Transport for the Future
Where is Auckland Now?
A long way behind! We've inherited a system based on 1950s models that's attempted to solve problems by building roads. The result has been gridlock.For decades, more than 90 percent of our transport budget has gone on roads while our rail network and public transport services have struggled — but this hasn't solved our problems. No wonder there is little public appetite for large scale roading projects.
Auckland's current use of public transport is less than any comparable Australian or Canadian city, and many US cities. Despite Auckland's population tripling between 1955 and 2000, public transport trips during the same period declined by 89 percent to 33 trips per person a year on average.
Recently we have begun to tackle our transport problems with better solutions. Some good work is underway: more bus lanes (including the excellent North Shore Busway project), double tracking the rail network, building cycle lanes, and improved bus shelters.
Cleaning our Air
80 percent of Auckland region's air pollution is caused by motor vehicle emissions. Each year, vehicle emissions cause the premature deaths of around 250 Aucklanders. The Government has abandoned its plan to clean up vehicle exhausts at Warrant of Fitness time with, as yet, no clear alternative. If the Greens are in a position of influence after the election we will act promptly to:- Set, by mid-2006, comprehensive emission standards for all ages and classes of vehicle, including older vehicles, which are appropriate and reasonable for the age of the vehicle, and gradually increase these standards over time.
- Undertake a comprehensive education and information campaign about the importance of reducing vehicle emissions and the steps vehicle owners can take to ensure their vehicle has the lowest practical emissions.
- Prohibit the importation of vehicles older than 7 years unless they can meet strict emissions standards.
- Prohibit the disconnection of any functioning pollution control equipment (such as catalytic converters) from vehicles to which they are fitted.
- Introduce mandatory vehicle assessment in order to ensure compliance with emission standards involving a combination of:
- Regular surveys of the emissions performance of the vehicle fleet.
- Requiring new vehicles fitted with engine management systems to produce evidence at WoF or CoF inspection that these systems are maintained and tuned to meet appropriate international emissions performance standards on an ongoing basis.
- Requiring all new vehicles not fitted with engine management systems to meet appropriate international emissions performance standards on an ongoing basis, verified by random comprehensive testing at WoF or CoF inspection.
- Making greater use of roadside emissions testing and requiring comprehensive emissions testing for vehicles that perform poorly on these tests.
- Mandatory comprehensive emissions testing as part of Warrant of Fitness (WoF) or Certificate of Fitness (CoF) inspections for classes of vehicles which surveys reveal have the worst emissions performance.
- Providing exemptions for specialist classes of vehicles, which are rarely used such as vintage and veteran cars.
- Recognising that some costs of establishing and running the emissions testing system ought to be met by the Government.
- Evaluating the best means of assisting people adjust to the new regime, including consideration of a six-month warning period (followed by compulsory retesting) for vehicle owners after the first time tests show their vehicle(s) is not meeting emission standards.
- Reduce sulphur in petrol (currently 150ppm) to 50ppm in line with diesel and regularly review fuel specifications so that they meet international best practice for compounds that degrade air quality, such as the sulphur content in diesel and petrol, and the benzene levels in petrol
- Support the transition to low emission and zero emission vehicles such as electric buses and ensure that public transport funding encourages the use of low or zero emission vehicles
- Support the transition to cleaner fuels such as LPG and CNG both for private and public vehicles
- End the current tax exemption on diesel, which produces some of the worst pollutants.
- Encourage freight onto rail and coastal shipping where possible
The value of public transport over roads:
For less than the 1.68 billion dollar cost of completing State Highway 20, we can:- Build a modern rail network with regular and frequent services and increased capacity
- Create a rail service from the Auckland CBD to the airport
- Double track the remaining suburban lines and electrify all rail lines and upgrade all rail signaling systems
- Develop Britomart as a through station with a rail tunnel under Albert Street to create a link through to Mt Eden Station
The Real Cost of Driving
A total of 94 people died in traffic accidents in the Auckland Region in 2004 and many more were injured. According to government figures, these deaths cost society an estimated $300 million. Nationally, air pollution from cars is estimated to cost the country's health system $400 million per year.
Transport accounts for well over 40 percent of climate changing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Playing our part in reducing global CO2 emissions is a major challenge that will reshape our economy and our transport system. We need to start preparing now.
Public transport is a much better return on investment!
Once this plan is completed, we expect to find that we don't need the extra Newmarket Viaduct lane and SH20 extension to the western motorway, which will be so damaging to communities and green space in Mt Albert.
The Greens would complete the public transport network, introduce measures such as parking levies or congestion charges then assess what changes are needed to road capacity.
Walking School Buses
Nothing shows the desire for innovative, grass roots and green solutions quite like Walking School Buses. Created by the community and now supported by local and central government Auckland now has 155 Walking Buses operating from 77 schools. The Ministry of Health has provided funding to target the Counties Manukau area, as this district is currently under-represented.Safer Streets for Children
Freedom of movement for children is important for both their physical health and their mental wellbeing. Many parents are too nervous to allow their children to walk or cycle to school.The Greens aim to make streets safer for children by:- Increasing the number of walking School Buses and Safer Routes to School
- Lowering speed limits near schools
- Enhancing pedestrian and cycle facilities
Changing how we live
We need to look at our urban planning as a whole — transport is about how we live. For example new Housing New Zealand developments need excellent public transport connections. We should also identify those existing Housing New Zealand developments that need improvement. New housing generally ought to make provision for car sharing and public transport as an alternative to car ownership.The Greens would encourage:
- Green space zoning
- Working close to where we live
- Creating multimodal centres with mixed, dense land use that reduce the need to travel and are linked to good public transport
- Managing growth to prevent urban sprawl
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