AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

1 December 2005

Tamaki Edge transport under the spotlight

A report summarising transport work underway on the Tamaki Edge has highlighted the importance Auckland City places on resolving access issues to, from and around one of Auckland's fastest growing areas.

The report reviews roading projects, rail and bus service improvements and walking and cycling strategies currently underway in and around Glen Innes, Panmure, Mt Wellington and Sylvia Park.

The report also highlights work due to start on managing travel demand and to align transport with land use within this area.

"It is only when brought together that the scale of the work on transport issues around the Tamaki Edge can be appreciated," says Councillor Dr Bruce Hucker, deputy mayor and chairperson of the Urban Strategy and Governance Committee, which received the report.

"The Tamaki Edge is an important part of Auckland City's growth management strategy. By 2015, we are expecting an additional 30,000 more people and 10,000 more jobs to be located in the Tamaki Edge. This is equivalent to adding the population Gisborne.

"As such we need to ensure that the roading infrastructure and transport services can meet the demands we will expect of them. At the same time the report demonstrates that we are working to ensure we have an environment where residents and visitors are able to easily get around by foot and bicycle."

Key transport initiatives include:

- creating a regulatory environment in which greater numbers of people can live, work, do business and entertain themselves in locations well served by public transport

- significant enhancements in rail services

- improvements to maintain the efficient working of the road network.

As a condition of their consents, developers are carrying out many roading improvements to mitigate the impacts of urban development projects. These include intersection and road improvements around the Sylvia Park regional centre, Talbot Park and the Lunn Avenue quarry redevelopment.

Auckland City, in conjunction with other roading authorities, is considering a range of roading initiatives. These include new roading connections and intersection and roading capacity improvements. Consideration of these will be a feature of the Auckland-Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative.

Rail and bus service improvements include introducing Sunday rail services, new rolling stock and integrated ticketing. Electrification of the Auckland passenger rail services is currently being considered. An opportunity exists to reinstate the Tamaki rail station in conjunction with the development of the former Lunn Avenue quarry and a new rail station is part of the Sylvia Park regional centre plans.

Various walking and cycling projects are also underway to ensure that town centres, public transport as well as employment, living and recreation areas for the increasing population are located within easy walking and cycling distance of each other.

Significant changes in land use are being promoted to provide for an increased population and business activity in close proximity to rail stations. Over time, further land use changes are expected.

ENDS

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