The NZ Upgrade Blowout
At the start of last year the government announced the NZ Upgrade Programme, a massive infrastructure programme which included $6.8 billion in transport projects around the country with around half of that being in Auckland.
The package contained some really good and much needed projects, such as the Northern Pathway, the third main between Otahuhu and Wiri, electrification from Papakura to Pukekohe along with new train stations along that section.…
168 Comments The rise of the urban light truck: what to do about it?
This is a Guest Post by Dr. Kirsty Wild, a Senior Research Fellow in the field of Population Health at the University of Auckland.
The problem barely requires articulation: just at a time when we are adopting Vision Zero in our cities and trying to carve out space for slower, safer transport modes, that space is being filled up by light trucks – double cab utes and SUVs.…
Establishing a Carbon Neutral Government Programme
Featured image: ÖBB Nightjet, image from Lucas via Wikipedia (Creative Commons)
This is a guest post by Paul Callister.
In March 2021 the government released the cabinet paper Leading the way: Establishing a Carbon Neutral Government Programme. The paper states that the government “must show leadership to reduce its own emissions, in order to demonstrate what is possible to other sectors in the New Zealand economy.”…
Is Driving the new smoking?
Last week I reported on the Ministry of Transport’s ‘green paper’ which outlines some potential policies and pathways to a net zero emissions from transport by 2050.
Of the four potential pathways it suggests, only one, Pathway 4, meets the targets set out by the Climate Change Commission.…
Weekly Roundup – 21-May-21
Here’s our weekly Roundup.
On display this week were two stark examples of cause and effect: The vacuum of political leadership, and its consequence. Queen St Saga
Last week the council launched a surprise and very quiet consultation which proposed changing the design of improvements to give in to the group pushing for it to be more focused on cars.…
Our Response to the Inquiry into congestion pricing in Auckland
Parliaments Transport and Infrastructure Committee conducting an inquiry into congestion pricing in Auckland and are asking for feedback. If you want to submit, you’ll need to do so by midnight tonight. I’m currently finalising our submission but I’d thought I’d highlight the key points we’ll be submitting on.…
Ministry of Transport’s views on reducing emissions
On Friday Transport Minister Michael Wood released a Ministry of Transport ‘green paper’, which outlines “potential policies and pathways to a net zero emissions by 2050 – called Hīkina te Kohupara – Kia mauri ora ai te iwi: Transport Emissions: Pathways to Net Zero by 2050.…
Weekly Roundup – 30-Apr-21
Here’s our weekly roundup RLTP submissions
Submissions for Auckland Transport’s Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP) close on Sunday so if you haven’t completed one yet, get on to it. As Heidi wrote the other day, a key flaw in the plan is at best it hopes to hold vehicle travel steady which is at odds with both government and council plans, as well as the draft recommendations from the Climate Change Commission that we need to reduce vehicle travel.…
NZ Upgrade Programme review a blessing in disguise
In January last year, just before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the government announced a $12 billion spend-up on infrastructure – known as the New Zealand Upgrade Programme. Over half of that, $6.8 billion, was earmarked for a series of major transport projects across the country.…
Apr-21 AT Board Meeting
It’s been more than two months but tomorrow the Auckland Transport board meet again and so as I often do, I’ve had a look through the reports for anything interesting that stands out. Unfortunately, at the time of writing the post they haven’t uploaded the closed session agenda, which gives an indication as to some of the more interesting projects.…
Processing...