Introduction
Auckland’s transport system comprises:
•state highways, all other roads, rail, ports, airports and airfields, public transport (land and sea), parking spaces and structures, accessways, cycle and pedestrian routes, and all of their related facilities.
•broader elements including transport users and their behaviours, and the interaction between land use activities and transport networks.
Safeguarding the operation and management of the transport system as a physical resource requires consideration of multiple assets, activities, forms and functions. The establishment of transport infrastructure has had a fundamental role in shaping the form and ‘structure’ of urban development in Auckland. Some transport infrastructure requires significant investment in physical structures of a permanent nature.
Operating the transport network as part of a single transport system requires a combined and co-ordinated approach across many parties, including Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency, Ports of Auckland Limited, Auckland International Airport Limited, KiwiRail and public transport operators. In addition, transport corridors may also contribute to the locational needs of other infrastructure networks.
Auckland’s transport system contributes to Aucklanders’ social, economic and cultural well-being and their health and safety, and the enabling of growth and shaping of Auckland’s urban form. The effective, efficient, safe development, ongoing maintenance and operational improvements to the transport system are fundamental to the regional and national economies.
As the transport system is both an integrated system and an infrastructure network, the objectives and policies of section 3.2 Significant Infrastructure and Energy must also be considered when addressing transport related matters.
Explanation and reasons
Providing a range of transport options enables transport users to make considered choices to meet their transport needs. This includes choosing to travel by private vehicle, public transport, cycle, walk – or not to travel at all. To make these choices viable, improvements to the transport system will continue to be required. The regulatory framework must therefore enable the on-going development, operation and management of an effective, efficient and safe transport system as a significant physical resource to support Auckland’s population and economic growth.
The Unitary Plan seeks to achieve a quality, compact form of urban growth and the policies set out above outline the framework by which transport infrastructure should be provided to support this. Integrating transport infrastructure with land use development is an essential component. This includes supporting high density development around transport centres or interchanges served by the rapid and frequent service network. A key step in providing an integrated transport system is ensuring that all necessary infrastructure and services can be planned, funded, developed and then operated, maintained and upgraded to better support planned urban growth.
Some elements of the transport system are essential for the wider regional and national economy. Providing for the effective and efficient development, operation, maintenance and upgrading of Auckland Airport and the ports of Auckland and Onehunga recognises the essential role these facilities play in serving and facilitating the growth of Auckland, forming part of New Zealand’s transport system and in securing local and national economic prosperity.
The provision of effective, efficient and safe transport infrastructure and services are critical to Auckland and to the country. The infrastructure itself and the work required to operate, maintain and when necessary improve its performance should be provided for and protected from reverse sensitivity effects.
The development, operation and use of transport infrastructure can have significant effects on the natural and physical environment. Negative impacts on people and communities, such as, noise, vibration, air emissions and the severance of communities need to be avoided, remedied and mitigated through good planning, construction and maintenance practices and through the appropriate design of sensitive activities close to key parts of Auckland’s transport infrastructure.
However, there may also be positive effects if transport infrastructure and services are well-designed, planned and constructed in a timely manner integrated with urban growth, other elements of the environment and adjoining land uses. These positive effects can include personal and economic benefits associated with improved accessibility, leveraging higher land values to support centre growth and promoting improved user safety.
In terms of safety, pedestrians and cyclists are the most vulnerable users. The safe management of cycle and pedestrian networks includes separation from general traffic and slowing traffic speeds, which are expected to directly contribute to increasing pedestrian and cycle mode share and reducing community severance.
Private vehicle travel is the most predominant mode of transportation for many people and destinations in Auckland and is likely to remain so into the foreseeable future. However, effective demand management is required to reduce the need to travel by private vehicle,(including the frequency and length of trips), as is the effective management of parking, particularly long term parking in centres and mixed use zones served by the rapid and frequent service network. Demand management will assist in managing increases in road congestion (along with its associated effects) and encourage the use of other modes. It will also assist in improving the travel time for freight and commercial traffic, essential to economic productivity and competitiveness.
To meet urban growth, economic and environmental objectives, users of Auckland’s transport system require effective alternatives for many private vehicle trips. The continual improvement to Auckland’s public transport system is key to achieving this.