Well I have put my submission together.
It can be read here: http://greaterakl.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/atp-submission.pdf
My conclusion:
It is clear that the Auckland Transport Plan has some good aspects to it. A number of important projects will be funded as part of this plan and it is excellent to see an integrated plan for Auckland’s transportation future. However, the Plan clearly has some significant shortcomings, most of which are the result of it giving effect to the 2005 Regional Land Transport Strategy – a strategy that is now clearly out of date and is currently being reviewed by the Regional Council. These short ]comings are most obvious in how the ATP ignores the effects of peak oil and rising petrol prices on transport in the longer term, how it underfunds public transport significantly throughout the 10 year period, but particularly so later in the period and how the plan does not include critical public transport projects like the CBD Rail Link.
I make the following recommendations, which would significantly improve the ATP in my opinion:
1) The ATP should give effect to the reviewed RLTS and not the 2005 version. This would avoid a situation where the ATP is ‘out ]of ]date’ before it has even become operative. Any delay in the implementation of the ATP is well worth it, considering the misspending of billions of dollars in funding that will likely otherwise occur.
2) The ATP needs to consider the effects of peak oil and rising petrol prices on transportation over the next 10 years, and respond accordingly.
3) Figure 6, Map 1 and Map 2 should be altered for the reasons outlined above.
4) The CBD Rail Link must be included within the 10 year funding plan of the ATP as it is an utterly critical project for Auckland’s transportation future.
5) Walking and cycling funding levels should be increased over the 10 year period, and not reduced.
6) A significant rebalancing of funding towards public transportation is necessary. Continuing to fund roading at much higher levels than public transport is an embarrassment to Auckland and is reckless when the effects of peak oil and rising petrol prices is taken into account.
Processing...