The reality is that as a board and organisation, Auckland Transport is agnostic about the mode of transport solution and exclusively places the emphasis and priority on the most evidence informed solutions to Auckland's number one issue -- which is congestion.
Five years ago the incredible rate of population growth that Auckland is now experiencing was not anticipated. In this context, Auckland Transport's role is to completely remodel an historically under-invested transport system during this time of unprecedented growth, which will take time, sustained investment, and bold and very committed leadership.
In many ways Auckland has become a victim of its own success with its growth fuelled by the desire of people to live and invest in the most prosperous region in the country.
We have to acknowledge that real and substantive change will not happen without some degree of individual inconvenience and sometimes even downright disappointment.
One of the world's leading transport experts, Jarrett Walker, clarifies that bold initiatives require courage and commitment. We must strongly resist the urge to change our approach whenever there is any element of public disquiet about rational and legitimate change in order to facilitate essential transport solutions.
Too often we defer to a small group of intensely interested people and as a result, we sometimes end up with transit investments that don't really do what we expect or that have bad side effects that should have been foreseen.
A current example is the removal of on-road car parking in order to introduce new bus lanes to expedite bus transit times. This in no way means ignoring genuine complaints or criticism, but the fact is we cannot please all of the people all of the time because what is in the greater public interest is not going to be in everyone's personal interest. As Walker says: "Too often we defer to a small group of intensely interested people and as a result, we sometimes end up with transit investments that don't really do what we expect or that have bad side effects that should have been foreseen."
Turning our attention to transformational shifts, which will ensure that Auckland's prosperity continues, we need to look at ourselves in a global context. London and Paris are dedicating budgets to their metro systems (public transport) that exceed Auckland's entire GDP. Although the scale of investment in Auckland is not at that level, Auckland and New Zealand ratepayers are already making significant (and greatly appreciated) funding available to assist in completing transport projects which will ultimately address unacceptable levels of congestion in Auckland.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, the Government, Auckland Council, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Auckland Transport are working on the Auckland Transport Alignment Project, which for the first time will set in place an agreed long-term programme for the development of transport in the city.
This alignment is critical if we are to keep ahead of the growth curve that has the potential to hold the region back in so many ways. This approach will be a test of how intelligently we can accelerate improvements in an environment of both constrained resources and a rapidly increasing population.
Alignment goes beyond simply agreeing a long-term plan for transport in Auckland. It requires a mindset of placing reliance on evidence over rhetoric, confronting reality about how transformational transport infrastructure will be funded and, perhaps more than anything, be resolved.
As the alignment project unfolds, Auckland Transport continues to work with the NZTA on projects to join up disparate sections of the strategic road network, such as linking the Northwestern and Northern Motorways at Constellation Drive, improving access to Auckland Airport, AMETI and the East-West connection.
All of our planning needs to be undertaken with a close eye on how Auckland can adopt these exciting disruptive transport innovations.
These are examples of an overall network solution approach for all modes rather than just having a collection of projects that are planned and delivered separately.
The next generation of major projects being planned or under way (City Rail Link, a connected cycle network, more frequent bus services, light rail, integrated ticketing and major roading projects such as Albany Highway and AMETI) will be critical.
They will help Auckland lift its game and overcome its growing pains to meet employment demand, retain talent, support urban development, enable freight and distribution competitiveness, and quite simply enhance Auckland as a great place to work and live.
Today we stand at the cusp of a transport revolution, similar to that at the beginning of the 20th Century when tar sealed roads, the motor vehicle and electricity became part of everyday life.
We are on the threshold of another technology-led revolution -- a switch to alternative fuels, large-scale car sharing schemes and the application of advanced intelligent transport systems including autonomous vehicles.
All of our planning needs to be undertaken with a close eye on how Auckland can adopt these exciting disruptive transport innovations.
In concluding, I would like to acknowledge our partners and key stakeholders in the transport system, in particular the Government, NZTA and Auckland Council who work closely with us on prioritising and funding the work that needs to be done if Auckland is to truly be a city on the move.
- Dr Lester Levy is the Chairman of Auckland Transport
