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Resolution
number PPK/2024/94
MOVED by Chairperson
B Catchpole, seconded by Deputy Chairperson J Robinson:
That
the Papakura Local Board:
a) provide the following feedback on the Draft
Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034:
Mandatory to receive funding in all circumstances
i)
The Papakura Local
Board supports the following areas proposed to receive mandatory funding in
all circumstances:
·
renewals and
maintenance of local roads, rail and state highway networks to ensure they
remain fit for purpose into the future
·
existing public
transport services, along with improvements such as more rail services
enabled by the City Rail Link and the expansion of the frequent bus network
·
completing projects
that we are already committed to and are in progress, for example: the
Eastern Busway and City Rail Link.
Priorities for public transport investment -
(pages 29 -36)
ii)
The board supports
the following priorities for public transport investment:
·
renewals and committed
projects (Non-discretionary projects). Finishing what has been started:
·
City Rail Link
·
EMU rolling stock,
stabling and depots
·
level crossing removals
·
new signalling systems
and power sources
·
Eastern busway to
Botany (stages two and three)
·
a new rapid transit
connection from Panmure to Botany
·
the Reeves Road flyover
·
a new bus interchange
at Pakuranga and an interim interchange at Botany – providing a
solution for up to a decade
·
renewing and
maintaining the rail network
·
prioritising several
projects that will improve the reliability, reduce customer disruption, more
efficient maintenance practices:
·
single line running
switches, that allow sections of track to be kept open while works are
underway
·
plant and equipment
that will increase maintenance productivity, although this is scalable
·
maintenance depots and
access tracks to allow faster mobilisation, which is also scalable.
iii)
The local board has
concerns relating to the costs to purchase nine new low carbon ferries (along
with associated electric charging infrastructure), relating to battery weight
compromising passenger capacity, battery lifespan and disposal at end of
life, versus the costs to purchase low emission diesel ferries.
Discretionary public transport improvements
projects in priority order (pages 31 – 33)
iv)
Bus and transit
lanes programme (dynamic lanes) and Bus access and optimisation programme
The board requests Auckland Transport explore a bus and
T2 lane along both sides of the Great South Road, between Selwyn Oaks and the
Takanini interchange as well as progressing off-road separated cycleways
along Great South Road.
v)
KiwiRail rail
reliability and maintenance projects
The board supports projects that will enhance
reliability of the rail network.
vi)
Avondale to
Southdown route protection
The Papakura Local Board supports any addition
that future proofs the rail network. The Papakura Local Board has
supported the Avondale route protection in the past.
vii)
4-tracking
Westfield to Pukekohe
The Papakura Local Board supports and looks
forward to the provision of express train services.
Any pinch points along the rail network
require adjustments to the tracks as well as adjustments to the cycling,
pedestrian and vehicle overbridges.
viii)
Takaanini Level
Crossing Removal Stage 1
It is noted that the final Mayoral proposal signals the
allocation of approximately $600 million for level crossing removal in
Takanini.
It is noted under the Kiwirail capital programme (RLTP
page 83) there is no funding for grade separation to build the required
significant infrastructure. Certainty is required for the community
regarding safety and congestion, noting Papakura’s 25.5 percent growth
since the 2018 Census. (Refer 2023 Census data).
The Takanini level crossings are currently pressure
points in the roading network, from Manukau to Papakura, with significant
congestion which will be exacerbated when the City Rail Link begins fully
operating with faster frequency of trains.
It is essential the Takanini level crossing removal
projects are funded and progressed.
25.5 percent higher than forecast’
ix)
Airport to Botany
Papakura residents would benefit from connections to the
airport and East Tāmaki employment areas, therefore the local board
supports this project.
x)
Small-scale
enhancements to the reliability and capacity of the rail network
The local board supports projects that will
make the rail network more reliable and increase capacity.
xi)
Decarbonisation of
the ferry fleet and increase the capacity of the ferry system
The board does not believe it is efficient to have a
battery operated ferry fleet. The board is concerned about the weight
of the batteries on the vessels limiting passenger capacity and is also
concerned about the disposal of batteries at end of life.
xii)
Enhancing the bus
network with a range of interchange, station, access and signage improvements
The board believes the interchange facilities at both
Papakura and Takaanini stations need safety upgrades (ie: active and line of
sight surveillance) to improve the actual and perception of safety.
The Papakura and Takaanini train stations need to be more
streamlined and better integrated interchange facilities, Takaanini in
particular. There has been a 25.5 percent growth in population in
Papakura since the 2018 Census.
Public Transport Services (page 37)
xiii)
Greater
self-reliance for public transport funding and operating costs
The Papakura Local Board welcomes the Mayor’s
Long-term Plan proposal to cap weekly public transport fares to a maximum of
$50 per week.
The board believes that to encourage a behaviour change,
public transport must be more attractive in terms of cost, safety and
convenience than any alternative.
The board is conscious that many Papakura residents work
outside of the public transport high frequency network operating hours and
zones. The board would be concerned about any added costs to already
stretched household budgets.
The board believes any increase in fares will be
counter-productive to growing public transport patronage.
