Auckland Transport $37B plan nothing to celebrate
On Monday 28 June, the Board of Auckland Transport approved their ten year plan known as the Auckland Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP). The plan comes with a hefty price tag of $37 Billion which on the face of it seems positive - Auckland has under invested in transport for far too long. However, there isn't much to celebrate.
Further delays to Eastern Busway are unacceptable
Yesterday Auckland Transport admitted that the Eastern Busway has been delayed yet again.
They've blamed a council funding squeeze but the reality is that AT is incapable of delivering on their promises.
Did this pole really need to go here?
For years I've been battling with Auckland Transport to try address the lack of pedestrian crossings on the Mt Wellington Highway near Sylvia Park. Not just a major shopping destination, it's also a transport hub for the area but there's gaps in the footpaths.
Where's my bus?
I'm meant to at a sustainable business event, talking with other local young professionals about what we can do to tackle climate change. Huge challenge we have to face.
But instead I'm standing at a bus stop waiting for a bus that may never come.
Road safety needs to be taken seriously
It's Road Safety Week and Auckland Transport have shown their support. But what we need is action.
Auckland Transport is increasing fares, yet again.
In what feels like deja vu, Auckland Transport is yet again increasing the fares for public transport. From 7 February about half of all passengers will pay an average 35 cents more for each trip. In 2016 they reworked the fare structure and every year since then fares have gone up. Last year they blamed petrol prices and this year it's COVID19. The reality is that Auckland already has one of the most expensive public transport fares in the world and making it more expensive is only making our transport issues worse.
Council should be investing in the safety of our children
We've got our priorities wrong Auckland, keeping our kids safe should be at the top of the list. More students walking and cycling is better for congestion, the environment and children’s health. Instead our city gets distracted with half-baked ideas for waterfront stadiums. We need to focus on real priorities, cut the fluff and get on with it.
Auckland Council's ineffective governance of CCOs
Considering the massive impact that CCOs have on our daily lives, you'd imagine that they would be a top priority for Council. But in reality "council’s many plans, policies and strategies offer almost no practical strategic direction to CCOs."
Eastern Busway cannot come soon enough
In a piece in the NZ Herald, Christopher Luxon and Simeon Brown have both called for the Eastern Busway to be built faster. It's great to see the support for this critical transport infrastructure project for East Auckland.
Howick Local Board goes online to approve transport investment
The Howick Local Board for April was held online but not open to the public. I normally attend these and it was a shame to not be able to attend this, but I understand that changes are necessary in these challenging times.
Auckland Airport shortchanges Auckland ratepayers
Thanks to the poor actions of Auckland Airport, Auckland Council "lost an immediate $18 million in the value of its shareholding last week, and had missed a $70m gain".
Government fails to deliver on infrastructure
For generations NZ has under invested in infrastructure and, while today's announcement is welcome, it's not enough to address the gaps, let alone take us forward.
Absurd - public transport prices increase despite climate emergency
Putting up prices during a climate emergency is absurd. I appreciate that some of the restrictions come from parliament, with farebox recovery mandated but when will our leaders get serious about standing up for our city, our environment and our future?
We're paying at the pump for what?
I was dismayed (but not surprised) to see that Auckland Transport has yet again under delivered, despite record taxes on residents
Delays to Eastern Busway and Reeves Road flyover shows lack of governance
I’m very disappointed to hear there is more delays to the Eastern Busway project. This transformational project will be great for East Auckland, but is taking too long to deliver.
To T2 or not t2
T2 or not T2, that's seems to be the question that many are asking in East Auckland.
We need to build safer roads for everyone. With urgency.
There are too many near misses, serious injures and deaths on our roads. Children are scared to walk or cycle to school. This has to change - we need to build more physically separate cycle and walkways across Auckland now. As Emma McInnes says in this piece, with urgency.
Our environment needs action at all levels
There’s definitely an appetite to do more for the environment. Over the weekend we had a number of events focused on the environment with Howick holding its first Ecoday event on Saturday, followed by tree planting with Macleans College and then Bucklands Beach clean up on Sunday with the Howick Youth Council.
Building CRL is an investment in our future
Getting the City Rail Link built is correctly a top priority for Auckland Council. It will transform transport across our city (even for non-train users). It’s expensive and the project costs have risen by $1B to $4.4B. Auckland Council was asked to cover half of it.
Local Board Meetings great opportunity to hear from community
I make an effort to attend every Local Board meeting. It's a great opportunity to hear from locals, on their concerns and ideas for our community. And tonight was no different.