Tag: Auckland Transport

From Dr Lester Levy

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Dr Levy writes in the NZ Herald

 

I caught this piece this morning (while debunking Orsman) from Dr Levy – head of Auckland Transport

 

Lester Levy: Restoring faith in Auckland’s transport system

Commuters can be assured public transport will be sorted and the service will be one everyone enjoys using.

 

Far too many Aucklanders have lost faith that there is an alternative to their private car. Photo / Brett Phibbs

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Far too many Aucklanders have lost faith that there is an alternative to their private car. Photo / Brett Phibbs

When it comes to transport in Auckland the stakeholders are as many and varied as are the differing and divergent views.

I guess it has always been like this and over many decades ad hoc decisions, decisions half-made, questionable decisions and decisions deferred or never made have severely limited options.

Transport solutions in Auckland are well behind where they should be, but not where we have to stay.

I have been chairman of Auckland Transport for six months. What do I see? Public transport in Auckland is just not yet good enough. The trains do not run frequently enough and frequently they do not run on time. The bus real-time information does not seem real to many, because it is not, a lot of the time.

Peak times on trains and buses are often very crowded and it just seems like there are not enough of them – that is because often there are not. The new AT Hop card has had some issues – these have been very frustrating for passengers

…

 

You can read the rest over at the Herald site

 

I have made mention before of Dr Levy’s mission and drive for both Auckland Transport and Auckland’s Transport here at the blog:

While I can be harsh upon Auckland Transport (AT-HOP, Snapper and the Family Pass being the classics), in the same regard I can praise and work alongside them as well (The Regional Public Transport Plan which is back for consultation). Dr Levy though is right through Auckland losing faith in its public transport (as I covered with the fall off in patronage statistics with rail) and even AT itself. I do not particularly envy Dr Levy’s formidable task in turning AT and the public transport system around but I do praise him to take the task head and hands on. Having seen Dr Levy turn around Auckland Hospital I can have faith he can do it again with Auckland Transport 🙂

 

In saying that though while I have faith in Dr Levy, I am apprehensive about the Auckland Transport Executive Team headed by CEO David Warburton. I am allowed to feel apprehensive as a human is I have concerns from the executive team not pulling its weight enough to get the changes we need through. The disdain executive members can have for the Auckland Council Transport Committee don’t help me allay that apprehension and I wonder if all the changes required can be pulled off by 2020-2025.

 

The apprehension against the executive is my private ponderings although I have mentioned them here as I know they will pick up on this.

 

Still; full praise to Dr Levy and his mission.

 

If the RPTP can be pulled off right (so far it has (and I have been involved in it through submissions and hearings) then that should be a big boost for AT and the transport system in Auckland. In saying that I better brush up and prepare my submission for the RPTP southern sector feedback AT is asking after. Need to get those bus routes right you know 😉

 

Auckland Transport and Public Transport

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Slick New Video on our Public Transport

 

If it was not for Budget 2013 and that Much-Ado-About-Nothing Accord causing grief in Auckland I would of gotten this post up yesterday. None the less Auckland Transport has released a rather slick video on how IT sees public transport post 2016. This is covered in the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) and is stuff I have commented and submitted on before.

Take a look at the video from Auckland Transport which can be seen at their “New Public Transport Network” page.

 

Also take note of these wee facts:

Benefits of a simpler connected network will include:

  • Services at least every 15 minutes on the frequent network
  • Easier to understand
  • Access to more destinations across Auckland
  • Reduced waiting times

In October 2012, Auckland Transport called for Aucklanders to have their say on the future of public transport in our city. A total of 719 submissions were received on the draft Regional Public Transport Plan, which included the proposed new structure for Auckland’s public transport network. Approximately 70 per cent of submissions supported the proposed direction taken.

This schematic map of the proposed frequent network (PDF 250kb)includes the Southern, Eastern and Western rail lines, the Northern busway and high-frequency bus routes connecting major centres. This map shows only services (bus, rail and ferry) intended to operate at least every 15 minutes, 7am – 7pm, 7 days a week. Services will continue to operate outside these hours at lower frequencies. Other ferry, local bus and peak bus services will also operate.

 

I have not agreed or disagreed with what AT are proposing at this point and time. But, as mentioned earlier I have submitted and attended hearings on the RPTP thus far with another round of consultation coming next month.

Previous commentary and my presentation can be found at:

 

As also noted AT is beginning the next round of RPTP consultation starting with the south

Areas ​Consultation ​Implementation
​South Auckland 19 June 2013 to
2 August 2013		 Mid – end 2014​
North Auckland​ Early 2014​ Mid 2015​
Central, East and West Auckland Late 2014​ Mid 2016​

 

Also please take note of the Auckland Council Transport Committee and its deliberations over the RPTP at its Wednesday meeting:

 

So let see if proof is in the pudding after the next round of consultation with AT on public transport

 

As for things like the Manukau South Rail Link, Glenora Road Station, Electrification to Pukekohe, and Grade Separation of rail crossings which are all hot button topics and priority wants in the South; WORKING ON IT – still.

