Finance Committee Agrees to Accelerated Transport Package

Written by Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

One more hurdle down but still one more to go

While Councillor Quax was at the receiving end of Auckland Transport’s Dr David Warburton (CEO) remarks on Reeves Road Flyover (see:April Public Transport Figures Out (And Councillor Quax Schooled) UPDATED) the Finance and Performance Committee agreed to the Accelerated Transport Package (that being the individual projects in the package).

From Auckland Council:

Accelerated Transport Programme agreed

Auckland Council’s Finance and Performance Committee today supported an Accelerated Transport Programme made possible by funding from the new Interim Transport Levy for the next three years.

The money generated from the levy will help fund The Accelerated Transport Programme, which will include projects across the region.

The projects will include:
  • Bringing forward investment for the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) between 2015-18
  • Increasing walking and cycling funding across Auckland to $124million leveraging additional central government funding
  • Transport interchanges at Otahuhu, Manukau and Te Atatu
  • Te Atatu road corridor improvements
  • Pukekohe interchange and park and ride
  • New park and rides at Papakura, Westgate and Silverdale
  • Tamaki Drive and Ngapipi intersection improvements
  • A $7million increase in budget for rural road seal extensions
  • Public transport safety improvements
  • 45 additional kilometres of bus lanes.

Mayor Len Brown says that the programme will deliver significant benefits to the transport network across every part of Auckland.

“The message that came back loud and clear from Aucklanders during our consultation was that they wanted strong action and leadership on the transport issue. This starts delivering on that request.

“While we continue to work with the government to secure an alternative funding system to deliver the Auckland Plan Transport Network and work towards an agreed and funded plan for Auckland’s transport future, this interim solution will help us to keep moving,” he says.

“The improvements that Aucklanders will see right across the region will be noticeable and beneficial to all with new road, public transport, cycle and walkway projects included.

“This issue of transport is the number one issue for our region, and through the Accelerated Transport Network we are addressing issues that need immediate action.”

  1. The programme funding will come in part via the Interim Transport Levy, part NZTA funding and part council debt.

—Ends—-

The Accelerated Transport Package and the Levy still need to clear the Governing Body one more time on June 25 before it becomes operative on June 1.