Time for those quick wins on our road corridors!

From October 2026, most that is about Auckland’s road corridors that is not public transport (buses) will be under the jurisdiction of Auckland Council rather than Auckland Transport. Local non regional roads, and streets will fall under the oversight of the 21 Local Boards, while the major regional arterial roads (and likely roads of major significance like Queen Street in the City Centre) will fall under the oversight of the Mayor, 20 Councillors, and 2 IMSB members of whatever the Transport Committee is of the time. This means should mean a more flexible response to road corridor issues then the belligerence we have gotten from AT for 16 years.

Yes admittedly I have managed to get bus lanes into Manukau City Centre, and bus lane hours extended also in Manukau but at the same time AT has also dithered on extending MORE bus lane hours and getting more bus lanes also into Manukau. No more, as I should be able to raise the issue with the Transport Committee (to be chaired this term by Councillor Shane Henderson), make the case and justification, and if approved by said Committee the fix rolled out pretty promptly as budget allows.

And to do this the Mayor and Councillors are “selling” this web page on traffic issues we want fixed as quick wins. The requirements and specifications are below as is the link to the page. Pretty straight forward in getting the issue raised.

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/report-problem/report-a-problem/report-traffic-issue.html

BUT there will be some catches. For example placing Bus Lanes down the entire length of the Great South Road would be perfect. But this is not a quick fix, it is deemed major work and major work that is being progressed under a Notice of Requirement. NoR’s are a step in the formal process to place down a legal designation in order to advance to design, funding and construction as heavy works like curbs, intersections, and underground utilities need to be done. However, extending bus lane times, or new bus lanes on relatively short segments that do not disturb existing infrastructure should be deemed a quick win. ALSO MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT RETURNING TO OUR PLANNING LAWS. National and Labour have ruled them out at this time while wanting an extra general lane will get push back from urbanists very fast (given they make traffic worse via induced demand).

So my three big quick wins of: Cars out of Queen Street, extending all bus lane operating hours from peak time only to all day (6am – 7pm, 7 days a week), and an all day bus lane down the west bound side of Manukau Station Road to the bus station which AT have dithered with for eight years would be deemed quick wins (thus using the form).

As such time to fill in the form (multiple times) to see if I can get some quick wins off the ground. That said if I pitch Ronwood Avenue between Davis Avenue and Lambie Drive as a Tactical Urbanism project I might be able to get that off the ground too as a quick demonstration win for the larger Airport to Botany project due from 2028!

So, fellow JAFA’s, lend Auckland your eyes and lets get some of those quick wins in to get Auckland moving, and making Auckland a liveable city again!