The Government is not interested in running a cross-harbour ferry service for cyclists. Photo / Jason Oxenham
The Government is not interested in running a cross-harbour ferry service for cyclists. Photo / Jason Oxenham
The Government has rejected the idea of running a regular, 15-minute ferry service for cyclists while they wait five years for a controversial $685 million bike bridge crossing the Waitemata Harbour.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said through a spokesman the ferry service is not currently being considered after being putto the Government by the NZ Transport Agency.
Wood and Finance Minister Grant Robertson were told in April a regular ferry service could be running within two years after upgrades to terminals and ferries costing $60m and operating costs of about $6m a year.
The ferry service would run from the Northcote ferry terminal or Northcote Point to either Wynyard Quarter or Queens Wharf at the city end on a 6am to midnight ferry shuttle every 15 minutes, according to the transport agency.
Transport Minister Michael Wood is not keen on ferries but given NZTA "weeks, not months" for options to allow cycling on the habour bridge. Photo / Alex Burton
Official papers released by the agency show it recommended a dedicated cycling and walking bridge alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge at the same height and was investigating the viability of an interim option, such as a dedicated bus or ferry service.
Only days after "Liberate the Lane" cycling activists breached a police barrier and crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge on May 30, the Government announced plans to build a new dedicated bike bridge at an estimated cost of $685m.
At the time Wood said one lane on the Auckland Harbour Bridge could be closed temporarily to trial walking and cycling, saying he had given the transport agency "weeks, not months" to put some options on his desk.
Weeks earlier, the transport agency told Wood that two lanes would be required for safety reasons and using lanes on the bridge for cycling and walking had been "ruled out as not feasible".
In May, cyclists pushed through a police barrier to ride over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Dean Purcell
The agency said taking out two lanes would have "far-reaching ramifications for the transport system", including reducing the bridge's peak hour capacity by 20 per cent to 40 per cent and adversely impacting the entire Northern Busway.
Bike Auckland chairwoman Barbara Cuthbert was surprised to learn about the ferry idea and was not keen on it before the Northern Pathway cycleway was extended from Esmonde Rd to Constellation Drive on the North Shore.
She said Bike Auckland is asking for a three-month summer trial to "liberate the lane" on the harbour bridge, saying the minister's call for options in " 'weeks not months' is now moving into months".
Bike Auckland chairwoman Barbara Cuthbert. Photo / Dean Purcell
The official papers show the transport agency looked at a range of options for cycling and walking across the harbour, including dedicated ferries and buses, a gondola and three options for a new bridge.
Following an analysis of the options, the agency recommended a new bridge alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge at the same height.
"The full-height bridge option is the best performing long-term solution as it provides a dedicated 24/7 cross harbour connection, a high level of amenity for users and can meet the forecast demand," said NZTA transport services general manager Brett Gliddon.
Options for a lower bridge and a lower bridge with an opening span in the middle were dismissed.
Concept drawing for a new seperate bridge for walking and cycling alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Supplied
Running bus services for cyclists on a 10-minute service would cost $30m for terminal upgrades and operating costs of $6m a year, but faced challenges at the city end and running alongside other bus services, said the agency.
Gliddon said the ferry and gondola options were not an acceptable long-term solution and the need to transfer to another mode would reduce their attractiveness.
The agency said it would be about five years before a dedicated bridge is built and noted a number of risks with the project.
They include delays and cost increases from the project not being managed properly, obtaining materials and specialist skills in the current Covid-19 environment, and assessing the visual impacts, harbour impacts and iwi matters, like a pa site on the northern landing, during the consenting process.
