Auckland aims to become a leader in bus transport as result of $1 billion PT spend
More than one billion dollars will go towards public transport over the next three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced last week.
NZTA regional director for Auckland Ernst Zöllner says investment in Auckland for 2015 to 2018 includes $1.175 billion for public transport and $960 million to maintain state highways.
The funding for Auckland is part of a $13.9 billion investment in New Zealand’s transport system set out in the 2015-2018 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).
It marks a 15 per cent increase compared to the previous 2012-2015 programme.
The NLTP is a partnership between local authorities who invest funding on behalf of ratepayers and the NZTA, which develops the programme and invests funding from petrol taxes, road user charges, vehicle registration and licensing fees.
Zöllner says the agency is aiming to make urban trips easier and more predictable for people, whether those trips are by car or motorcycle, on public transport, on foot, by bicycle or a combination of any of these modes.
“This is the biggest step forward in strategic roading in Auckland in fifty years,” he says.
“We’re working with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council to ensure all transport components are well connected.”
The funding the Ōtāhuhu Bus and Train interchange and Panmure to Pakuranga Busway, which is expected to result in a 21 per cent increase in public transport patronage over the next three years to 88 million passenger trips per year.
Projects in the Northern Corridor Improvements Package are expected to begin in the next three years, including design and consenting for an extension of the Northern Busway to Albany Bus Station.
These projects aim to address predictions of large travel delays in peak times within the next decade, and provide alternative travel options.