MEDIA RELEASE
5 February 2004

Mt Albert rail station planning underway

Auckland City’s Transport Committee has set the ball rolling for the development of a new train station at Mt Albert.

The Mt Albert community will be consulted to develop ideas not only for the station and the immediate surrounds, but also to determine the community’s vision for revitalising Mt Albert’s town centre.

“The rail station is located at the heart of Mt Albert and provides a great opportunity to invest in the town centre," said Councillor McKeown, Transport Committee chairperson. "The opportunities for Mt Albert extend beyond the transport benefits, and community input and good urban design will be important."

The committee supports the use of transit-orientated design principles as a framework for the project. A transit-oriented development integrates land use with passenger transport and typically focuses on mixed use (eg commercial, residential, retail and recreation) within walking distance of a transit stop, such as a rail station. The key principle of this approach is that quality of life, sense of community and lifestyle choice can be improved by having vibrant town centres within a city, that are easy to get around on passenger transport or by walking and cycling.

"Work is already underway for other stations on the western line, including Kingsland and Morningside. While Mt Albert is a bit further down the track, the location of the Mt Albert station, in a cutting, provides us with an opportunity to consider quite a significant station development, and I want the community to be involved early," said Mr McKeown. "The early rounds of consultation will be like an ideas trap, a public forum where people will be able to throw all their good ideas into the mix."

The consultation project is expected to include the following beginning in March 2004:
- public meetings to discuss community aspirations and vision, principles and benefits of transit-oriented development and future options for the station and town centre
- interactive urban design workshops to develop the community’s vision as a comprehensive station area plan
- an action programme for the redevelopment of the station and surrounding area open to the community for comment
- a final framework and action programme.

Auckland City is working with Auckland Regional Transport Network Limited (ARTNL) to deliver quality rail stations that reflect the character of the surrounding area throughout the city. So far, expenditure for rail station redevelopment is estimated as being between $80 and $110millon.

Ends

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