The Weekend Analysis: Council and Auckland Transport Seriously Annoying Auckland – Again

Written by Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

Delays, Delays, and oh look more delays

 

It seems both Auckland Council and Auckland Transport can not get themselves together on matters that matter most to Auckland. I will cover the Auckland Development Committee yet again failing a Local Board and its community over the Three Kings Quarry development in a subsequent podcast after the ADC (as did the Finance and Performance Committee in September) failed Manukau and Southern Auckland last month.

In this podcast I am looking at Council and Auckland Transport flailing around with some transport projects that were told to the City that they were good to go but now only to be delayed due to “lack of funding.” More like “lack of budgetary nous” would more apt.

Of note I see Transport Blog are also delivering a sharp critique to Auckland Transport over them flailing around with bus lanes after much talk from AT Chair Dr Levy but as expected from AT no subsequent action. See the bus lane flailing here: What happened to the promised bus lanes?

 

Auckland Council and Auckland Transport Flailing Around on Transport Projects

 

Lot 59 Manukau Land Area in Question

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

Proposed Manukau Interchange as of 2013

Manukau Bus Interchange
Manukau Bus Interchange

 

Questions sent to the Mayor and Auckland Transport

To His Worship The Mayor – Len Brown
Re: Explanation over the delays of the construction of the Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges
I have already emailed Auckland Transport over the matter of the Manukau and Otahuhu Bus Interchanges being delayed from their construction time frame of 2015 until 2021 to which you can read below.
My following questions to you are this:
  1. Are you aware that these two transport interchanges have been delayed six years from 2015 until 2021
  2. To your knowledge why have these transport interchanges being delayed for so long if they are delayed
  3. What happened to any apparent funding that was meant to allow both interchanges to be built and operational by the end of next year
  4. Why are the future proceeds from the sales of three parcels of Lot 59 in Manukau where the Manukau Interchange is to be built as allowed by the Finance and Performance Committee in September (much to the disgust of the Southern Auckland communities in any case) not being actively ring fenced by Council, so those land sale proceeds could be used to pay for the construction of the Manukau Interchange thus not put pressure on general funding streams. I believe the proceeds were to be around $11-$18m at the minimum which would cover a very large proportion of the $16.9m price tag for the Interchange
  5. Will the delay in both Interchanges have any further consequences on the New South Auckland Bus Network starting mid 2015 for which both (especially Otahuhu) which are reliant on those interchanges being operational
  6. If the Manukau Interchange is being delayed until 2021 I assume that the current stops outside the Scentre (Westfield) Mall Entrance by the food court will remain in operation? Will in the interim Council and AT do some quick cheap remedial works to spruce up the run down stops until the Interchange at Lot 59 is built
  7. With the Manukau Interchange now apparently stalled for 6 years is there a chance to go back to the drawing board or rather start from scratch and get a Community led design for the interchange rather than an AT led one that no one effectively like thus later ridiculed (note: Sawtooth designs do not work for Metro Bus Stations)
  8. Finally if the Manukau Interchange has stalled until 2021 will the Land Sale at Lot 59 be put on hold if not cancelled. I ask because of the Urban Development risk where you have the lots in yellow being developed once the land is sold but the section in blue which AT hang onto and is meant to be used for the Interchange is left rather barren – that is we have a potential eyesore looming unless the Interchange is built 2015.

Lot 59 with the yellow to be sold and the blue to be for the bus interchange which apparently is now stalled until 2021 from 2015.
I look forward to your replies and/or clarifications
With Regards
———- Forwarded message ———-
Date: 13 November 2014 11:39
Subject: Progress on the Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges
To:

Morning Peter and Mark

RE: Progress on Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges
I am emailing you both to seek clarification around the progress of the Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges.
I am aware construction is meant to start soon – that being around 2015.
However, one of the Councillors (George Wood) has commented this morning the following:

Construction of the new Otahuhu Bus Station on Station Road, Otahuhu was to start December 2014. Seems that project has been put off until 2020 along with the Manukau Bus Station project. So much for the much vaunted new South Auckland revolutionary bus services. Auckland Transport still have the 2014 start date on their website. Ben Ross may be able to shed some light on what is happening here..

That was be news to me and others in Southern Auckland if there were delays to both Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges.
So the question does Councillor Wood’s statement/question reflect what is now going in insofar as there are now delays to both interchanges and if so why specifically?
With Regards

 

——————

 

Reference Material

Auckland Transport Works Program over Christmas/New Years

Future works on the Auckland rail network

In order to continue the upgrade of Auckland’s rail network, there are times when train services need to be replaced by bus, this can only be done when the trains are not running.

Upgrades on the rail network is generally undertaken at weekends and public holidays when there is usually fewer people travelling.

During these planned closures, replacement Rail Bus services and special timetables will operate. We aim to have these timetables available at least 4 weeks prior to planned closures.

Upcoming closures:

Sunday 23 November 2014
Saturday 29 November 2014:
Diesel trains will replace electric trains on Manukau services to allow for Otahuhu Station redevelopment work.
Trains from Manukau to Britomart will operate five minutes earlier than normal schedule due to a single platform only available at Otahuhu

Saturday 6 December 2014:
Buses replace trains between Penrose and Papakura and between Sylvia Park and Manukau/Papakura.
This is to continue with the Otahuhu Station redevelopment.

Saturday 20 December and Sunday 21 December 2014:
Buses replace trains between Penrose and Papakura and between Sylvia Park and Manukau/Papakura.
This is to continue with the Otahuhu Station redevelopment.

Thursday 25 December 2014 to Sunday 4 January 2015:
Full network closure – a bus replacement service will operate on all lines.  This is to allow for significant track maintanence at Newmarket, Penrose, Westfield, Wiri and Papakura, sleeper replacement on the Eastern Line, station work at Otahuhu and NZTA motorway work at Takanini and Ellerslie.

Monday 5 January to Sunday 11 January 2015:
Buses replace trains on the Western Line.  Normal train services will operate on all other lines.  This is to allow for track upgrades at Morningside and Kingdon Street and sleeper replacement works at level crossings.

……..

Source: https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/service-announcements/future-works-on-the-auckland-rail-network/

 

Otahuhu Interchange

https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/otahuhu-bus-train-interchange/

 

Manukau Interchange

https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/manukau-bus-interchange/