The AA says that yesterday’s release of the final report of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) is a major milestone in Auckland transport planning, and is calling on the Government and Auckland Council to now start delivering the transport benefits that Aucklanders need.

“It’s an understatement to say that Aucklanders are ready to deal with the transport and congestion problems they endure daily,” says AA spokesman Barney Irvine. “We’ve had the stand-off; we’ve had the planning; we’ve now got a strategy so let’s not waste any more time.”

Mr Irvine says hard conversations need to start now about the final project mix, and how exactly to pay for it.

“Auckland AA Members have told us they’re willing to pay a bit more to improve the transport system, but they’ll need to see benefits, and there are limits to how deeply they’ll dig into their pockets.”

At the same time, the Government and Council can’t put off an investigation of the merits of some form of congestion charging in Auckland, even if any implementation is a decade or more away.

“Working out whether congestion charging is right for Auckland will be a long journey,” he says. “The point is, the journey needs to start now.”

Mr Irvine says the report shows how far the Auckland transport debate has progressed as a result of ATAP.

“This has got transport planning in Auckland out of the intensive care unit and back on its feet,” he says. “ATAP has made a vital contribution and it can’t stop here – the focus should now go on setting up ATAP mark II, and locking in bi-partisan support for the work that comes out of it, in Auckland and in Wellington.”

For more information contact:

Barney Irvine
Principal Advisor – Infrastructure
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. +64 9 966 8608
M. +64 27 839 9309
W. www.aa.co.nz