Auckland Council's transport agency rolls out major restructure

Friday, 2 November 2018

Auckland Transport, the council's $1.8 billion transport agency, is rolling out its biggest-ever restructure.

Staff briefings wrapped up Friday, as Auckland Transport (AT) chief executive Shane Ellison laid out plans to change the agency's focus, and the way it operates.

Stuff understands the restructure is not driven by cost-saving, but to give higher priority to new strategic areas such as road safety and walking and cycling.

However, its current 1676 full-time-equivalent staff may reduce slightly, including contractors.

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Auckland Transport staff have 14 days to comment on a consultation document, which followed an internal process called 'Project Enable.'

'Some of the proposed changes have implications for current positions should they proceed, while other proposed changes would have no significant impact on individuals,' Ellison said in an email to all staff.

'In terms of growing our capability, since April we have recruited 50 new jobs in to AT and placed these in the areas of our business that align with the Regional Land Transport Plan [a 10-year investment blueprint],' Ellison wrote.

AT declined to make detailed comment until staff briefings concluded on Friday.

The winds of change have been blowing through AT for more than a year, with Ellison arriving late last year to succeed David Warburton, who had led the largest of the council's agencies since it was formed in 2010.

Its executive tier was restructured in May with new roles focused on road safety and customer experience, signalling further change was likely more deeply in the organisation.

AT has presided over strong public transport patronage growth, but not everything has run according to plan.

It faced a resident revolt and had to re-design a signature cycleway project through part of Grey Lynn following criticism for its urban design weakness and poor consultation.

Doing more and better in this area was now a higher priority for Auckland Transport.

AT has narrowly missed goals agreed with the council for public transport boardings and rail patronage over the past year.