The ARTA Years 2004 – 2010 - Auckland Transport

ARTA’s vision
One of the first tasks for the new Board of Directors was to develop a vision and regional strategies for achieving
that vision.
Vision: A world-class transport system that makes Auckland an even better place to live, work and play.
Strategies:
Growing Auckland
The transport system will support regional growth and economic development strategies by linking Auckland’s main urban
centres with a fast, frequent and reliable Rapid Transit Network, comprising an electrified rail system and the Northern
Busway.
Moving Aucklanders
One ticket will take you anywhere in Auckland, on a seamless network of bus, train and ferry services. Aucklanders will be
in the habit of quickly checking the options for their trip before leaving home, and will be able to choose between a quality
public transport service, safe walking and cycling routes, and predictable car journey times.
Sustaining Communities
Aucklanders will make safe, healthy and sustainable travel choices. People who do not have access to a car will still have
access to employment, education, health, commercial and recreational opportunities.
The first comprehensive 10-year plan
In 2005 1 , the ARC published the Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS), which set the expected transport
outcomes for 2016 and required ARTA to prepare an Auckland Passenger Transport Network Plan (PTNP). The plan,
published in 2006, identified the strengths and weaknesses of the transport system, the lessons Auckland could learn
from other cities internationally, and set a 10-year plan of action to 2016 to get the region moving.
Analysis of Auckland’s transport network
An analysis of the public transport network showed that it had world-class elements but had suffered from chronic
under-investment and lack of an overarching planning framework. Auckland had been growing rapidly in a sprawling
fashion. By 2004, the city was absorbing an extra 50 people each day and hence potentially an extra 35 cars. By 2040, the
region’s population is predicted to reach two million. While roads will remain important for moving freight, it had become
impossible to build our way out of congestion by providing more road capacity. The region was coming to a congested
standstill, as a recurring consequence of growth, impacting on the economy, the environment and public health. It was
estimated in 2006 that congestion in Auckland was costing the country $1 billion a year, just under 1% of the GDP.
Wellington was moving proportionately 75% more people by public transport than Auckland, where 25,000 homes
had more private vehicles than people. Already, Auckland had outgrown the structure of the public transport system,
which could be broadly described as multiple private operators operating peak-time-only services to and from the
CBD. Metropolitan centres such as Manukau had grown considerably. The populations of peripheries such as Flatbush
(near Manukau) had shot up and rising inner city property values was one driving factor in the development of non-CBD
employment areas such as Westgate, Albany and the airport. People were no longer travelling from the suburbs into one
central location for work and play. They had needs to travel within and between these mushrooming centres at all times
of the day and night.
1. Dates refer to calendar rather than financial years unless otherwise stated.
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