Transport Policy and Planning
Waitakere City Council is committed to developing a strong economy with jobs
provided for the local workforce, adequate services to meet the social, health, education and recreation needs of residents and protection and enhancement of the environment. Transport plays a significant role in achieving the Council's vision. It impacts upon housing, the environment, employment, access to services, local amenity and the general well-being of all residents.
2020 Vision
"That Waitakere has public transport and communications systems that provide fast, effective services to the whole City. City travel demonstrates integrated, environmentally responsible and innovative design."
The LTCCP
outlines key projects and polices that will help Council achieve this vision.
Background
Early growth in the City was focused along the railway
corridors. After the 1950s, Waitakere grew as a dormitory
suburb, within reach of the main employment centres,
particularly in central Auckland. Housing development
focussed along the motorway, main arterial routes and
railway line.
Regionally, strong emphasis is being placed on developing a coherent public transport system – with rail in the west, central and southern parts of Auckland and a busway in the north.
While private motor vehicles are the primary transport
option for many residents, other options are critical for the sustainable future of the City. For example, already 10% of all trips in the Auckland Region involve walking. The challenge is to provide a range of transport options to suit the needs of local residents. This complements
regional objectives.
Forms of transport
Key forms of transport in Waitakere City are private motor vehicles, buses, trains, walking and cycling.
To meet the Council's vision for the City, transport will need to support the concentration of housing, business and employment and leisure activities in selected centres and corridors; provide equitable and safe access to services, work and leisure; use resources efficiently; and minimise the effects of transport on the environment. The Council's strategic transport goals are:
- To support a range of quality living choices
- To support commerce and local employment
- To ensure equitable and safe access to necessary services, leisure and employment
- To minimise the impacts of transport on the environment
- To use resources efficiently.
The roles and responsibilities for transport in Waitakere City are split between local, regional and central government. The Council is responsible for the local roading network in Waitakere City. It also has a key role in the planning of region-wide public transport systems. Other key players in transport affecting Waitakere include:
- Ministry of Transport which is responsible for setting transport policy and advising the Minster of Transport;
-
Land Transport New Zealand
which allocates funds for land transport at a national level;
- Transit New Zealand
which owns and manages the national highway network (in
Waitakere this is the north-western motorway, Hobsonville Road (SH18) and SH16 from Westgate to beyond Kumeu).
- Auckland Regional Council
which produces the Regional Land Transport Strategy and
funds passenger transport infrastructure and services.
Auckland Regional Transport Authority which produces the
Regional Land Transport Programme and contracts for
passenger transport infrastructure and services and
other regional projects.
- Auckland Regional Transport Network
(ARTNL) which is responsible for the development of rail stations and ferry terminals.
Rail Double
Tracking - Henderson to Swanson
Updates
Work on double tracking the rail line between Henderson
and Swanson (including Sturges Road, Ranui and
Swanson stations) will begin later this year. Work on this
section is primarily double tracking, but will involve work
on rail and road bridges and earthworks for retaining walls
and drainage. The level crossings at Metcalfe Rd, O'Neills
Road and Christian Road will need to be modified as part of
the project. Sturges Road, Ranui and Swanson Stations will
all have their platforms extended or rebuilt to accommodate
the second track.
ONTRACK (the New Zealand Railways Corporation)
www.ontrack.govt.nz, Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA)
www.arta.govt.nz and the Waitakere City Council are working
closely to ensure plans are integrated with local
developments, environmental requirements are met and impacts
on the local community and train passengers minimised.
ARTA is responsible for renewing or upgrading the passenger rail stations at Sturges Road, Ranui (second platform) and Swanson. All of the region's new or upgraded stations are designed to be convenient, accessible and safe, as well as clean, modern and user-friendly. Regionally agreed guidelines provide the benchmark and blueprint for each station upgrade.
ARTA is seeking public views on access, safety and the environment in and around the stations at Sturges Road, Ranui and Swanson. To have your say, you can either speak directly to ARTA representatives during the open day or call Bryce Julyan or Lenka Robinson on
(09) 300 9107 or email
Darren Davis.
Open Day - Swanson Station
15 March
9.30 am - 1.00pm
During double tracking, the public are asked to take extra care on roads near the rail corridor, and to observe construction safety regulations. They are also reminded there is no public access to the train tracks.
If you wish to find out more about the project, please contact:
Jenni Austin – ONTRACK Media Liaison on 021 630 277 or email
jenni.austin@ontrack.govt.nz.
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Sturges Rd Station and replacement of Sturges Rd Bridge (Size 120K)
Rail Corridor
Media releases
 Waitakere City Council is pursuing the development of rail as one of its strategic platforms for the development of
town centres. The rail corridor is located alongside a number of the City's key strategic growth centres and as such, is ideally located to help promote growth.
The
Council is working closely with the Auckland Regional Transport
Authority and Auckland Regional Transport Network Ltd on the
development of the rail corridor. This includes double
tracking the western line to Swanson, new station platforms,
upgraded shelters, lighting and security cameras.
The
Council is also seeking to provide better access to stations for pedestrians and cyclists. A project to provide a walk and cycleway along the rail corridor will greatly improve access to stations.
The
Council is working towards the development of
park and ride facilities at the following stations:
| Swanson |
Ranui |
Sturges Road |
| Sunnyvale |
Henderson |
Glen Eden |
| New Lynn
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Some of these park and ride facilities are for the short and medium term as
the Council's policy is that where possible they will be developed outside town centres.
Land use around the rail stations
The Council's policies continue to support the intensification of land around the rail corridor, including development of medium density housing,
mixed use and commercial hubs.
Bus and pedestrian access
The Council is continuing to improve links to the rail stations, particularly at New Lynn,
Henderson and Glen Eden.
Station upgrades
Plans are under way to upgrade four stations as part of
the Stage 2 double tracking:
Waitakere Central (Henderson) Transport Centre
With the relocation of the Civic Centre, the Council is taking the
opportunity to create a cluster of buildings designed expressly to help the
Council to function better, to help the CBD to function better and to encourage
public transport to undertake its full role in the future.
This is not a building nor even a building project - it is a hub around which
much of Waitakere City will revolve.
Waitakere City has now developed a long track record of accurately picking
future trends and setting them in motion. Among these has been our insistence
that the way of the future is more compact cities with more dense populations
around the town and transport centre, and a rapidly accelerating role of public
transport in moving people conveniently and inexpensively.
We have followed the "build it and they will come" principle. Within a month
of Britomart's opening, rail patronage had increased by 73%. Double tracking is
coming perhaps by 2006 and the various players have reached a new plateau in
understanding and - agreement on what should come next and who has what role.
A new Henderson rail and bus interchange
will be a critical part of Waitakere Central, the complex of council buildings
and transport hub beside Railside Ave. Trains and buses will come together on
coordinated timetables.
Facing this across the tracks in Henderson Valley Road, will be the new
cluster of civic buildings. One will be an office block for the staff. The other
will be a public facility, incorporating the Council chamber, meeting rooms and
other facilities that will make this truly a place for the public. An airbridge
will arch out from between these two buildings over the rail line to the
transport interchange.
This will place council staff and 55,000 council visitors a year within a
short walk of public transport and the main down town business area.
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It's time - for a Transport
Centre (Size 131K)
New Henderson Station Design Report
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