Vic Crone for Mayor

21 June 2016

ATAP positively refreshing but strong Auckland leadership needed

Mayoral Candidate Victoria Crone is welcoming the joint interim report of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), particularly government and council working together.

Crone however cautions Auckland will need need strong leadership to deliver existing programmes on time and budget, while also building towards a transport network that takes advantages of changes coming our way.

“Over the next 30 years the way we get around Auckland will change dramatically with growth and new innovations. It’s fantastic to see this project take a collaborative, integrated and future-focused approach to the structural problems we’ve seen in Auckland’s transport planning,” says Ms Crone.

“We definitely need more emphasis on ensuring transport investment that supports growth. It's particularly serious when new housing growth is so disconnected from transport options, driving up congestion on our roads.

“Another big win for me is the real stake in the ground highlighting the importance of future technology. We must have an eye to emerging transport technologies which will change the types of investment we need and provide bridging solutions.

“In terms of road pricing, my preference would be for tolls on new roads, where people have alternative options. I'd rule out a congestion charge at this point in time because with a broken transport system and poor alternatives it just wouldn’t be fair."

ATAP acknowledge this, and are testing the concept of demand-based traffic management. But learnings from overseas markets such as the UK and Asia, show that these concepts can take decades to bring in.

There is still another phase to the project and the government has also hinted it may come to the table with funding where there is need for significant projects to be brought forward. “I would welcome this, and if the Government is to provide support for these projects, council will need to step up its game, focus on its priorities and prove that it can deliver on time and within budget."

ENDS

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