2013-2017 AUCKLAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND FREIGHT RAIL POLICY A PUBLIC VOTER POLICY DOCUMENT 18 SEPTEMBER 2013 The invested utilization of New Zealands freight rail lines to move international trade from and through the Auckland region is vital to enriching Aucklanders and Auckland GDP; raising our city up the metropolitan and credit ratings. To achieve this objective, the most expensive of the road and public rail projects of the Auckland Plan need to be temporarily paused until Aucklands public bus transport system is improved and the proposed new freight rail links are operational. This slight re-prioritization does not mean that the forecasts of the Auckland Plan are interrupted; far from it. Global trade is the determining factor of this policy. Embedded in its formula is a balance between the immediate needs of Aucklands commuters and earning extra wealth with what the new Auckland Council has available today. The resulting sum equates to a surplus profit from a busy freight rail industry, that off-sets the costs of fulfilling the Auckland Plan; in essence trying to pay our own way in the world. In conjunction with this upgrade, this policy also effects a fundamental change in the new Auckland Councils mindset; placing public transport needs before roads; for the meantime at least. To dissolve Aucklands diabolical traffic congestion the bus, ferry and train services fares need to be cheaper; providing the right financial incentive for daily and weekly patronage. The fare system itself needs to change from the practice of short term profiteering from an increase of customer volume, to being satisfied with cheaper fares earning a larger return over a longer period of time; whilst retaining and raising of the number of Auckland commuters. Such an equation can promptly break the gridlock riddle by enticing Aucklanders to take a cheaper option to travel. This two staged policy gives long term economic and fiscal advantages to Auckland in the short term. Rather than spread our limited credit over such a large cluster of very expensive projects, the immediate attention of the new Auckland Council will be to fund the minor infrastructural and upgrade requirements to generate a relief from clogged roads and rapid trade profits for the coffers. The sooner the public transport needs of Aucklanders are met and Auckland freight rail is rolling strong, the paused Auckland Plan projects can then be resumed albeit with a greater financial budget to contribute with and some more re-priorities perhaps; but always trying to make the Auckland Plan work for the betterment of Aucklands GDP and Aucklanders lifestyles. AUCKLAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT A system of creeping high fares is the main disincentive for Aucklanders to use public transport; some say the fares are a rip-off. At present there is little difference in cost and convenience traveling in a car into and around Auckland. Compounding this dire situation is a number of indirect factors. The fatigue of the bus drivers who work split shifts for low wages, small seats or not enough seats, frequent break downs, constant lateness, limited rural bus services, and a non-existent late night, weekends or public holiday service. At fault is the lack of detailed attention paid to its structure and how it can be integrated as a solution instead of a burden to traffic congestion. The second change for the new Auckland Council is to progressively replace the foul smelling polluting diesel engine buses with the new London model diesel-electric Hybrid buses. With a larger bus fleet, eventually all hybrid, Auckland Transport will have then the capability to provide Aucklanders with a full and comprehensive public transport system; making the vast Auckland region totally assessable. This upgrade of the bus fleets also makes possible a greater frequency of bus stops in both the Auckland urban and rural areas, and allows late night, weekends and public holidays services to run on weekday timetables. Cheaper fares and more buses is the solution to Aucklands insane traffic congestion. AUCKLAND FREIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT Aucklands freight rail has the capacity to easily transport billions of dollars worth of trade, day and night from and through the Auckland region. The difference between freight rail and public rail transport is simple; rail containers of trade generate more revenue for the new Auckland Council. For decades, Auckland freight rail has proven to be a resilient if not neglected earner and at this point of time, the new Auckland Council will seek to initiate joint ventures with KiwiRail and the government to give priority to building the proposed new rail infrastructure outlined below. 1. A new rail link from Onehunga and/or Manukau to the Auckland Airport. 2. A new rail link from Oakleigh to Marsden Point. 3. A new rail link from Southdown to Avondale. 4. A new rail link from Te Rapa to Hamilton? 5. Take advantage of KiwiRail dedicated overnight super freight rail services. 6. An increase in surplus profit to off-set costs for the City Rail Link. 7. An increase in surplus profits to off-set costs for a North Shore rail link. 8. Maori, Pacific and Asian Wardens to be paid danger money to provide security. The concentration on freight rail will pay handsome dividends to Aucklanders in more ways than one. It will create precious employment and valuable trade training windows for many young school leavers and graduating Aucklanders. A linked up local, regional and national trade network will soon see a broke Auckland Super City transform into the powerful economic hub of the upper North Island; the right kind of business image to have. No matter what the angle, an upgraded and fully linked Auckland freight rail industry has the potential (and is expected) to be the economic engine room of the new Auckland Council. CONCLUSION The central causes of Aucklands traffic congestion and incredible costings of the rail plans have been identified to be high fares and limited services, and the absence of a more staggered infrastructural prioritization model. These unwitting problems have led to a greater financial problem; a stubborn concentration on roads and tunnels. With a portion of the same amount of money, Aucklands public transport system can be enlarged and upgraded, and the necessary rail links built; solving a host of public and economic difficulties in one move. Although the Auckland Plan is comprehensive, it is missing the vital details of this policy and has not looked deep enough into the future; using roads and credit as the answer for everything. This understandable oversight has enormous consequences on Aucklands GDP and the credit/debt rating of the new Auckland Council. Even worst, the roading and city rail link still won’t fix Aucklands 2013-2014 traffic congestion. Put bluntly, everyone will be back to square one; again. The new Mayor must grasp the significance and differences at play here, and provide an extraordinary solution to these pressing issues. Not to do so invites the sure probability of the new Auckland Council being burdened by staggering debt for a public transport system that will fail disastrously to cope with the forecasted traffic growth in future Auckland. This policy prevents this scenario from occurring. There will be less traffic and trucks on Aucklands existing roads; making Auckland a safer place to drive in and saving the new Auckland Council high costs for repairing the wreckage of the heavy weights. Money earmarked for bigger projects can be used in building the proposed changes and improvements, and if managed in a staggered fashion, the Auckland Plan can be still accomplished as each project helps pay for the next project; cheaper in the long run. However this type of strategy requires exact planning and decisive leadership by the new Auckland Mayor and Chief Executive; at stake is the future prosperity or bust of Aucklands GDP and international ratings. Accordingly, the explained policy acts as a sound platform investment that will have a positive impact on the Auckland Plans astronomical costings, and give Aucklanders a proper public transport service that people and our visitors will be proud to support and patron. Yours faithfully Jesse Butler (BA/BA (Hons)/MA: Political Studies: University of Auckland) 2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:07:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015