Media release – for immediate use
28 September 2010

School transport plans needed for Auckland

Mayor Len Brown has announced a policy of putting a transport plan around every school in the Auckland region.

“School holidays remind us how easy it could be to get around Auckland,” says Len Brown.

“Approximately one third of all traffic at peak hours is education related. If we could reduce congestion associated with school drop-offs and pick-ups, we could go a long way to fixing Auckland’s transport. Getting more students out of cars and taking the bus, walking or biking to school or tertiary institute, would also be good for the environment in terms of reducing emissions, and good for health and fitness.

“Alongside the key transport infrastructural projects, such as an airport rail link and underground CBD rail loop, this policy will help to get Auckland moving and can be done reasonably quickly.”

There are approximately 550 schools in the Auckland region. Only 190 have ‘travelwise’ plans and 340 have walking school buses.

“We currently remove 8,300 peak hour cars trips from the roads with existing education related traffic reduction efforts That’s the equivalent of two or three lanes of motorway we don’t have to build.  

“I will bring together schools, the Ministry of Education, Auckland Council and the transport council controlled organisation, and parents to put in place travel plans for each of the region’s schools to reduce traffic and congestion in our city.

“We need to align public transport schedules, build biking routes, promote walking school buses and provide traditional school bus services to give parents options for how to get their kids to school.

“As a parent, I want to know my child can get to school safely and quickly. I understand the issues and I’m committed to getting Auckland moving.

“We need to get more of our workers and students into public transport and free up our roads for business. It’s time to fix Auckland’s transport.”

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