PRIVATE Transport

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

image hosted on flickr

Newmarket Viaduct by craigsydnz, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Newmarket Viaduct by craigsydnz, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Newmarket Viaduct by craigsydnz, on Flickr

[flyin_higher]

Will be glad to see this project finished and the old structure gone. I ride to work under this everyday so the sooner the better lol. The new one does look better though

[KLK]

From theaucklander.co.nz

Beaumont residents say traffic worse
Andre Hueber | Thursday, April 19, 2012 4:00

People living in Beaumont Quarter, on the north side of Victoria Park in the central city, say traffic near their homes has become unmanageable.

"The council wants people to live and work in the city," says complex manager for the Beaumont Quarter residents society Ulf Behncke. "We've done what they've asked - cut back on cars and journeys - but they're making it difficult. It seems they're set on making life easier for commuters at our expense."

Beaumont St is one of the main feeder streets - with Fanshawe and Curran streets - to SH1 and Auckland Harbour bridge, but has carried extra traffic since the closure of the Wellington St motorway on-ramp.

Mr Behncke says the impact of that closure gridlocks the road more often, with cars backed up past Victoria Park Markets earlier in the afternoon, and for longer. He says he's been told the on-ramp is not likely to reopen because the motorway must flow and restoring the on-ramp would slow things down.

"But cars have to enter the system somewhere. Isn't it easier to spread the load than put them all on one or two on-ramps?"

A NZ Transport Agency spokesperson says the agency is reviewing the effects of the Wellington St closure until July. "As part of that review, the NZTA and Auckland Transport will seek to understand the local impacts and investigate ways in which these impacts could be managed if the review recommends restricting access to the Wellington St on-ramp."

No decision will be made without letting all parties have their say.

Mr Behncke says the Victoria Park tunnel has been fully operational since March and asks why any review should take three months. "NZTA has installed traffic lights at the on-ramp, shut it down, opened it up, then shut it down again. Now they're playing with the idea it'll never open up.

"The question should be asked: how much money did we waste?"

The new motorway layout in the area now forbids vehicles turning right from Beaumont St into Fanshawe St or from the east side of Beaumont St (Wynyard Quarter) north on to SH1.

"I assume their logic is that one green phase moves all the traffic, because if you have a right-hand turn from Wynyard to the motorway, you'd have to increase the length of stopping time on Fanshawe St. But why make one road flow at the expense of another?"

The Aucklander witnessed numerous vehicles performing illegal u-turns on Beaumont St, with cars coming from Wynyard Quarter, through the lights then turning to head north across the bridge.

Auckland Transport says from the national agency's perspective the network is operating well and Fanshawe St is operating better than before the closure of Wellington St. It says it is aware of people doing u-turns and will install no u-turn signs on Beaumont St.

The 500 residents are also unhappy about the lack of parking spaces on Beaumont St. Mr Behncke says Auckland Transport told the society a carpark beside the skatepark would be open by March 30, yet it has remained closed.

But a proposed Quest hotel and apartment block at 80 Beaumont St, with only two on-site carparks, is the final straw.

"Adding a hotel to one of the busiest motorway on-ramps will impact on traffic flows at peak times. People will have to park their cars somewhere. Added to that will be the movement of taxis, shuttle buses and service vehicles."

He says that problem will be inflamed by the reintroduction of temporary bus stops beside the skatepark. Buses park in these 'layover lanes' in off-peak hours and move off before the peak. Mr Behncke says while the tunnel was being built buses parked at Wynyard Quarter and he can't understand why the lanes are being brought back as they add to daytime congestion.

Auckland Transport says bus parking provisions have been reviewed and reduced at the northeast end of Beaumont Street adjacent to the skate park. It says its parking and design team is reviewing parking in the area.

Auckland Council says its hearings committee will decide this week about whether to notify the resource consent application for the Quest Hotel.

Mr Behncke says construction on Victoria Park tunnel, Victoria Park Markets, the Rob Roy Hotel, the Campbell Free Kindergarten, the skatepark and Victory Church has caused considerable disruption, and residents in the area have been largely forgotten.

"We've spent all this money making this a really sharp neighbourhood but we haven't taken into account neighbouring streets. It's a piecemeal approach."

[nilut]

Originally Posted by KLK

From theaucklander.co.nz
... People will have to park their cars somewhere.

More parking?? What about that gigantic, underground carpark right next door by the church? Its really sad how every new development is parasited with the 'but where is the parking' line as if it's vital to human survival.

The increased traffic is no real surprise I guess.. build it an they will come.

