Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: We can make things better here

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  • Rik,

    It's all good...and in no small way due to Nationals ongoing commitment and funding for national cycleways. Nice one, National!

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Graham,

    Another date for you - 6pm Tuesday 20 January (tomorrow evening). There's a public liaison meeting from the contractors representing AT and NZTA at the Western Springs Community Centre opposite the park. The Pohutukawa Savers group will be there to voice concerns over losing the six trees opposite MoTaT. We're hoping for lots of people to come along to show support.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rik,

    It’s all good…and in no small way due to Nationals ongoing commitment and funding for national cycleways. Nice one, National!

    Actually, I don't think the national cycleway project has anything at all to do with it. There's nothing even listed for Auckland on its website.

    But from this year, there will be an extra $25 million a year in urban cycleway funding, so that's good. It's not investment on the level proposed by other parties, but it is good.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Stewart,

    I'm already grateful for not having to consult the tide chart before my commute from Pt Chev to Hendo - salt water and bike chains don't go together very well.
    But i can't wait to cruise along that lovely new smooth section of tarmac after tomorrow's opening.

    Pt Chev • Since Feb 2012 • 73 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Mark Graham,

    The Pohutukawa Savers group will be there to voice concerns over losing the six trees opposite MoTaT. We're hoping for lots of people to come along to show support.

    Thanks Mark! I've added that to the post.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Rik,

    Nationals ongoing commitment and funding for national cycleways. Nice one, National!
    Hardly. These sort of things come out of the mitigation funding that the motorways projects have to provide for the disruption to the communities they are built in.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Rik, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yep - original investment back in 2009 was $50m, with another $100m on top of that. Not enough to keep the Green party happy of course, but not a bad start.

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rik,

    Yep – original investment back in 2009 was $50m, with another $100m on top of that. Not enough to keep the Green party happy of course, but not a bad start.

    No, as Steve says, the work in Auckland so far has either come from the council/AT or as mitigation on NZTA roading projects. The New Zealand Cycle Trail hasn’t featured.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    I too found Paul Little's column jarring. I don't think you need to hate cars to love cycles and buses. Each have their own role in transporting us around our city.

    A little more balance between cars and bikes is what is needed and perhaps those designing cycle routes could be asked to spend time on bikes themselves. Some of the choices for cycle routes really do not make much sense.

    As for the Waterview connection I also am looking forward to it and expect it to reduce the load on some of our local roads.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce,

    From 2017, I expect that traffic through the middle of my suburb, especially on Meola and Point Chevalier roads, will decrease notably, because there will be no direct access to the Waterview Connection via Point Chevalier. I worry about that St Luke’s interchange, but I’m pretty happy about the prospect of fewer traffic jams on Carrington Road.

    Have you seen any figures regarding the expected reduction on Meola/Pt Chev traffic?
    I would have thought that's mostly people doing the West - North Shore commute which won't really be altered by SH20?

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Glenn Pearce,

    Have you seen any figures regarding the expected reduction on Meola/Pt Chev traffic?
    I would have thought that's mostly people doing the West - North Shore commute which won't really be altered by SH20?

    Currently, we're the main route through to SH20, which accounts for quite a lot of traffic. The Carrington-Woodward-Richardson stretch -- which is really just a way to get to and from the existing SH20 en route to the airport -- isn't at all suited for the volumes it carries and the Richardson/New North Road intersection is just terrible.

    Post Waterview it will make more sense for West-North commuters to stay on the motorway and use the interchange at the city end. It will make getting to the Mt Albert railway station more attractive too.

    I'm a bit wary about the impact around Western Springs -- the intention seems to be for all the Western Bays traffic to go there -- but I think in other areas there will be a traffic reduction.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Graham, in reply to Russell Brown,

    thanks Russ

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Post Waterview it will make more sense for West-North commuters to stay on the motorway and use the interchange at the city end.

    Surely that depends on their destination and origin, once the monstrosity that will be the SH18/SH1 interchange is constructed? If they're on the inner part of the SH20/SH16/SH1 loop it will make sense to go via CMJ, but if their journey points are west of SH20/SH16 and north of SH18/SH1 it would make more sense to go across the top. Roughly speaking, obviously.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Rik, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yeah, nothing exists in isolation though. Eventually having a nationwide network for these local trails to link into is all part of the stimulus.

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • Shaun Lott,

    ...a dedicated SH16 busway seems likely in the longer term.

    That sentence fills me with rage and despair. Now would seem the perfect time to me, given how much work is going into raising the causeway. It's long overdue already.

    Waitakere • Since Aug 2009 • 113 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Shaun Lott,

    That sentence fills me with rage and despair. Now would seem the perfect time to me, given how much work is going into raising the causeway. It’s long overdue already.

    But it would have meant spending money on public transport capital works, all of it coming from the NZTA budget, and we can't be having that dirty, socialist nonsense sucking funds away from the good and worthy private motorist!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Johnny Canuck, in reply to Shaun Lott,

    It’s long overdue already.

    Hell yes.