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

BR:AKL: Bring Well Managed Progress

The Unitary Plan: Bringing Change

Auckland: 2013 – OUR CITY, OUR CALL

 

 

The Public Meeting Over The Mill Road Corridor

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Not So Sure on the Result

 

Last night the public meeting over the Redoubt Road/Mill Road was held at the Vodafone Events Centre where around 160 people showed up. My apologies in not attending that particular meeting last night as I was home on both family time and completing my Manukau CBD presentation. Just noting a sense of what could be irony; while I am not a big fan of the corridor up Redoubt Road and down part of Mill Road (basically to the Alfriston Road intersection), if Manukau is going to be brought up as a CBD and the existing industry expands in the area we will need to be looking at some serious transport options rather quick.

Any how so the meeting went ahead last night although from what I can fathom no one from Auckland Transport nor the Council’s Transport Committee was present.Councillors Calum Penrose and Sir John Walker as the Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillors were present though. I also note that Green MP Julie Ann Genter was present however as well as Forest and Bird? Enough for me to raise an eye brow at this point in time as I wonder what alternatives this group would propose (apart from the Takanini Interchange upgrade allowing the 6-lane-ing of State Highway One) when Manukau takes off again and the Rural Urban Boundary has a very good chance moving East to Mill Road in the next 30-years.

 

I have written two particular posts on the Mill Road Corridor so far (along with the AT Plans attached). Yes I am meaning to write-up an alternative but, will not do so until my submission to the Unitary Plan is in at the end of the month:

 

The Herald also wrote a piece on last night’s public meeting as well: “324 properties in road’s path”

I did particularly note from that Herald article a quip about the Eastern Highway being defeated. Umm no it has not. The designation is still there and part of it is being built as a legacy project that we know as AMETI. At the same time there is nothing stopping NZTA from taking the reigns and building the Highway project, something that I would not put pass them with the current Government in power. In any case the failure of that highway being built along with the Botany Line which was to come with it is already costing the city as it is most days of the week in bottle-necking and economic inefficiencies. So I would be very careful in making analogies to the Eastern Highway (and Botany Line) in regards to other projects in the pipeline.

 

If anyone that did go last night would like to drop a guest commentary on the public meeting, drop me a line either in the comment box or via email and I’ll see what I can arrange.

 

In the mean time, we continue to wait on Auckland Transport’s fine grain analysis of the corridor.

 

Public Meeting – Redoubt Road/Mill Road Corridor

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Public Meeting on the 4-lane Corridor

 

Picked up one of these last night after the Alfriston Unitary Plan Community Meeting:

 

I have commented on the project before with my most recent being: “MAYOR SUPPORTS SOUTH EAST HIGHWAY” which also has the link to the information article here: “ROAD PLAN CONCERNS”

 

I will attend the public meeting and rather observe this time round, participate actively as I am affected by the project. The corridor if and when fully completed is five minutes away to the east of where I live and will cause rat-running down a main road I use to get to Papakura Town Centre and Rail Station, will possible spill on effects to my local road as some might use it as a bypass…

 

So a project that hits close to home both here in Papakura and in Manukau along Redoubt Road…

 

Lesson From Melbourne

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Auckland Transport: Take Note

 

Saw this via my Twitter feed a few moments ago:

Fare evaders allowed to do a runner

Michelle Griffin

 

Yarra Trams has ordered its inspectors not to pursue fleeing or aggressive fare evaders after a spate of attacks.

In an internal Yarra Trams memo obtained by 3AW, dated March 2013, ticket inspectors are told they:

  • Must not block the path of, or attempt to physically detain a person who attempts to walk/run away.
  • Must always maintain a safe distance between themselves and a person being spoken to – if possible.
  • Must not surround or corner any person being spoken to regarding an offence under the Act.

The edict was issued after 10 assaults on ticket inspectors on trams between January and March this year. According to a Yarra Trams spokesman, this is “slightly higher” than the number of assaults at the same time last year, and resulted in 15 minor injuries, such as sprains and bruises.

The edict effectively ensures that those who refuse to give their name and address and instead flee cannot be detained or fined.

This comes just as Public Transport Victoria orders an increase in tram patrols by inspectors, in an attempt to cut fare evasion to 7 per cent across the public transport network.

There have been several aggressive confrontations between inspectors and passengers reported in recent years.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/fare-evaders-allowed-to-do-a-runner-20130426-2iid2.html#ixzz2RWdwDPO7

 

This is happening in Melbourne while we have this per Campbell Live: “SERIOUSLY AUCKLAND TRANSPORT?” that I covered recently. No wonder why Councillor Mike Lee is jumping up and down red and blue in the face. But in acknowledgement and balance: Dr Lester Levy of Auckland Transport is actively working on this situation – a man I can trust as a ratepayer to sort what is best for both AT/Rail and the city (AUCKLAND TRANSPORT TO RE-THINK STRATEGY).

 

But Auckland Transport – take note of Melbourne please SO WE CAN AVOID Melbourne’s situation…