Auckland Transport didn't consult public on longer-term solution to congestion, local politician says

Thursday, 30 May 2019

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Transport Minister Phil Twyford last year announcing the $28 billion Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP).

Auckland Transport did not include a long-term option during consultation about improvements to a problematic arterial road – and some politicians say it's a better fix for commuters.

AT has proposed to install a 400-metre southbound T3 lane on the North Shore's Birkenhead Ave, between Recreation Dr to Onewa Rd. It would operate from 6:30am-10am, Monday to Friday.

The planned lane does not connect with Onewa Rd, forcing all vehicles to merge before turning the corner.

Auckland Transport is proposing to install a 400-metre southbound T3 lane on Birkenhead Ave on Auckland's North Shore (file photo).

However, Kaipātiki Local Board chairman John Gillon said documents from an internal workshop in September 2018 showed AT was presented with a plan labelled 'long-term option' and chose not to put out for public consultation.

John Gillon said the Kaipātiki Local Board would support a T3 lane that continued through the intersection, not stopping before causing lane traffic to merge.

* Birkenhead locals petition against Auckland Transport's plan for transit lane

* Transport figures show Onewa Rd transit lane users in the majority

* Extension of T3 lane times on Auckland's Onewa Rd delayed to September 2018

* Longer hours of operation for Onewa T3 lanes deemed 'completely unnecessary'

* AT receives parking petition from fed-up workers on Auckland's North Shore

Instead, AT decided to show the public a plan labelled 'short term option', which was the plan currently being proposed.

Both potential solutions came from a detailed analysis document created by the New Zealand branch of AECOM – a company of global experts which find solutions to problems like transport infrastructure.

Gillon said the alternative long-term plan had four different variations, each reconfiguring the intersection in different ways, but all ensured both the T3 lane and general lane turned into the corner separately.

'Coincidentally, last month the Kaipātiki Local Board gave conditional support to a T3 lane on Birkenhead Ave, subject to AT changing the Onewa Rd intersection to allow the T3 lane and general vehicle lanes to continue onto Onewa Rd as separate lanes,' Gilllon said.

'Obviously [the current plan] would cause congestion as buses and cars merge to turn the corner, but also increase congestion for vehicles heading straight into Highbury and turning right into Highbury Bypass.'

Earlier this year, the plans for a new transit lane prompted a 1000-plus strong petition from locals opposed to the idea, supported by Northcote MP Dan Bidois.

In response, an AT spokesman said the organisation was looking at short term options for immediate benefit and relatively low cost.

'The long term options would provide the most overall benefit, but are not quick fixes because of considerations like possible land purchases and road widening. That would require discussions with landowners and more public consultation.'

He said AT was still reviewing 255 submissions, which included the petition, and it would likely be the end of June before any decisions were made.