A bold new transport vision for Auckland

A transport group proposes ideas for a better-connected Auckland.

Greater Auckland (formerly known as Transportblog) are a bunch of transport wonks with popular appeal – their blog is one of the most-read in the city. They’ll dish out criticism, but they also make positive proposals – one of which we’re happy to help unveil here in this map.

Click here to view the map in greater detail.

The group’s plan for a congestion-free Auckland envisages a city well-connected by public transport. Greater Auckland spokesperson Patrick Reynolds says this map, featuring proposed additions to the public transport system, is designed to inform and excite people about the possibilities for Auckland, and to pressure authorities to do better.

Greater Auckland estimates the new network shown here would cost $13-14 billion – barely one-sixth of the current 30-year projected transport spend in the region. But it would require a shift in central government spending priorities away from motorways.

Here are the key features of the plan:

Rail

The rail system would be operated as currently planned once connected by the City Rail Link. It would run two very high-frequency and interconnected lines: from the west (C) through the CRL, Parnell, and Newmarket to Onehunga and also from Pukekohe (D) on the current Southern Line through the CRL and out on the current Eastern Line to Manukau City.

Light rail

This plan envisages two new light rail lines that interconnect through the city and cross the harbour on a new rail-only crossing. One would stretch from Ōrewa to the airport (A). The other would run from Takapuna (B) through the city and eventually replace buses up the North-Western busway. Both would operate on separated tracks, except in places like Queen Street, where the lines would be almost entirely separated from traffic.

Bus rapid transit lines

The plan features three suggested major bus rapid transit lines, a mixture of separated busways and enhanced bus lanes and stations. The North-East BRT line (F) would run from Constellation Station through Glenfield then along the coming Eastern Busway to Botany. Constellation would also be the starting point for an Upper Harbour rapid service (G) along SH18, connecting to the North West light rail and, ultimately, the Western Line at Henderson. Howick would be directly connected to the airport (E).

Enhanced bus lines

Enhanced bus lines from Botany to Point Chevalier would connect to all rail and light rail lines. A Flatbush to New Lynn line would speed up direct cross town-travel and expand the power of the network through east-west connectivity.

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