Whilst I do have some huge reservations about the details of Auckland’s future super-city, and also about the way it’s being completely rammed through by the government, at its core I think the idea will be a step forwards for Auckland, and in particular, for transport.
An article in Friday’s New Zealand Herald reminded me why I held this view. It is bad enough that the Tamaki Drive bus lane is getting bastardised into some sort of carpool/bus lane – especially when it seems completely unnecessary (travel times for cars seem to have not got much worse since the bus lane was put in), but the stupidest thing is that the money that it will cost to remove the bus lane and turn it into a carpool lane is coming out of Auckland City Council’s already minscule public transport budget.
But a decision to pay for the $355,000 trial from unallocated parts of council public transport and walking and cycling budgets drew strong reactions from minority City Vision councillors already upset at what they deemed an attack on the city’s 32km network of bus lanes.
“It adds insult to injury,” said Graeme Easte.
“Since this is basically a roading project for the benefit of non-public transport vehicles, why is the money not coming out of roading [budgets]? We shouldn’t be signalling open season on bus priority lanes.”
I agree completely with Graeme Easte here. Just another sign of the lip-service that Auckland City Council pays to public transport, while at the same time funneling as much money as possible into more roads, or  slowing buses down so  there’s no incentive to use them.
The sooner a proper Regional Transport Authority is established for Auckland the better. Leaving councillors, who have probably never left the comfort of their flash car, in charge of developing a sustainable transport system just isn’t working.
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You think that the entire city being ruled by Citizens and Ratepayers will make things better?
The structure being proposed tilts campaigning and thus control in favour of the well resourced and wealthy. I fear planning and transport disasters, writ large.
Hopefully the Regional Tranport Authority will be separated enough from the day to day running of the council to just get on with its job. Kind of like the current separation between the ARC and ARTA.
But yes, overall I am VERY worried about the possibility of Citizens & Ratepayers running the whole council. And also the possibility of John Banks being more powerful as ‘Uber Mayor’.
I couldn’t agree more. The sooner we get rid of all the bureaucracy and the red-tape – the better for us all. I have always maintained that Aucklander’s have far too much say on most matters …. no wonder nothing gets done in a hurry. It is just blah, blah, blah – WAIT – moan, moan, moan – WAIT – blah, blah blah – WAIT !
Get rid of the entire city council and head-hunt people from Europe. The repressed mentality that exists in NZ is not going to help us and I am not pinning too much hope on a Super City but in saying that I am sure that it will be heaps better to what we have right now.
Transport isn’t something that should be a political football. Just look at Sydney, Australia -where $4 billion is being sunk into an unnecessary Metro system just to save a marginal seat. ARTA has done a great job within its constraints since it separated from the ARC, and having an enlarged ARTA take on the extra transport responsibilities that people like Ken Baguley currently control would be a fantastic step forwards for Auckland.