Traffic on the edge
15 August, 2007

More than 115,000 vehicles enter and exit the Auckland urban area each weekday, mostly in the south, according to a new traffic survey commissioned by the Auckland Regional Council.

Drivers were stopped and questioned at 16 different sites last year as part of the ‘external cordon survey’ to help build a better picture of traffic flows at the region’s edges – as part of the re-construction of Auckland’s computerised transport modelling system.

There were five sites between Helensville and Waiwera, and 11 between Pukekohe and Maraetai. The survey showed the busiest ‘gateway’ roads carry more than 16,000 vehicles each day.

The busiest roads were:

 SH1 south of Pokeno - 8,800 vehicles in each direction
 SH1 north of Waiwera – 8,200 vehicles in each direction
 SH2 east of SH1 – 6,100 vehicles in each direction

ARC transport policy chairman Joel Cayford said robust planning required finding out where traffic was going and why, and he thanked drivers for their cooperation at the roadside during the survey over September and October last year.

The external cordon survey is part of a larger, $5 million project to update traffic information and develop long-term traffic and land-use plans.

Other results include:

 Most of the vehicles on the road are cars - 64% compared to trucks at 9%
 68% had one occupant, 23% had two and 9% had more
 Most people, 38%, were travelling between home and school, shops or a social engagement; 21% of people were travelling between home and work, and 21% of drivers were on business or work trips.
 Of traffic entering Auckland from the north, around 15% went through Auckland, while just 3.5% of traffic entering from the south went through Auckland to more northern destinations.

Editors note: Localised information is attached. For maps and the full report to the transport and policy committee, follow this link and see item C.4 on the agenda posted on the ARC website

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Where vehicles are going in your area:

Site 1: SH1 north of Waiwera: This is the second busiest site after SH1 south of Bombay, carrying about 8,200 vehicles per weekday in one direction. The highest inter-district flows are between Rodney District north and Hibiscus Coast. Significant flows to nearly the entire region are evident, including many from north of the ARC region. There are also moderate flows from north of the ARC region to south of the ARC region (regional through traffic). The role and function of SH1 as a strategic route is apparent.

Site 2: Wainui Road: Most trips occur between the Rodney west (Helensville) and Hibiscus Coast and also to North Shore and the CBD (via SH1).

Site 3: Kahikatea Flat Road: Located just south of Site 2, this site exhibits similar trip patterns except that there are more south-oriented trips to North Shore rather than to Hibiscus Coast.

Site 4: SH16 Woodhill: This route mainly serves Rodney west to Waitakere trips. There is a reasonable spread of destinations to the North Shore, Isthmus and Manukau districts. The site captures some trips from north of the ARC region but hardly any from the south of the region.

Site 5: Papakura-Clevedon Road: Most trips occur between Manukau east and Manukau, Papakura and Pukekohe. The trip pattern is localised there are few long distance trips.

Site 6: SH2 east of SH1: This is the third busiest location after the SH1 north and south sites, carrying about 6,100 vehicles per direction per weekday. There are reasonably even, high flows between SH2 and Pukekohe, Papakura, Manukau, the Isthmus and the CBD. Relative to the amount of population and employment activity, Pukekohe attracts a significant share of trips from SH2. Longer distance flows to the North Shore and Waitakere are much lower. The spatial pattern compared to Site 1: SH1 north is similar although there are fewer long distance or through trips.

Site 7: SH1 south of Pokeno: This is the busiest external cordon site in the region, carrying about 8,800 vehicles per direction. Trip patterns are similar to Site 6: SH2 but the actual numbers or trips are higher and trips to the Pukekohe district are not as dominant. Manukau and the CBD districts capture the largest share of trips from SH1 south. Only a small proportion of trips extend north of the Waitemata Harbour. Through trips to the north of the ARC region match those to the south observed at Site 1: SH1 north.

Site 8: West of Pokeno interchange: This is a minor site, carrying about 900 vehicles per direction. Trip patterns from the south of the region to Pukekohe and Manukau tend to dominate. There is a high proportion of trips to/from the southwest / Tuakau Road that access SH1 at this location.

Site 9: Buckland Road: The trip pattern is very localised, serving trips between Tuakau / Pokeno, Pukekohe and southwest of the ARC region (via Tuakau Road).

Site 10: Waiuku Road: The site is dominated by trips between the southwest (via Wily Road) and the Pukekohe district. Most trips do not extend past Manukau.

Site 11: Glenbrook Road: Most trips are between the Pukekohe district and Papakura and Manukau districts. There are moderate flows further north to the CBD, east Isthmus and east Manukau districts. Due to the location of the site west of SH22 most of these trips are from the Waiuku / Glenbrook parts of the Pukekohe district.

Site 12: Hingaia Road: This is one of the busiest sites, carrying 5,700 vehicles per direction and has a similar trip pattern to Site 11: Glenbrook Road, which is located to the south of Hingaia Road. Local trips to Papakura and Manukau dominate but there are moderate flows further north to the CBD, east Isthmus and east Manukau districts.

Site 13: Pine Valley Road: The site is located between Sites 2 and 3 and exhibits similar trip patterns. Most trips are between the Rodney west (Helensville) district and Hibiscus Coast followed by trips to North Shore.

Site 14: Bombay Road: This is a minor site but its location close to SH1 reflects a dispersed trip pattern. Most trips are local in extent.

Site 15; Harrisville Road: The main flows are between Tuakau /Pokeno district and Pukekohe, Papakura and Manukau. There are a number of trips from south of the region (Tuakau Road).

Site 16: Patumahoe Road: This is a minor site (1900 vehicles per direction) and there are no dominant flows evident, although the overall pattern is similar to adjacent sites.

ENDS

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