Providing transport choice for the Tamaki Edge area

Auckland City’s plans for providing more transport choices in the Tamaki Edge area won support from the Transport and Urban Linkages Committee at its meeting, held in the Glen Innes community this week.

The committee heard compelling cases from the public for increasing transport infrastructure to benefit from planned growth in the Tamaki Edge.

The Tamaki Edge, consisting of Glen Innes, Panmure, Mt Wellington and Sylvia Park, is poised for growth with the resident population expected to increase by an additional 30,000 residents and 10,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

“Auckland City is committed to providing for the city’s growth and enhancing local communities by creating transport choices through improved public transport and managing travel demand,” says Councillor Richard Simpson, the committee’s chairperson.

The committee emphasised the need for all developments in the Tamaki Edge area to be ‘urban villages’ dominated by a people orientated environment.

“To benefit from the growth, better access and connections are vital. Transport plans for the Tamaki Edge area need to be integrated and of quality urban design, ultimately creating vibrant town centres that support local communities,” says Mr Simpson.

The council’s transport plans balance local roading improvements with travel demand and public transport initiatives including:

• rail station upgrades and park-and-ride facilities at Meadowbank, Orakei, Panmure and Sylvia Park, and advocacy for re-opening Tamaki rail station
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• working with the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) for more frequent bus services
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• new road links as part of the Auckland-Manukau eastern transport initiative and the Mt Wellington quarry development
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• upgrading existing roads to improve safety and increase efficiency
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• providing dedicated pedestrian and cycle facilities.
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Council officers will report to the committee in November 2006 on the following:

• an investigation of the priorities and co-ordination of passenger transport and travel demand management
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• safer cycle and pedestrian access
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• a completion timeline for public transport and roading projects relating to the Mt Wellington quarry
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• investigation of ferry services from the Panmure wharf
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• effects of traffic flow at major intersection of surrounding roads eg: Grand Drive.
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Editors note:

Key characteristics of ‘urban villages’ (Newman and Kenworthy 1991)

• High density land use – everything within the ‘village’ is within walking and cycling distance
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• Pedestrian and cycle links and traffic calming on peripheral roads - aim for a traffic-free, people-orientated environment
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• Mixed land use – offices, shops, business and community facilities surrounded by residential development
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• Rail station near the village’s core
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• Considerable landscaping and gardens in public spaces, strong design features
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• High degree of self-sufficiency for the community to meet local needs
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For further information, please contact:

Councillor Richard Simpson, Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson

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