Auckland Transport rebuked over ramp

Photo / File

Auckland Transport has been chided for failing to "champion" residents in their battle to reopen the Wellington St entry point to the Northern Motorway.

Although the Government's Transport Agency has agreed after a joint study with the council organisation to reopen the motorway ramp in six weeks, that was only after it received more than 500 submissions demanding action.

Herne Bay Residents' Association secretary Christine Cavanagh told Auckland Transport's board at its monthly meeting that although thankful for the decision to reopen the ramp, she was disappointed it had not taken a more active role to support residents concerned about traffic congestion.

She said that left them "bereft of a local champion", although she acknowledged support from Auckland Council's transport committee, whose chairman Mike Lee and deputy chairman Christine Fletcher are also members of the board she was addressing.

Ms Cavanagh wondered what the Transport Agency meant by announcing it would continue to monitor the ramp and manage it with Auckland Transport as part of "one network".

"What does one network mean? Who is responsible for our local streets? What are the dividing lines between Auckland Transport and the Transport Agency? Who can the local community rely on when we need a community champion?"

Auckland Transport departing key relationships manager, Stephen Rainbow, told the meeting that its focus was on working with Auckland Council's 21 local boards.

"If we were to work with every community group it would be unmanageable," said Dr Rainbow, who is leaving to take a senior position with Waterfront Auckland.