    Bus passengers out West (especially those who live “beyond” Te Atatu) really are third-class commuting citizens. For the most part, they’re stuck with infrequent and expensive services that inch their way along chronically congested arterials (Lincoln Rd, Great North Rd, Te Atatu Rd, etc.) towards the motorway, whereupon they sit in traffic with all the sole-occupant vehicles, only to get off again at Pt Chev.

    Vancouver BC • Since Feb 2013 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Surely that depends on their destination and origin, once the monstrosity that will be the SH18/SH1 interchange is constructed? If they’re on the inner part of the SH20/SH16/SH1 loop it will make sense to go via CMJ, but if their journey points are west of SH20/SH16 and north of SH18/SH1 it would make more sense to go across the top. Roughly speaking, obviously.

    True. But they're still not using us as a thoroughfare.

    Tbh, I'm not sure about where the traffic would flow and maybe I'm being optimistic about Meola > Point Chev. But There won't be anyone coming through us on Great North Road to get to the airport/Onehunga because there won't be access to the Waterview Connection.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Shaun Lott,

    That sentence fills me with rage and despair. Now would seem the perfect time to me, given how much work is going into raising the causeway. It’s long overdue already.

    Yeah. That’s a battle that wasn’t won – but it does seem that bus traffic will be faster after the causeway upgrade. The “shoulders” for buses being built will differ from a proper busway in that they disappear at each interchange. Or when a car breaks down.

    The upgrade is apparently being conducted so as to be compatible with a future busway. The longer-term plan includes a bus interchange near the Te Atatu Road/SH19 intersection.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Chrys Berryman,

    o.k we get the tunnels, more lanes plus the extra 40,000 cars a day using the same….any bets on how long it will take to totally bog up????….I give it 6 months….with all the housing development going all the way to Kumeu and the state of the present rush hours on the N.W…its going to be hell……any thoughts on what it will be like backed up in those tunnels?…leave your convertible at home…..and the kids,it will be a toxic soup………cheers

    Pt Chevalier • Since Sep 2014 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I felt annoyed listening to Paul Little talk about the Waterview Connection on Duncan Garner’s show today – raging about a project that’s already past halfway though, because he didn’t like the size of it.

    Contrary to what he said, Aucklanders were asked about it. The first consultations were in 2000, and there have been some real wins in the process – most notably, of course, the tunnel. Until 2009, Steven Joyce was pushing for a surface/cut-and-cover design, which would have been horrendous. And while they would presumably have preferred no works at all, local community groups seemed unanimous in saying the consent and consultation process had been well-handled.

    t has been hailed as a positive move for Waterview, Owairaka and Mt Albert, which were faced with the prospect of a surface motorway in May 2009. The route was revised in December that year and the connection will comprise two three-lane tunnels that stretch 2.5 kilometres.

    Waterview resident and Albert-Eden Local Board member Margi Watson is delighted and says the best interests of the community are at the forefront.

    “The board of inquiry actually listened really carefully.

    “This has been a David and Goliath fight – we have been up against a huge organisation that has been determined to build this motorway.

    “I’m really pleased on behalf of the community.

    “When this started it was a cheap and nasty motorway but now it won’t be as much of a blight on the landscape.”

    The board has directed the agency to provide a skatepark and BMX track in Waterview Reserve and a skatepark in Alan Wood Reserve.

    A cycle and pedestrian link will also be created between Alan Wood Reserve and Unitec and a bridge will be built near Hendon Ave.

    “NZTA will be told clearly what they need to do,” Ms Watson says.

    Friends of Oakley Creek spokeswoman Wendy John also feels there’s been a fair hearing.

    “It’s still a motorway through our catchment area but I think we’ve got a lot of what we asked for.

    “The key thing is that the community worked together,” she says.

    Part of the agreement is that substantial planting will take place in Alan Wood Reserve to improve the creek.

    Ms John says it’s important to have 70 percent shade over the stream to encourage biodiversity.

    “We’re unsure of the impact on water flow during tunnel drilling but we feel like we’ve made considerable gains.”

    The board has also ruled that the northern tunnel ventilation stack will be constructed on the eastern side of Great North Rd due to “severe adverse effects” it could have on the western side.

    Tunnel support buildings will remain on the western side but are to be significantly modified.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    How do people who do not know what they are talking about continue to get media time?

    Fewer/lazier producers? No researchers any more? No professional or human pride?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Sacha,

    Because uninformed radicals make for more controversial statements.

    Who cares if they are wrong surely not the public that the media are meant to be informing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Because uninformed radicals make for more controversial statements.

    Paul’s not a radical and he’s a nice bloke, but he didn’t write his column with the benefit of any research (or purport to, to be fair) which meant he was worse than useless when he had to talk about it in specifics.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • paul reifel,

    The most relevant point (for me) in your whole post was:

    It’s vital to note that these things didn’t just happen – they were the result of the advocacy of groups like Cycle Action Auckland, which eventually obliged NZTA to build or fund the overground stretch of the SH20 cycleway traversed by the new tunnel.

    The team at CAA have been absolutely brilliant over the last few years I've followed them. How do they get recognized for this? They deserve medals, the whole lot of them. Big gold ones!

    Since Nov 2006 • 8 posts Report Reply

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