Funding Constraints Delay Needed Interchanges

Yesterday I was alerted through Facebook by Councillor George Wood that the Manukau and Otahuhu Bus Interchanges that were due to be built next year have now been delayed until 2021.

This was the notification I had received yesterday morning (in fact I got two):

……

Councillor Wood made subsequent enquiries to the Officers while I sent an email to both Planning and Strategy, and Operations – Public Transport (so Peter Clark and Mark Lambert) asking for a please explain.

No reply has been received yet however, I did get this from Councillor Wood late last night:

So we are facing a potential 6.5 year delay to the construction and completion of both Interchanges. While this is extremely unacceptable with Otahuhu owing to its role with Otahuhu Station and the new South Auckland Bus Network due to start mid 2015, with Manukau I am actually not fussed with the delay. I also find it a bit odd too with both Interchanges falling under the Basic Transport Network 2015-2025 plan as well as seen below:

As you know I have never been a fan of the Manukau Interchange proposed layout from Auckland Transport and have battled to have it taken back to the drawing board  more than once now via the Auckland Development Committee (last attempt was October when the Manukau Land Sales issue came up). So a potential six odd year delay might just give me enough time to:

1. Lobby the new Auckland Development CCO (merge of Auckland Council Property Limited and Waterfront Auckland) to get AT (or take it off AT) to redo the entire interchange design
2. Cancel all aspects of the Lot 59 sale seeming it was attached to the Interchange being built next year unless Council wants a large hole in the middle of a new urban development for six years.

As for where the buses would go in the interim? Where they go now outside the Westfield main entrance by the food court. And nothing a quick lick of paint, some new seats and signs that would keep the place fresh while the Interchange is delayed.

So while having Otahuhu Interchange construction delay is not on, having Manukau Interchange delayed might present a new opportunity to get the interchange designed right second time around.

Manukau Bus Interchange MK1 design Lodged May 2013

Manukau City Centre Southern End Top View Reference for the Sketch Up Pocket Park: http://land8.com/photo/athens-urban-park-exparking/next?context=user

Manukau Transport Interchange Development Alternative

Lot 59 Sections for potential sale (yellow), with current AT bus interchange foot print in blue Source: Auckland Council

Strange sense of irony to that my Alternative Transport Funding Package would have allowed the Manukau Interchange to be built at zero sum to the Ratepayer as well thus no delay. The Auckland Development Committee was warned as seen in these links:

The Reaction To My Presentation to the Auckland Development Committee [Updated with figures and links]

Blogger gets council attention to city strategy ideas

My Alternative Funding Package for Auckland’s Transport Projects

Council might want to heed good ideas next time to save them a rather last mess they are about to walk into with Manukau Interchange facing unnecessary delays.…

More on this when Auckland Transport replies.