Auckland and government agree a plan to get motorists out of cars

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Cheaper and more appealing public transport is one of the city's biggest challenges.

A new plan agreed between Auckland Council and the government aims to lure motorists out of their cars .

The 'mode-shift' plan will sharpen the focus on outcomes wanted both from the $29 billion list of major projects agreed for Auckland in the next decade, as well as smaller projects, putting the emphasis on switching motorists to public transport, walking and cycling.

Areas to get closer attention include the south, Glen Eden and New Lynn in the west, and Glen Innes where there is unused capacity on public transport, growth, but also where social benefits are envisaged.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff and transport minister Phil Twyford, have agreed on a plan to tempt motorists out of their cars.

The Minister of Transport Phil Twyford described the plan as part of a 're-write of the transport agency (NZTA's) job description'.

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'Just co-funding a list of projects or building some state highways is not going to cut it for Auckland in the 21st century,' Twyford told Stuff.

The mode-shift work does not introduce any radical ideas, but pulls together into an agreed plan, thinking that is already becoming established in Auckland and which is jointly funded by the council and government.

Practices such as designing new housing areas ready-made with cycle lanes and close to public transport, and work that's underway to improve bus priority lanes on major arterial routes.

'When you give people choices and options, we know from public transport (growth) that people take it up,' said the mayor Phil Goff.

Twyford said while long-running major projects such as the $4 billion city rail link, and the still undecided light rail network, are being delivered, the mode-shift approach will make a difference in the shorter term.

He pointed to plans to develop an upgraded continuous bus lane on the northwestern motorway, as an example of short-term work that could occur while a future light rail line was considered.

'Over the next decade or two there will be a huge investment in retro-fitting in existing suburbs,' he said.

The long list of ideas, some already in early stages of study, include lower fares targeting particular communities and the government's exploration of discounts for those with lower incomes on Community Services Cards.

The mode-shift plan doesn't bring new funding with it, and notes that money will remain tight for the next few years.

'Funding challenges are particularly severe for public transport services, where boardings are growing faster than expected – creating capacity constraints and overcrowding,' said the report.

Councils can borrow large sums to build infrastructure, but must pay for the costs of running transport out of annual revenue.

The report said funding might loosen up from 2021 when the government re-writes three-yearly transport plans, but even then, the completion of major Auckland projects will continue to be felt.

The agreed mode-shift plan however is expected to reduce frustration that surfaced a year ago, when the council agency Auckland Transport complained publicly about NZTA processes, slowing down the flow of funding.

Similar plans are intended to be developed for Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.