Auckland Transport invests over a billion dollars in the city
September 10, 2013
Auckland Transport has invested almost $300m in public transport in the last year, according to it’s annual report released yesterday.
The report shows the organisation has invested $1.07b in Auckland’s infrastructure including $297.8m on public transport, $123m on roads and $31m on parking.
The surplus before tax of $467.7m is well above the budget of $2.4m, for the year ending June 30.
A number of non-cash and abnormal items impacted the result including the transfer of some sections of former state highway to the organisation.
Chairman Dr Lester Levy says there have been a number of highlights for the year including the government announcing its support for construction of the City Rail Link and for accelerating the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) project including the East-West link.
“Few cities in the world have worked harder or invested more in fundamental change to their transport system, in such a short time.”
The 2013 financial year saw integrated ticketing introduced, the $100m Wiri depot being built to maintain the electric trains, and the first work on a radical re-design of the entire bus network.
But Levy says Auckland’s predominantly road-based system still has fragile arteries and lacks realistic alternatives and resilience.
“Aucklanders have a right to expect better and change is coming fast.”
He says more frequent and more reliable public transport services to more areas of Auckland will be enabled by electric trains, integrated fares and full delivery of the re-designed bus network and new service contracts.
Chief Executive Officer David Warburton says the past year has been challenging for staff.
“Auckland Transport has a big job to do. I thank our staff for their commitment to transforming Auckland and its transport system.”
Click here http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/about-us/publications/Reports/Pages/annualreports.aspx
to view the report.