30 year transport vision in place for Auckland’s future

A new Regional Land Transport Strategy that sets the direction for Auckland’s transport system over the next 30 years has been adopted by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).

Improved public transport, the completion of remaining parts of the strategic road network, improving walking and cycling infrastructure and managing travel demand are all seen as priorities.

“With the region’s population forecast to hit 2 million within the life of this strategy, multi-modal investment is vital,” says Councillor Christine Rose, chair of the Auckland Regional Transport Committee.

“Auckland is critical to New Zealand’s economy. Goods, services and people have to be moved efficiently and quickly around the region for the wider economy to thrive. Traffic congestion is detrimental to the economy as time and money are lost in delays. The strategy aims to overcome this by ensuring people have more viable travel choices.”

Quality of life, health and the environment have also been considered in the strategy.

“Transport is the single biggest cause of air pollution in Auckland, particularly from car exhausts. Current travel patterns and car dependence have led to economic inefficiencies, environmental, public health and social costs,” says Ms Rose.

“The economic reality is that people need to travel to go about their daily lives. The strategy acknowledges this and encourages significant investment in public transport, local walking and cycling, completing the regional cycle network, and road network improvements such as enhancing arterial roads.

“This investment is required to free the city from otherwise inevitable congestion as Auckland continues to outstrip national population growth.”

Feedback from the public has helped shaped the strategy, which addresses ways to:

• improve transport by bus, train, ferry, bicycle and foot
• integrate transport with where people live and where they are likely to live in the future
• change behavior and get more people out of their cars and onto public transport and to choose to walk or cycle for short distance trips
• complete the strategic road network.

ENDS

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