Moving Auckland Forward

Hon John Banks QSO Mayor of Auckland City

4 August 2004

Transit should release their APEC traffic plan

“Transit were so pleased with themselves and their traffic computer modelling and management plan for APEC five years ago, I challenge them to now release that plan so we can all see how they did it,” Auckland City Mayor Hon John Banks said today.

The mayor today released details of minutes from the final meeting of the APEC traffic management planning committee dated 22 September 1999. In attendance was Transit’s Wayne McDonald, now Transit’s Auckland regional manager.

The minutes noted the ‘meeting opened with general discussion on the success of the plan and the lack of complaint from any direction.’

Under ‘reductions’ the minutes read ‘On the four planned days the (traffic) reductions were over 50% and at times an 80% reduction was recorded.’… ‘there was an initial surge but it appeared travellers were listening out on their radios for developments’.

The minutes refer to the use of variable message signs (VMS) and noted ‘Transit New Zealand were convinced that these played a large part in the success of the plan.’

The minutes conclude: ‘Fair to say that all were pleasantly surprised by the overall success of the plan that was put in place.’

“The 1999 APEC conference was a major international event, involving motorcades for 21 world leaders, which presented huge logistical challenges. Having said this, we managed to cut traffic coming south over the Harbour Bridge by 53 per cent. The V8 event requires a traffic reduction of 40 per cent on this route,” said Mr Banks.

“The success of APEC proves that despite what today’s Wellington-based Transit board thinks, Auckland motorists are not stupid, they can read signs and listen to the radio, and then positively act to make sure there’s no traffic chaos. What’s more, let’s not forget our communications for the V8 will be much more comprehensive.

“Transit tells us it wants Auckland City to deliver a plan as good as that used during APEC. So do we.

“I challenge Transit to put on the table their APEC traffic computer modelling and management plan to help us all succeed again. It is rather strange that they are hiding a substantial plan that they were once so proud of. Or don’t they have one?

“I am sure Transit did do some comprehensive computer modelling because they’re big on detail and have recently been insisting on more detail from the V8 applicants. What’s more North Shore Mayor George Wood would have insisted on copies of the analysis and plans for APEC or didn’t it bother him back then?” said Mr Banks.

ENDS

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