Engineers versus … everyone else?
How do you define “optimal conditions” in a transport sense? The graphic below paints a stark difference in opinion on what constitutes “optimal conditions” for different professions:
Now I’m both an engineer and an economist, so feel I have some insight into the motivation for whoever developed this graphic.…
16 Comments The macroeconomics of transport – and should it influence NZ’s investment priorities?
In this recent post John explored some of the links between transport and economic growth.
In this post I wanted to expand on some interesting macroeconomic issues related to transport investment. These issues have been rolling around in my head for some time and John’s post prompted me to stay up late writing a blog post.…
Pets in the city
Here at transportblog we’re big fans of initiatives that increase housing and transport choice in Auckland. This is why we support investment in Auckland’s “missing modes”, such as public transport, walking, and cycling, as well as simple policy changes, such as removing minimum parking requirements and apartment sizes, which will enable more intensive and diverse housing developments.…
Orakei Bay Village – To P&R or not to P&R?
Some of you who have been living in Auckland over the last decade might recall the long-running saga that is the Orakei Bay Village.
When the project was first mooted around a decade ago, it was met with furious local opposition.…
The Pullman Hotel – Pulled into line?
Greetings from Barcelona, where I’m currently winding up a 3 week European holiday that has also taken me to Amsterdam, Paris, and Porto. But my thoughts on those cities will have to wait for another day, because right now I want to engage in some bloated, tapas-filled celebration of a more local achievement.…
Auckland’s Chief Economist speaks up for future generations – Auckland needs to grow “up and out”
Auckland Council’s Chief Economist Geoff Cooper was in the paper on Thursday with a few interesting arguments about urban planning. The article is refreshing because in it Cooper challenges a few of the many sacred cows in the debate over growth and housing affordability.…
How better parking policies will help Auckland become the world’s most liveable city
I’m proud of Auckland in particular and New Zealand in general. The city has come a long way in a short time, even if much work remains to be done to become the “world’s most liveable city.” One area where Auckland is doing relatively well, but might potentially do even better, is parking policy.…
Residential parking permits – Paraphrasing opposing views
For those who have not heard, AT recently released a draft parking discussion document (PDD). The PDD has stimulated considerable discussion on parking issues in general and residential parking permit schemes (RPPS) in particular. In this recent post I outlined four reasons why I consider resident parking permits to be unwise, specifically: RPPS are unfair, insofar as they prioritise a public resource for a particular group of people based simply on where they live;
RPPS are inconvenient, insofar as they make it easy to park your car in the area where you reside, but less convenient in other areas where you might travel;
RPPS create poor incentives, insofar as they subsidise residential parking and thereby encourage residents to make inefficient use of on-street parking; and
RPPS are not an enduring solution, insofar as they do not tackle the underlying problem (excess demand) and instead ration demand based on location (and often first-mover advantage).…
Four reasons why residential parking permits are unwise
The release of Auckland Transport’s draft Parking Discussion Document has stimulated some much-needed debate on parking issues. Various aspects of this debate has been covered in a number of media articles and blog posts. This article from Friday, however, caught my attention.…
Big city life? Challenges and trade-offs for Auckland
Big city life? Challenges and trade-offs for Auckland
In a recent working paper, NZIER have analysed how economic welfare responds to changes in housing and transport costs in Auckland. Three policy scenarios were tested, specifically: An increase in land supply outside of the MUL by 20%;
An increase in productivity in the housing construction sector; and
A reduction in transport costs of 2%.…
Processing...