Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

$4.2b partnership to strengthen Auckland’s transport links

$4.2b partnership to strengthen Auckland’s transport links

The NZ Transport Agency has announced the details of an estimated $4.2 billion programme of investment in Auckland over the next three years to provide an effective and efficient transport system for the city.

Transport Agency Regional Director for Auckland, Ernst Zöllner, says investment in Auckland for 2015-18 includes $1.175 billion for public transport, $960 million to maintain state highways, and $91 million to improve cycling and walking.
The funding for Auckland is part of a $13.9 billion investment in New Zealand’s transport system set out in the 2015-2018 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). It marks a 15 per cent increase compared to the previous 2012-2015 NLTP.

The NLTP is a partnership between local authorities who invest funding on behalf of ratepayers and the NZ Transport Agency, which develops the programme and invests funding from petrol taxes, road user charges and vehicle registration and licensing fees.

Ernst Zöllner says the agency is aiming to make urban trips easier and more predictable for people, whether those trips are by car or motorcycle, on public transport, on foot, by bicycle or a combination of any of these modes.

Mr Zöllner says Auckland’s future depends on a strategic joined up approach to both its motorway and local road network, along with critical public transport, walking and cycling networks, to ensure highly reliable, dedicated and congestion free travel.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The planned investment through the NLTP brings together a significant series of work including the Western Ring Route and projects including AMETI and East West Connections which, when combined, will create better and more resilient connections from north to south. This is the biggest step forward in strategic roading in Auckland in fifty years.”

“Partnerships are central to providing the best transport solutions for Auckland’s complex transport network. We’re working with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council to ensure all transport components are well connected”.

Funding for key projects to help improve transport across Auckland includes:
- Close to $1 billion investment from the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport for public transport services as well as an estimated $176 million on public transport improvements which will provide congestion relief. This includes the Ōtāhuhu Bus/Train interchange and AMETI Panmure to Pakuranga Busway. This is expected to result in a 21 per cent increase in public transport patronage over the next three years to 88 million passenger trips per year.
- A further $960 million towards easing congestion. Local roads will receive $614m and state highways $346m for maintenance and renewals, an increase of around $35m for the forecast local road spend over the last three year period
- Investment in the $1 billion East West Connections project to provide more efficient , predictable and safe freight journeys to and from the Onehunga-Penrose area in South Auckland and between road and rail in the area.
- Projects in the Northern Corridor Improvements Package are expected to begin in the next three years, including design and consenting for an extension of the Northern Busway to Albany Bus Station and initial construction works for a new direct motorway connection between SH1 and SH18. These projects aim to address predictions of large travel delays in peak times within the next decade, and provide alternative travel options.
- $268 million on the Southern Corridor Improvements project to upgrade the primary route between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. Improvements on this section of SH1 will include additional lanes to improve safety and increase capacity, targeting a reduction in travel times by up to 30 minutes.
- $48 million to continue development of the Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth
Road of National Significance, providing a safer, more reliable connection between Auckland and Northland by extending the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) to Warkworth. The project is estimated to cut 30 minutes from journey times in peak periods.
- A further $82 million will be co-invested by the Transport Agency and Auckland Council in the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) project to deliver improvements across roading, walking and cycleways and public transport services and stations.
- Improvements to connect the airport to SH20A to SH20 are underway at the Kirkbride Rd intersection with the provision of full motorway standard connectivity, bus shoulder lanes, and future proofing for rail to the airport.
- Continued construction of the $2.27 billion Western Ring Route including the Waterview Connection linking State Highway 20 with SH16 and 18, which is due for completion in 2017 and will provide the final link in the essential route around the Auckland central isthmus.
- $91 million from the Urban Cycleways Programme aimed at making cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice, recognising the increasing demand for safe cycling options.
- Around $68 million, a 12% increase on the previous three years, will be directed at specific safety improvements including safety around schools, pedestrian and cycling safety initiatives, speed management and education programmes.

To find out more information about the national and regional NLTP funding, documents and Q&As are available on the NZ Transport Agency website atwww.nzta.govt.nz/nltp


ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.