ARTA Annual Report 2009 - Auckland Transport

Total mobility
Providing Aucklanders, regardless of their level of mobility, with real transport options.
• ARTA led the country in implementing new national standards for the Total Mobility programme, which
helps Aucklanders with disabilities to meet the cost of travel.
• The number of super-low-floor buses in the Auckland fleet grew to 650, of which 527 are
wheelchair-accessible. 21 of Auckland’s 41 rail stations are now fully accessible, and ARTA has prepared
new guidelines to promote best practice design for accessible bus stops.
Looking ahead
This year, ARTA finalised the 2009 Auckland Transport Plan, which prioritises and coordinates all transport
aspirations in the region for the next 10 years. Within that time, the Rugby World Cup will be bringing up
to 70,000 international visitors to Auckland. ARTA’s major event expert is already dedicated to Rugby World
Cup transport planning (see page 20).
In 30 years’ time, Auckland’s population is predicted to reach two million. Improving journey times and
reliability by road, through completion of the strategic roading network and improved management of
Auckland’s arterial roads, will remain vital to lifting the city’s economic performance. But it is impossible to
build our way out of congestion by providing more road capacity.
A world-class transport system will need to carry at least 200 million passenger transport trips a year
between regional centres, at high frequencies and with reliable travel times.
ARTA’s strategic goal is to double the use of public transport journeys by 2016. This year, we made significant
progress with our programme of action to provide more effective, efficient and integrated transport links to
key business, recreation and education locations. The programme includes:
• new rail stations at Newmarket, New Lynn and Grafton (see page 23)
• reopening the Onehunga branch line (see page 23)
• real time information at bus stops, rail stations and ferry terminals (see page 38)
• planning for the CBD underground rail tunnel (see page 24)
• upgrading the Downtown Ferry Terminal and wharves (see page 25)
• rail electrification (see page 24) and integrated smartcard ticketing (see page 37).
5