31 October 2005

Papakura Mayor and CEO view regional traffic management first hand

Papakura District Council Mayor John Robertson and CEO Theresa Stratton met recently with Transit New Zealand representatives at Auckland's ATTOMS Traffic Management Centre to discuss their joint effect on regional traffic flow.

Earlier this year, the two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding to include Papakura District Council into Auckland's Traffic Management Unit (TMU). Papakura District is the sixth local authority in the partnership, joining Auckland City, North Shore City, Waitakere City, Manukau City and Rodney District Council in creating a coordinated approach to traffic management in the Auckland region.

It was the first time Mayor Robertson had visited the ATTOMS Traffic Management Centre in Northcote to see how around the clock monitoring of Auckland's motorways and arterials is contributing to better movement of traffic within the Auckland region.

Mayor Robertson said he expected being part of the TMU would bring improved traffic flows on the motorway and arterial roads in Papakura.

"Joining the TMU brings us closer to working out how best to manage traffic in the Auckland region. As well as contributing additional traffic management resources, each partnering authority also receives the benefits of 24/7 traffic surveillance and traffic signal monitoring,' he says.

TMU Traffic Manager Stephen Burnett said the aim was to make better use of roading network capacity. "The TMU will also be assisting in public transport initiatives to help achieve better traffic flows and better manage congestion," he said.

With the aid of more than 100 closed circuit TV cameras and 24 variable message signs (VMS), the ATTOMS Traffic Management Centre responds to incidents and changes in traffic flow by adjusting traffic signal phasing and providing up to the minute information to road users. This information is also available on the traffic website - www.trafficnz.info

ENDS

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