IA Supports Transport Proposal

Statement made by John Robertson, Chairman, Infrastructure Auckland

The proposal to create a new entity - Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is welcomed by Infrastructure Auckland.

The key focus of ARTA is to be a single point of control of and accountability for the entire regional transport network.

IA strongly endorses the proposal to create a single body that would plan, fund, develop and manage transport in the Auckland region. Currently these functions are dispersed over a number of bodies and no single entity can be held accountable for the delivery and ongoing performance of a complete and integrated road, rail, bus, ferry, cycle and walking network.

It is important to note that 98% of trips in the Auckland region use roads. If the new entity is to improve Auckland’s transport network it needs control of arterials and state highways in the region.

Transport corridors – mainly roads (which are used by buses as well as private vehicles) but also the rail and ferry networks, walk ways and cycle ways, and so on, are a scarce resource in Auckland.

Decisions about the allocation of existing corridor space and the expansion of corridors need to be taken with the entire network in mind – including roads and passenger transport routes.

This does not necessarily mean that the new entity must own all arterial roads, the rail network and state highways. It can exert the required level of control over the components of the network through contractual relationships with their owners.

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