designed for a regional population of 1 million people by 1990.

“A ‘catch up’ to where we should have been 15 years ago, will enable a platform to be set for meeting future demand – enhancements like a 3rd harbour crossing are now becoming urgent, and comprehensive regional bus and Traffic Demand Management (TDM) measures need a base motorway network in place to work efficiently,” he said.

ENDS

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