KEY POINTS:
Key traffic routes from Auckland Airport are likely to be streamlined for the 2011 Rugby World Cup at the cost of parking restrictions and limited access to local streets.
Auckland City transport planners have received the go-ahead from councillors to develop preliminary designs for public consultation on urgent short-term measures for improving the reliability of travel to and from the airport.
These are not to preclude big-ticket long-term solutions such as completing the western motorway bypass, developing an airport rail link and making a widened Dominion Rd the primary bus route via its new interchange with State Highway 20 at Mt Roskill.
Although the Roskill motorway extension will be ready next year, and a duplicate road crossing of Manukau Harbour by mid-2011, much of the travelling time between the airport and central Auckland for many people will still be in heavy traffic along arterial roads through Royal Oak and Epsom.
That has prompted the city council's transport committee to approve the start of design work on new and extended clearways along those roads, and on access restrictions to and from selected side streets.
Clearways are likely to be extended along Gillies Ave and Manukau Rd, and new ones developed along Pah Rd and Queenstown Rd.
That means an extension of parking restrictions at peak times.
Variable electronic signs will also be considered to give drivers "real-time" traffic information to decide whether to try alternative routes when congestion is heavy.
A staff report to the committee said a preliminary investigation had shown new and extended clearways would provide the best short-term solution for private vehicles and public transport at peak times.
These could be developed within existing carriageways, said passenger transport manager Stuart Knarston.
He said consultation with key stakeholders and property owners would include those likely to be affected by restricting side-street access.
Council officers have also been investigating introducing bus or high-occupancy vehicle lanes along the Gillies Ave-Manukau Rd route.
If taxis and other high-occupancy vehicles are allowed to use bus lanes, that would be a first for Auckland City, although the use of "transit" lanes for anything carrying more than three people is common in North Shore City.
But Mr Knarston said in his report that although some congestion benefits from priority lines had been identified for the airport route, a number of significant traffic flow, operational and safety issues needed more analysis.
He said any improvements would be along a route with mixed-use activities including residential, commercial and institutional. That was a reference to the presence of several schools, including Epsom Girls Grammar.
"There will therefore be varying levels of sensitivity along the route," Mr Knarston said.
"An obvious example is any action requiring the temporary removal of on-street parking adjacent to retail activities."
Auckland airport company chief executive Don Huse told the councillors he was delighted they were conducting such an exercise, as access to the airport "needs to be improved with speed and a sense of urgency".
"The Rugby World Cup is a very important hook for progress in this great city of ours," Mr Huse said.
Maungakiekie Community Board chairwoman Bridget Graham said last night she expected her organisation to be consulted properly, given a high level of sensitivity likely to be found among residents of side streets and those along main roads with limited off-street parking.
"It sounds like they are talking about mucking up the community just to serve a few roads to the airport."
