13 May 2009

More certainty for major eastern suburbs transport project

Work on the first stages of a major package of transport improvements for Auckland and Manukau’s eastern suburbs could begin in 2010, Manukau City Council says.

The council’s Policy and Activities Committee met last night to discuss the next steps for the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI). The joint project between Manukau and Auckland city councils and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is a $1.33 billion package of improvements to major roads, public transport, walking and cycling facilities.

The committee approved a new staged approach to AMETI that will see the project developed in two packages of work, the first between 2010 - 19 and the second from 2019 - 31. The committee also recommended further investigations into a bus priority route between Pakuranga and Panmure after high-level work by ARTA showed it would be needed much sooner than previously expected.

Manukau City Council Transport Portfolio Leader David Collings says AMETI now has more certainty with funding in both Manukau and Auckland’s draft long term plans for the first part of the staged approach.

“It’s also encouraging that work on the first stages could begin in 2010. The first projects planned for Manukau are a pedestrian/cycle lane clip-on to the Panmure Bridge and interim intersection improvements at Ti Rakau Drive/Pakuranga Bridge and Pakuranga Road/Ti Rakau Drive.

“They’re part of the first AMETI package of work between 2010 and 2019, which focuses on early start construction projects and protecting the whole AMETI route.

“The staged approach is about making progress on improvements to transport in the area in a way which has less impact on rates.

“For example, we’ll aim to have half of the work on the Reeves Road flyover in Pakuranga complete by 2019 and finish it soon after that.

“Public transport is a vital part of the project and ARTA’s latest work shows that we should be aiming to have a dedicated bus route between Pakuranga and Panmure by about 2016,” he says.

The latest decisions on AMETI do not require any more properties than those previously identified when the route was confirmed in mid-2007. The council will be writing to affected property owners to update them on the project.

Funding applications will be made to NZTA soon for the first AMETI projects.

Background

Manukau AMETI projects planned for 2010-19:

Pedestrian/cycle lanes clip-on to the Panmure Bridge
Interim intersection improvements at Ti Rakau Drive/Pakuranga Bridge and Pakuranga Road/Ti Rakau Drive
Intersection improvements at Gossamer/Ti Rakau Dr, Trugood Dr and Cryers Rd
Bus lanes on Ti Rakau Dr and Pakuranga Rd
Beginning of work on the Reeves Rd flyover.
A second package of work to complete AMETI will be carried out between 2019 - 31.

The revised plans for AMETI followed an NZTA peer review. The review confirmed the route already identified for AMETI and led to some design changes to make the overall project more affordable.

The major changes included taking out plans to duplicate the Pakuranga Bridge within the next 20 years and making bus lanes on Pakuranga Rd additional lanes instead of reallocating existing lanes.

Main elements of AMETI

Manukau area:
· Retain tidal flow on Panmure Bridge
· Panmure Bridge cycle lanes
· Bus lanes on Pakuranga Road between Panmure Bridge and Ti Rakau Drive
· Reeves Road flyover
· Ti Rakau Drive bus priority measures.

Auckland area:
· Morrin Road to Merton extension
· Quarry Link Road extension to Pilkington Road
· Panmure roundabout upgrade
· Lagoon Drive bus priority measures and cycle lanes
· Morrin Road to Mt Wellington Highway (AMETI link).

ENDS

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