Transport aid focus on ferries

By JASON COLLIE transport reporter

Ferry passengers will be major beneficiaries of more than $3 million of grants announced yesterday by Infrastructure Auckland.

The funding body awarded ferry company Fullers $526,267 to rebuild the downtown terminal for Waiheke and Great Barrier services, install global-positioning systems to provide "real-time" updated timetable information and build canopies at Birkenhead and Devonport wharves to improve conditions for commuters.

Schemes to upgrade lighting at the Mt Albert, Ellerslie, Greenlane, Boston Rd and Newmarket rail stations were also approved, together with similar improvements and park-and-ride facilities at Papatoetoe station and priority schemes to speed buses between Pakuranga and Ellerslie.

More than $2.1 million was allocated to a range of stormwater improvements in Auckland City, Waitakere and the North Shore in the second round of funding from Infrastructure Auckland's $900-million treasure chest.

Improvements include building and upgrading stormwater quality ponds, installing litter traps and planting.

Board member Gary Taylor said: "There is quite an emphasis on ferries and improving access and I think the group felt pretty good about that.

"Ferries carry more passengers than rail does and they have a lot of untapped potential."

Infrastructure Auckland, set up to fund the public-good element of stormwater and transport projects, turned down bids to extend the Motat tram line to its aviation museum in Motions Rd and from the Department of Conservation to rebuild the wharf on Rangitoto.

Mr Taylor said neither of these schemes was aimed at tackling Auckland's congestion.

A request for almost $60,000 to improve bus timetable and map display cases on the North Shore was deferred for the area's council to ask Transfund how much it would contribute first.

Yesterday's funding was the second, and final, round under Infrastructure Auckland's small-projects scheme for applications less than $500,000.

The body awarded $1.68 million in November.