Phil Goff
Mayor of Auckland
Auckland, March 12, 2021
Eastern Busway a turning point for Auckland’s traffic woes
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff with Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, Howick Local Board Chairperson Adele White, and Howick Councillors Sharon Stewart and Paul Young at the start of construction of the busway bridge on Tamaki River, a part of the $1.4 billion Eastern Busway (Picture Supplied)Aucklanders have once again successfully stamped out community transmission of Covid-19 with the city exiting Level 3 lockdown on March 7, 2021 and Level 2 on March 12, 2021.
I want to thank the vast majority of people who worked together to achieve this result and protect their communities by following the health guidelines.
Persisting threat
However, the threat of further Covid-19 incursions has not gone away.
The best way of protecting ourselves for the future is the rollout of the Vaccine.
In the meantime, it is important that everyone continues to follow the health rules. At all Alert Levels it is important to scan the NZ Covid Tracer App wherever you go, practice good hygiene and stay home and get tested if you develop any symptoms of Covid-19.
Please visit www.covid19.govt.nz for more information about what to do.
Challenges for Aucklanders
While the economic effects of the pandemic have been less severe than initially feared, in large part due to the successful health response, it has been a challenging time for Aucklanders and Auckland businesses. An important part of our recovery effort will be strong investment in critical infrastructure for our city.
Panmure-Pakuranga connection
A big project due to be completed this year is the Panmure to Pakuranga Section of the $1.4 billion Eastern Busway, which includes a significant upgrade to the Panmure intersection and the recent installation of the Panmure busway bridge.
This will provide faster, more reliable, and better-connected transport options throughout the area, including buses every five to 10 minutes between Panmure and Pakuranga, and improved walking and cycling facilities.
Work through April, May and June 2021 has been scheduled for public holidays and weekends as far as possible, but some disruption is likely, so please plan accordingly.
Botany-Britomart in 40 minutes
Once the final stage of the busway is completed in 2025, people will be able to travel by bus and train between Botany and Britomart in 40 minutes, cutting more than one-third off current journey times.
The busway will carry more than 7500 passengers during peak hours, or 30,000 people per day, between the new stations at Botany, Pakuranga and Panmure. It will be supported by cycling and walking paths, roading and safety improvements and a new grade separated intersection between Pakuranga Road and Waipuna Bridge.
Nearby, the Puhinui Station, a $68 million project, made possible by the Regional Fuel Tax, will become a major bus and train interchange similar to those at Otahuhu, Panmure, and Manukau. It will also improve travel reliability and choices and will make it easier and faster to travel to the airport and its employment precinct.
Stimulating the economy
As well as helping to stimulate the economy and jobs as we recover from the Covid-19 crisis, transport infrastructure upgrades such as the Eastern Busway will make it easier, faster and more convenient to get around the city by public transport. This will help with traffic congestion for drivers and will ease pressure on our road freight system. It will also help Auckland meet its climate change goals by reducing carbon emissions, of which transport makes up more than 40%.
While these projects involve disruption while they are under construction, they are necessary if we are to create the reliable, 21st century transport network that Auckland needs to be world class.
Phil Goff is Mayor of Auckland. He writes a regular Column in Indian Newslink.
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