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

The problem is when Nigel Mckenna developed Beaumont Quarter, an office block (his business) was initially intended for that site and provision was made for 6 car parks that presently exist. Movement of people that work in an office block is routine and 8am to 5pm is manageable taking into account the building is to be built over the Northern entrance to Beaumont Quarter.

The plans have now been changed to a Quest Hotel with more rooms and the site will be accommodating more people at all hours of the day - the 6 parking bays that exist are not enough and even an agreement with the Victory Church next door is no good as their parking garage closes at 7pm every night.

There is already a major problem trying to turn into Fisher Point Drive from Beaumont street in the evenings as the cars trying to get onto the Fanshawe onramp continually block access. Add to this the fact that there is no longer a right turn into Fanshawe street from Beaumont Street (on both sides of the intersection), meaning people coming from the Wynyard Quarter side are now heading straight across Fanshawe and doing a U-turn right in front of the Beaumont Street access roads - its a huge mess at the moment.

[Shoredude]

They really should open up Wellington St onramp!! The public have asked for it and it would ease up traffic on Fanshawe St and Beaumont St in the peak afternoon. Having said that i can see why they do want to keep it closed, but now traffic is flowing freer in the afternoon and capacity at 5 lanes after Fanshawe there is no reason why we cant open it. It is after all one lane of traffic merging not like 2 from Fanshawe and SH16.

[nilut]

Slowly but surely this is bulldozing ahead... whats the bet it gets all approved before the CRL?

New Puhoi-Wellsford route announced
via Auckland Now

A preferred route for part of the controversial "holiday highway" from Puhoi to Wellsford has been announced today.

A section of the road from Puhoi to Warkworth, which will cost $760 million and affect 50 properties, has been decided by the Transport Agency.

The entire Puhoi to Wellsford highway comes at a cost of $1.76 billion with a cost-benefit ratio of 1.0, according to the Transport Agency - meaning its economic benefits are neutral.

The cost of the project has been criticised in the past and the project has been dubbed the "holiday highway" due to the popularity of the route with Aucklanders holidaying up north.

However, the Transport Agency says the new route will better connect Northland with Auckland and the central North Island to stimulate economic growth in Northland and the upper North Island.

State Highways manager for Auckland and Northland Tommy Parker says on average 19,700 cars travel between Puhoi and Warkworth each day.

That is expected to rise to 31,300 in 2026.

He says the new route will mean significant time savings for travel between Auckland and Whangarei, especially for heavy trucks carrying freight.

"A divided motorway with a central median barrier will also greatly improve safety, eliminating the kind of head-on collisions which have claimed four lives on this stretch of highway since 2006."

He says there will be ongoing engagement with local communities about how the project will impact them.

"We appreciate that property owners potentially affected by the project have been waiting to see the preferred route so that they can plan ahead. At times, the wait has been understandably frustrating, and we thank them for their patience."

[DanC]

Originally Posted by nilut

Slowly but surely this is bulldozing ahead... whats the bet it gets all approved before the CRL?

Dam this is bad. I wish they would prioritise the rail tunnel rather than this. (With upgrades to the current road to stop head on's and crashes, but not a whole new motorway going through native forest and peoples land)

[mathlete]

Pretty stink news. Surely Transmission Gully is a better way to spend the cash than this?

[Matt L]

Originally Posted by mathlete

Pretty stink news. Surely Transmission Gully is a better way to spend the cash than this?

The benefit cost ratio for Transmission Gully is so bad it makes Puhoi to Wellsford look good. From memory it is something like 0.3

[Shoredude]

Originally Posted by Matt L

The benefit cost ratio for Transmission Gully is so bad it makes Puhoi to Wellsford look good. From memory it is something like 0.3

So every dollar you spend you get 30 cents back in benefits, man the govt is getting so desperate!

[cambennett]

Auckland Transport may charge for motorways
JESSICA TASMAN-JONES Last updated 05:00 18/05/2012

Auckland Transport will next week be pushed to charge drivers to use motorways in a plan to fast-track city transport projects like the city rail link and a second harbour crossing.

The New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development is making a presentation in favour of tolls to Auckland Transport on Monday.

Tolls on city motorways could earn the equivalent of a 50 per cent rate rise or a fuel charge of 40 cents per litre, the development council claims.

Auckland currently faces a $10-$15 billion deficit if it wants to go ahead with projects like the city rail link, the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) and a second harbour crossing.

Earlier this year Auckland Council asked for public feedback on preferred ways to raise money such as rate rises, fuel taxes or tolling.

Public consultation has closed and the suggestions are now being considered by the mayor and councillors, who will decide which ideas to progress.

