Critical to effectively tackling congestion in Auckland is a highly emotive issue, the "elephant in the room" if you will, which is a shift in the allocation of street space.
The board of Auckland Transport stands strongly behind its policy of re-allocating street space for a wider variety of users, particularly to accommodate more spatially (and environmentally) efficient modes of transport.
Our streets will increasingly change through the addition of light rail, bus and bike lanes, wider and better footpaths and bus stops as well as the addition of proven safety enhancements like raised pedestrian crossings and calmed intersections.
At the heart of this policy is a firm commitment to reconceptualise our approach to safety so everyone can more confidently use their streets without fear of tragic outcomes. In particular this means improving the conditions for the more vulnerable people on our streets, older people, children and all those walking and riding bikes or similar.
It will also often mean changes to the street environment that encourages drivers to slow down to safer speeds through town centres, near schools and other areas where people and vehicles mix.
These changes are gradually rolling out across our city to promote modal changes towards public and active transport (cycling and walking) and involve a shift from a generally vehicle-user first state to a more equitable balance. This approach is consistent with the Auckland Council's and the Government's aims for our city and furthermore is well supported by evidence.
However, simply providing a range of effective modal options will not be sufficient to break the deeply ingrained habit of car dependency in Auckland. Car dependency is mainly a result of a mindset, whereby people have become hardwired to use private cars for most trips.
To be fair, until recently, the limited availability in Auckland of effective modal options such as public transport and active transport has contributed to car dependency.
However, new public transport and active transport developments in Auckland such as the electric rail service, integrated ticketing, the new bus services and the developing rapid transit network along with planned new park and rides, connected cycleways and innovative solutions to the "first and last mile", will increasingly challenge car dependency by enabling faster alternative journeys with increased confidence in arrival time.
Overcoming this car-dependent culture will require thoughtful and effective behavioural change, but if a sizeable percentage of car dependent drivers do not make the modal switch, congestion will simply worsen, adversely impacting economic growth, jobs, housing and quality of life.
It is fair to say that re-allocating street space can be challenging, but these changes are necessary to deal with congestion and to promote safety. The aim is clear: the enhancement of our city's streets as safer and more productive places to be in and to move through every day.
• Dr Lester Levy is the chairman of Auckland Transport.
