JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: ONTRACK, Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Waitakere City Council

16 May 2007

Aucklanders invited to find out more about future transport plans for New Lynn

Aucklanders can find out about plans to create a new transport hub for New Lynn by popping in to one of two open days on Friday 25 (12 noon - 6.30pm) and Saturday 26 (10.00am - 3.00pm) May at the New Lynn Community Centre, 45 Totara Ave. Still in the initial stages of development, plans include building a rail trench through New Lynn, upgrading the bus and train stations and redeveloping road layouts to make it easier for traffic and people to move around the town centre.

Representatives from ONTRACK, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) and Waitakere City Council will be on hand at the Open Days to discuss the plans and explain the likely construction impacts.

As New Lynn’s train station is the busiest on the Western Line, its redevelopment is critical to the continued growth of Auckland’s rail network. The location of the tracks in the heart of the town centre currently divides the town and causes traffic congestion when trains pass.

The planned redevelopment of New Lynn’s transport hub aims to make it easier for traffic and people to move around the town centre, and includes:

• Lowering the railway into a trench up to 8m deep along the current line between Portage and Titirangi Rds, and putting in a second railway track
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• Upgrading the bus and train stations to create an interchange
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• Improving the road layout and environs
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Preliminary work on redeveloping New Lynn’s transport will start later this year with construction being carried out from late 2007 through to 2009. Construction effects from such a major redevelopment are inevitable and will include construction noise, dust, vibration and traffic disruption.

Anyone who uses the train, lives or works in New Lynn is encouraged to take advantage of the open days as the construction work may affect them.

ONTRACK, Waitakere City Council and ARTA are keen to meet as many people as possible to explain the plans for New Lynn. Information collected at the days will help the organisations understand what people want to know and set up suitable communications systems to keep people as well informed as possible as the project progresses.

Ends

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