NZCID chief executive Stephen Selwood says toll revenue could be put towards four priority projects for Auckland including the Western Ring Route, the city rail link, AMETI and an additional harbour crossing.

"It's time we grasp the metal on some of these really hard decisions rather than do what we've always done in the past and not make decisions and defer projects and wonder why we've got a poor transport system."

According to the NZCID toll roads can be found in China, Canada and the UK, and New Zealand could also reap the benefits.

A 2008 report by Ernst & Young revealed Sydney toll roads had contributed $22.7b to the New South Wales economy.

Selwood believes tolls in Auckland could cost between $1 and $3 a trip and no more than $6 a day. Prices would be more expensive during peak traffic times and would be double the amount for heavy freight vehicles.

He says the tolls could be collected through a number plate recognition system similar to that used on the Northern Gateway toll road. It would be collected from all motorway on-ramps.

Selwood says while part of the revenue would go to rail projects, road users would still see the benefit.

"The pricing makes better use of the existing road network because by charging a toll quite a lot of people will choose to either take public transport, walk or cycle, go a different way, car pool and make some of those choices they're not currently making.

"That means the people paying the toll will make a faster trip.

"So there's a benefit both from a user perspective but also the funds raised from that are then used to improve the transport system."

He says because money would be collected on motorways which are run by the Transport Agency - a national body - revenue would go into the national land transport programme.

However, there would be an agreement between Auckland authorities and the agency to ensure money was directed to projects best for the city, he says.

[drosophila]

Originally Posted by Shoredude

So every dollar you spend you get 30 cents back in benefits, man the govt is getting so desperate!

Even that is probably wishful thinking, posts I have read suggest it's even lower than that.

[whizz_pat]

I somehow doubt a network wide tolling system will be more efficient than a regional fuel tax. I can't remember the exact figures, but I recall a large portion of the tolls collected on the ALPURT highway being spent on collection costs.

[drosophila]

There's also the fact that any money collected by NZtA would be spent on building more motorways not on PT, traffic would be forced onto local roads causing more damages and increased subsidies/maintenance costs food the council. There's no way this would be good for Auckland.

[viinniie]

awesome idea! charge the motorists for using the roads and double at peak times.. but only once we got our PT sorted.. which is improving every month.. liking all the new buses btw.. nice and fresh

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by whizz_pat

I somehow doubt a network wide tolling system will be more efficient than a regional fuel tax. I can't remember the exact figures, but I recall a large portion of the tolls collected on the ALPURT highway being spent on collection costs.

It might be worth looking at some of the "congestion charging" or tolled motorways abroad to see whether the cost-benefit and profit margin stacks up. Australia extensively uses tolls on their motorways and this generates quite obscene amounts of money on the whole (except in the dodgy Citylink tunnel in Sydney). There are also nationwide tolling systems in France and Japan which might be worth looking at as their motorways are of very good quality and they generate quite a lot of revenue from tolls there.

Originally Posted by drosophila

There's also the fact that any money collected by NZtA would be spent on building more motorways not on PT, traffic would be forced onto local roads causing more damages and increased subsidies/maintenance costs food the council. There's no way this would be good for Auckland.

This is a possibility, however, tolled motorways elsewhere have not forced more traffic onto local roads due to the speed benefits of driving on motorways. Again, my examples of Australia and Japan in particular spring to mind where motorways are extensively tolled but still incredibly well utilised. Eastlink in Melbourne was highly successful despite being a radial motorway in the suburbs - same for the M7 in Sydney too.

[cambennett]

Hard times for roads as funding pool stagnates
By Mathew Dearnaley 5:30 AM Tuesday Jun 5, 2012



The Transport Agency has issued a budget of just 2.3 per cent to $1.26 billion for the upkeep of local roads from next month until 2015. Photo / APNCouncil roading engineers are on notice to find new efficiencies to survive below-inflation maintenance funding for the next three years.

The Transport Agency has issued an indicative operating budget including a national increase of just 2.3 per cent to $1.26 billion for the upkeep and renewal of local roads from next month until mid-2015.

Although Auckland, Whangarei and the Bay of Plenty will each receive increases of 4.1 per cent and the Waikato will gain 7.5 per cent, the Far North District will have to make do with a paltry 0.2 per cent rise and financially troubled Kaipara faces a 1.7 per cent cut.

Various South Island councils also face funding difficulties, prompting a warning from Local Government New Zealand of deteriorating roads, although the Transport Agency says Kaipara has been unable to spend its full allocation for the three years to June 30.

The funding squeeze follows what a Government-appointed taskforce charged with finding maintenance savings of up to 15 per cent acknowledges has been a "flat-lined" budget response to a Beehi6e funding directive.

