Other than the City Rail link, there was another interesting presentation at the transport committee on Tuesday, the results of a survey conducted by the AA. The survey was conducted in the middle of may and sent out to a selection of their Auckland members, they had 6030 responses and the results have a margin of error of +1.3%.
First up looking a a future harbour crossing, over 50% would prefer a tunnel over a new bridge even though cost was rated an important factor by most people, almost 50% would accept paying a $4 toll although most didn’t agree with tolling the existing bridge and over 90% want the existing bridge retained.
Next they looked at the regional priorities, first of all rating the different modes in terms of the regions needs, roads of all kinds had over 50% of respondents reply excellent or good while unsurprisingly PT and active modes were lower which indicates to me that in general people think our roads are ok so we should be focusing on those alternative modes. Where things start to get interesting is that close to 80% of people support the RLTS which aims to dramatically increase PT spending (but does maintain a level or roading improvements). Looking at where people would want more emphasis over 80% of people said more train services followed not far behind by people wanting more bus services and most people picked buses and trains as either their first or second choice in order of importance for alternative modes in the city (trams were very low)
The rail projects Len Brown is pushing are all getting strong support however suspect that most people don’t realise how important the City Rail Link is to enabling the other rail projects
Lastly they have looked at who should pay for PT improvements, over 50% thought picked central government as their first choice to make the main contribution while just over 10% thought PT users should pay however most don’t agree with motorists having to pay more. This indicates to me that people feel they are taxed enough but that it isn’t being spent in the right places.
Overall I think these are some really interesting results, I think it does show that average Aucklanders think that we are focusing on the wrong areas and they have identified PT as what our main focus should be. With that in mind why are the government, particularily the Auckland MP’s not listening to what people want?
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fascinating.
I don’t like how the “Don’t Know” answers were placed on the “Terrible” side of the second set of graphs.
The inclusion of trams is interesting.
Overall, very interesting data. Thanks Matt L.
I think that’s just a line marking 50%? Ie they’re just putting “dont know” in the middle and highlighting where 50% lies. Or have I misunderstood you?
I think he is referring to the fact that don’t know is after the terrible/less results making it look like a lot more people don’t support it. I think you are right about the 50% line though as thats how I read it.
I look forward to the AA representing the interests of its members appropriately, publicly calling on the Minister of Transport to implement the PT improvements under the NLTS as soon as possible.
Can somebody please explain how to read those graphs?
Most at 100% stacked graphs, each of the different coloured sections represent the % of people who picked that choice.
That’s a pretty respectable survey, with 6000 odd respondents. Some might have said it only represented a particular group’s view point, but as its AA members SUPPORTING public transport – go figure!!
Steven doesn’t appear to have much respect for facts. Just his opinions!
What I think (and always have thought) is interesting is that only a very small percentage of PT users in Auckland use trains. But surveys consistently show stronger support for expenditure on trains than buses. I can never decide why this is – because bus users aspire to catch the train? Because trains are just somehow more attractive to the average member of the public? because people have been hearing from the council so long that trains are a priority that they’ve absorbed that message? Or because people have seen how much better train systems can be overseas?
Probably a combination of all of those things
Because buses are slower and generally crappier, but also because people do want choice, probably many of those bus riders that support rail would love to be able to catch a train. This will increase with electrification, ten minute frequencies, and, hopefully, increasingly reliable services due to improved signaling.
And also, perhaps, people recognise how the quality of the city will improve with an actual functioning train system. Unlike the provincialists currently in charge many Aucklanders have lived in cities that have real transit systems and therefore much better streetlife and urban form.
Also, you never know, maybe the people are also ahead of the govt. in wanting to take real steps on resource depletion and climate change…..?
Well in the end this isn’t really a surprising finding, the majority of people in Auckland own a car, a large proportion are AA members to get the roadside assistance – in a way all this study shows is that the AA’s members disagree with much of what the AA thinks they represent i.e. cars above everything else. I’ve said it before but it’s time the AA started acting as what they really are, which is merely a company providing roadside assistance, people don’t join them to support their lobbying and in fact I know some people who cancelled their memberships because they were sick of the AA speaking (supposedly) on their behalf in support of motorway construction. Hopefully, the AA takes note of this, I’m guessing they’re only looking at the section which says 50% of people want more money spent on roads.