Balance of large and small projects within
the proposed Public Transport infrastructure programme
xix) The board believes a separated off road pedestrian / cycle
pathway should also be included as part of the Mill Road project to provide a
safe alternative for different modes of travel. Currently residents are
walking on the road shoulder.
xx) The board believes it is critical that the
entire Mill Road corridor be formally designated as soon as practicable to
protect the corridor, particularly, the section through Papakura to:
·
limit development in
the preferred corridor
·
keep the project
affordable, ie: not having to buy new houses built in the corridor
·
provide certainty to
residents, the wider public and community.
xxi)
The board supports
funding for public transport infrastructure and services, as reliable and
accessible public transport is crucial in easing congestion, mitigating the
effects of climate change and providing more transport options for all.
xxii) The board supports tolling as a method to
support construction and maintenance of all new roads, including both Roads
of National Significance and Regional Roads of Significance provided there is
a free alternative route available.
xxiii)
The board supports
safety initiatives and mitigations for pedestrians and cyclists as active and
multi-modal options should be safe, accessible and encouraged. The Papakura
Local Board is a strong advocate for off road separated cycleways and shared
pathways.
xxiv)
The Papakura Local
Board supports joint transport planning including the Auckland Transport
Alignment Project (ATAP) as there needs to be greater communication and
planning between central and local government.
xxv)
Papakura and the
surrounding areas are experiencing large population growth. Constituent
feedback through the Long-term Plan process was to ‘spend more to
alleviate congestion through encouraging public transport use, efficient
public transport offerings and a robust roading network’.
Priorities for State Highway Improvements
investment (Page 41 table)
xxvi)
The Papakura Local
Board believes it is essential that the entire route of the Mill Road
corridor is designated. Currently the route from Alfriston Road through
Papakura to Drury is NOT designated.
Priorities for Local Road Improvements investment
(pages 42 - 44)
xxvii) Papakura has seen a population growth of 25.5
percent since the 2018 Census.
xxviii) The frequency of the maintenance and renewal
programmes for roads impacted by high use and heavy vehicles (particularly
quarry trucks) needs to be improved with the necessary funding and resourcing
to ensure quality and longevity of the road surface.
xxix) Improve the substructure of local roads to
accommodate large numbers of heavily laden vehicles using the Papakura road
network to access the southern motorway.
xxx) A targeted programme of upgrading roads that
were rural and are no longer fit for purpose in an urban environment is
required, eg (but not limited to):
·
Hingaia Road Stage 2
·
Future planning for the
Hingaia Road Bridge, in terms of capacity and future proofing for climate
resilience. (Franklin Local Board advocacy)
·
Walters Road –
drainage and shared pathways
·
Airfield Road –
drainage and shared pathways
·
Manuroa Road –
removal of gobi blocks, recontour the road, and reseal with kerb and channel
·
Takanini School Road
– safety measures outside Sikh Temple
·
Hunua Road –
safety measures outside Papakura Marae.
xxxi) The local board request investigation and
delivery of a signalised intersection at Great South Road and Park Estate
Road to accommodate the significant increase of volume of traffic emanating
from the Park Green / Karaka developments.
xxxii)
The local board
requests that Auckland Transport work with Auckland Council and the
developers to construct the feeder road connections to Park Green development
with mitigations in place to ensure that traffic volumes and behaviour are
appropriately managed for:
·
Hinau Road to Park
Estate Road
·
Ngakoro Road to Park
Estate Road.
xxxiii) Request that Auckland Transport use
alternative methods to the utilisation of temporary roads to limit the impact
of significant development on local communities, eg: access to the Park
Green development via Bayvista Drive and Ngakoro Road through to Park Estate
Road.
Walking and cycling Improvements (pages 45 -
46)
xxxiv) The board supports the principle of connecting
existing cycleways and the provision of alternative mode options in new
growth areas.
xxxiv) Connecting the new developments to transport
nodes, retail centres, facilities and existing cycling infrastructure should
be supported, such as:
·
Walters Road –
Creating an off-road shared pathway and removing the on road tim tams on the
southern side of Walters Road between Kauri Flat School and Grove Road.
·
Safety improvements for
connecting the southern path cycleway to the Papakura town centre.
Do you agree that more funding should be
allocated to public transport infrastructure?
xxxv) The board agrees that to better deliver on regional priorities, more
funding needs to be allocated to Public Transport Infrastructure projects,
particularly in the first three years.
Should it come at the expense of State Highway
investment?
xxxvi) The board is concerned that to fund public
transport infrastructure projects at the expense of the State Highway
investment appears to be in conflict with the central government’s GPS
Land Transport direction to fund Roads of National Significance.
General
xxxvii) The Papakura Local Board supports an increase
in the Local Board Capital Transport Fund to pre-Covid levels.
xxxviii)
Request Auckland
Transport engage with local boards further as to the funding formula and how the Local Board Capital Transport Fund
funding is allocated to increase Papakura’s share to reflect the actual
population growth across
Auckland, noting that growth since the 2018 census in Papakura is 25.5
percent and in Franklin 12.5 percent, which is higher than previously
forecast.
xxxix) New population statistics should be
considered, in particular in terms of footpaths budget, walking and cycling
investment, and public transport services, and planning.
CARRIED
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