State highways will gain a slightly higher 2.5 per cent increase for maintenance, operations and renewals, to $1.39 billion.

That comes amid high bitumen prices and as the Government prepares to ramp up its "roads of national significance" programme, including Auckland's $2 billion Waterview motorway projects.

Although the Transport Agency has yet to finalise a budget for new state highways for the coming three years, it is expected to be a little above $3 billion, with help from a 2c tax increase on August 1 on each litre of petrol.

Spending on public transport operations will rise by 33 per cent - off a much smaller base but also assistedkby fuel tax - to almost $830 million.

But within that sum, fare subsidies for surging numbers of bus, train and ferry passengers will increase by a more modest 7.4 per cent. Much of the rest will be for higher rail access charges and debt payments on new electric trains for Auckland and Wellington commuters.

An increase of $21 million for the use of KiwiRail's tracks through the two regions is questioned by Auckland City transport chairman Mike Lee, given what he says is a high frequency of signals failures continuing to delay trains.

Auckland will receive more than $445 million from the Transport Agency, equal to about 60 per cent of its public transport operations budget, and ratepayers will add $380 million.

The region will also receive $248 million for the upkeep of its roads, to which will be added a local share of about $328 million.

Despite the tight road maintenance funding, agency chief Geoff Dangerfield said combined investment by the Government and its council partners amounted to 27 per cent of the previous land transport programme, and would continue to take priority.

He was confident recommendations of the road maintenance taskforce would continue to keep critical routes in good condition, although he acknowledged some of those less travelled may have to cope with less attention.

Labour's transport spokesman, Phil Twyford, said potential efficiency gains remained hypothetical and the Government was sacrificing the welfare of rural communities "to pour billions and billions of dollars into its hand-picked roads of national significance".

"The Government likes to paint Auckland as the villain, in wanting the rest of the country to subsidise its rail budget," he said.

"But the real story is that these hand-picked roads are gobbling up all the money and rural and provincial New Zealanders are the ones who are really being done over here."

Kaipara District officials could not be contacted but Northland Regional Council transport chairman John Bain said their financial woes were compounded by having to spend up to 70 per cent of their rates in recent years "just to keep their roads operative".

KEEPING NZ MOVING

Transport Agency indicative operating budget, July 2012 to 2015.

Total road maintenance, operations and renewals - $2.65b (rising 2.4 per cent).

Includes:
* State highways: $1.39b (rising 2.5 per cent).
* Local roads: $1.26b (rising 2.3 per cent - to be matched by council funding).
* Public transport operations: $829.7m (rising 33 per cent).

[SYDNEY]

National carpool website launches

Auckland Transport and the Greater Wellington Regional Council have joined forces to launch a new carpool website set to become the market leader in New Zealand for commuter carpooling. Over the past few months, Auckland Transport has worked closely with Greater Wellington Regional Council, with support from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), to develop a national carpooling service and brand. The new website is now live at www.letscarpool.govt.nz. Let’s Carpool offers a free, secure service to help individuals find a carpool match for their regular commute, one-off trips and inter-regional trips. The partnership between Auckland Transport and the Greater Wellington Regional Council has been established to create a single carpooling service that is trustworthy, reliable, easy to use, with high quality matches and excellent customer service. Auckland Transport’s Community Transport Manager, Mathew Rednall, says the new website will capitalise on the success of the rideshare site and provide a fantastic gateway for other regions in New Zealand looking to join.

The Waikato, Manawatu, Taranaki and Nelson regions have already signed up as partners. “The goal is to increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of carpooling as a viable form of transport. As more people choose carpooling as their preferred transport option, we expect to see easier matches, increased usage and a subsequent decrease in both congestion and single-occupancy trips.” The new site includes features such as email alerts which will allow users to sign up for automatic updates on new carpool matches. A mobile version of the site has also been developed for smart phone and tablet users. Additionally, users will be able to link their ‘Let’s Carpool’ profile to their Facebook or Twitter account. The home page of the new website features a savings calculator so motorists can see the savings they are making by choosing carpooling. This is based on fuel price, journey distance and the number of passengers in the car. The existing Rideshare Auckland and Let’s Carpool Wellington websites will be decommissioned and will now redirect to the new Let’s Carpool website. Anyone registered on the rideshare site will have their details automatically transferred and will be notified by email.

[KLK]

I was talking with someone here the other day about new T3-T4 traffic lanes they have introduced in Jakarta to deal with the chronic congestion.

Apparently its generated a whole new car-pooling "industry" for those looking to make a buck. They cruise by the bus stops and advertise that they can take people by car for a small fee. Get 3+ people and they can use the lanes...and earn a living.