23 June 2006

Council agrees transport investment for the Tamaki Edge

Intensive design work to improve transport links between Glen Innes and Manukau will proceed, Auckland City Council agreed at its meeting last night.

Two arterial road improvement projects will move ahead for the Tamaki Edge. One will focus on the area between State Highway 1 and Glen Innes, via Mt Wellington, and the other will define the best route for improved transport between Panmure and Pakuranga.

Councillor Richard Simpson, the council's Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson, says the design work will provide certainty for people and heralds the beginning of developing transport alternatives in Auckland's eastern suburbs.

"Glen Innes, Panmure, Mt Wellington and Sylvia Park are areas that are growing. To benefit from this growth, better access and connections are vital. This means more transport infrastructure offering people more choice," says Mr Simpson.

"There is planned public and private investment of around $3 billion in the Tamaki Edge area, including the development of the Mt Wellington quarry and Sylvia Park, and the university's expansion of its Tamaki campus. We need to design and implement appropriate, sustainable transport initiatives to cater for this growth and unlock the area's economic potential.

"Public transport, walking, cycling and improved roading are crucial to enable sustainable growth and provide access in this area of the city. These two design projects will deliver this.

"This council's focus is on creating transport hubs offering people more travel choice," says Mr Simpson.

Providing transport infrastructure with quality urban design outcomes is fundamental to the design of the two design projects.

"By improving both transport and urban design, the council aims to make connections between people and places. We cannot afford consideration of transport infrastructure that does not add to the design and character of the Tamaki Edge area," says Mr Simpson.

"We will be ensuring that quality urban design elements are woven into these two design projects."

Auckland and Manukau city councils, along with the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, will work as partners on the best option for the transport link between Panmure and Pakuranga, says Mr Simpson.

"With around 3 per cent of the region's morning peak trips destined for East Tamaki, defining the transport link between Panmure and Pakuranga is critical. We need to work at improving mobility between the two cities," says Mr Simpson.

"These improvements need to benefit all road users and encourage the use of public transport."

The design and route definition work approved by the council are key steps towards delivering more sustainable transport choice, be it by road, rail, walking or cycling.

Auckland City will contribute around $1.8 million towards the two design projects.

The design projects form part of the Auckland-Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI), a partnership project between Auckland and Manukau city councils and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

ENDS

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