ARTA’s May 2010 Monthly Business Report has been released and as always it makes for interesting reading (I hope that the Auckland Transport CCO will continue to publish something like these reports). Here’s a brief summary of the report:
The long-term patronage graph shows that May 2010 was the third or fourth highest month, patronage wise, over the time tracked.
Once again, the most impressive patronage gains are on the Rapid Transit Network (the rail system plus the Northern Busway):
ARTA’s report once again breaks down the bus patronage, and we can see that big gains are coming in the north and south, but not much at all out west or on the isthmus. Interestingly, it is in the north and south (mainly southeast) where the system has been simplified and improved over the past few years. Just further proof that route simplification can made a huge difference.
In terms of network developments, it’s good to see that some progress is being made on improving real-time information for passengers.
Most of the rail information displays are still showing scheduled times, rather than actual real times. Hopefully Ontrack eventually get around to releasing their real-time datafeed so that rail passengers can actually know exactly when their train will arrive.
And finally…
That will be very very interesting!
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Thanks for a summary.
I think it’s no coincidence that the CBD rail tunnel business case is being released just before the local body and mayoral election – it will be a big election issue IMO.
Yes it will be a big issue. Fortunately both major mayoral candidates are big supporters of the project – we just have to see which one is going to do more to make it happen.
Further good news. and with petrol prices about to go up again, I can only see these figures increasing. Surely the powers that be can see the benefit in investing in PT. Or maybe they are too busy in trying to get the Olympics to Auckland!?@$!#!
What’s good to see is that areas where some effort has been made, like the Rapid Transit Network and the various bus routes in the north and south that have been simplified, the results have been fantastic. It gives me a lot of confidence that a huge simplification of the bus network, a big expansion of bus lanes and increasing frequencies of bus services will make a massive difference to patronage.
What did concern me in the report was the mention of Manukau. I always thought it was planned for early 2011 i.e. around Feb however the report here states it is not due to open till July 2011. Has this slipped.
As for the patronage, that is good news. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to the western line now trains run on time due to the double tracking.
Yes from memory the double-track opened in early June, so it’d be interesting to see the jump in patronage. What’s your anecdotal experience of patronage in the last few weeks Matt?
Patronage actually seems to have been a bit lower than late May was. I think that is mainly the effect of the cold and wet weather setting in more than anything. Services are generally on time or even a couple of minutes early which would seem good however it means the TM’s often have to hold the train at stations for longer to slow them down so they don’t get to far ahead of the schedule. There is still the occasional issue, this morning we got to Newmarket on time however due to delays from the Southern or Eastern line we ended up 10 mins late to town.
I’m now looking forward to the new timetable which should hopefully fix these small issues up.
Wow. Rail use has effectively tripled in five years. Since I only really visit in the summer, I’ve missed seeing it – I bet the change will feel dramatic (to those who live there every day, perhaps less noticeable).
This is good work by ARTA and you would assume it will get better with the new Transport Agency as all parts of Auckland will be operating in line with the transport strategy, whereas at the moment the only Council that does anything really decent for buses (i.e. proper bus lanes) appears to be Auckland City Council.
I agree to some extent Scott that things should get better with the new Transport Agency, particularly because the same agency running the buses will be able to extend the bus lanes. I think we can hope/expect for a dramatic increase in bus lane length in the next few years.
I wouldn’t give too much credit to Auckland City Council though (or at least not this current council). Don’t forget Ken Baguley’s Dominion Road T2 lane madness!
There’s a sign on Quay Street (near the Foodtown/Countdown supermarket) saying “better/more bus lanes coming soon” (or something closely along those lines). What is that about? Anybody know?