Citizens and Ratepayers confirm major Auckland transport projects

The Citizens and Ratepayers team have today confirmed the major transport projects and activities it will focus on if elected to the new Auckland Council.

C & R says improving transport across the Auckland region is the major socio-economic issue for all local communities and businesses. However the group says that funding shortfalls mean that transport projects must be prioritized and broken down into manageable stages.

C&R has announced it is focusing on the Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy (ARLTS), the Auckland Transport Plan (ATP) and the Government Policy Statement as providing the transport blueprint for the region.

“We see the introduction of integrated ticketing, the construction of the CBD rail link to complete the Rapid Transit Network, and completing the SH20 Waterview connection as being central to ensuring there are major improvements in the region's transport system”, says the Citizens and Ratepayers candidate for the North Shore, and former North Shore Mayor, George Wood.

C&R says the group’s priority projects are consistent with the ARLTS, which extends out to 2040, however some of the longer term ARLTS projects fall outside the potential funding capabilities.

“Priorities over a 30 year period may change and will be up for regular review, but currently we do not believe projects such as a third Waitemata Harbour crossing, rail links to Auckland Airport and rail North to Albany should be considered as the most pressing,” says George Wood.

“Everyone is affected by the need for progressive and affordable transport solutions,” says the Citizens and Ratepayers candidate for the Albany ward, Linda Cooper. “Whether you are a student attending a local primary school, an office worker traveling into the Auckland CBD, a farmer in the back blocks of Franklin or Rodney districts, a transport operator hauling containers off the Auckland waterfront or providing cartage for industry - poor transport impacts on us all.”

The group says the Auckland Transport Plan published by ARTA in 2009 shows they require nearly $15 billion over the next ten years.

“If the full construction of the SH20 Waterview connection, CBD rail tunnel, rail to Auckland airport and the additional Waitemata Harbour crossing are all included, the total funding required over ten years amounts to $22 billion, so we must prioritise,” says Linda Cooper.

C&R says its connections with the current Government will be used to bring solutions to difficult transport issues such as the Auckland CBD tunnel, and the new Auckland Council must forge a formal agreement with the Government to develop the mechanisms to fund the priority projects.

“We will also be pushing for improved transport across a broad front including walking, cycling, ferries, buses, rail and roading,” says George Wood.

*Specific projects supported by C&R are set out in the schedule below.

* Schedule of Projects supported by C&R

• Expanding the road network by:
o Completing the Western Ring Route by 2015
o Constructing, following additional local consultation, the Auckland-Manukau-Eastern Transport initiatives (AMETI) (Panmure elements by 2020, Pakuranga to Botany in the period 2021-2030)
o Improving airport access in the period 2021-2030

• Constructing the CBD tunnel rail link by 2021 and further increasing capacity and frequency

• Electrifying the rail network and increasing frequencies by 2015

• Integrated ticketing by 2012

• Extending the Northern Busway from Constellation station to Albany station

• Construction of Penlink to Whangaparaoa Peninsula

• Developing the Henderson-Westgate-Albany bus connection as QTN

• Developing a Panmure-Botany-Manukau bus connection as a Quality Transit Network (QTN) and further upgrading to Rapid Transit Network (RTN) in the period 2021-2030

• Investigation of a potential strategic road connection between East Tamaki and SH20

• Higher frequency of services on the RTN and QTN and improvements to the local connector network (LCN)

• Investigation into extending the rail system to the North Shore

• Protection of the route for an additional crossing of the Waitemata Harbour

• Widespread arterial road improvements with a focus on public transport and the regional strategic freight network

• Road safety and rural transport improvements

• Walking and cycling infrastructure improvements, including completion of 50 per cent of the regional cycle network by 2016 and 100% by 2026

• Continued maintenance and renewal of the network

ENDS

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