August-18 train timetable change
On Sunday 26 August new train timetables come into effect. The biggest change is the introduction of long overdue improvements to weekend frequencies. Although they’re still not frequent enough to meet Auckland Transports definition of frequent services as part of the new network which is crazy given rail is considered a backbone of our PT network.…
65 Comments Why we can’t have nice things: a look inside the black box of traffic engineering decision making
A new research paper has helped shed some light on why we continually seem to see substandard and delayed street outcomes from Auckland Transport that completely ignore Auckland’s agreed political and policy goals. It reveals a complex and dysfunctional decision making process that might be representative more generally of the institutional inertia that exists at AT.…
Ridesharing is Making Traffic Worse
One of the promises of ridesharing applications like Uber and Lyft has been that they will help increase vehicle occupancy levels and reduce congestion. However, it seems like the opposite is happening and they are actually making traffic worse. This from the Boston Globe:
One promise of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft was fewer cars clogging city streets.…
The Roads and Streets Framework – Under Review Before It Gets Going
This is a guest post from reader Heidi O’Callahan
If Auckland is to reach its full potential, roads and streets need to perform beyond the traditional norm of moving traffic and providing access for vehicles to local destinations.
Auckland Transport does some great work.…
Flashback Saturday: Alain Bertaud in Auckland
Every weekend we dig into the archives. This post by Peter was originally published in September 2014.
Back in July former World Bank urban planner Alain Bertaud and his wife Marie-Agnes, a fellow professional in the field, came down to New Zealand at the invitation of the NZ Initiative and the Minister of Finance’s office to deliver a series of talks on urban economics.…
The risks of putting all your eggs in the “driverless cars” basket
A recent New York Times article discusses the arguments for and against putting off investment into public transport, in the hope that developing driverless car technology will make these investments unnecessary. There has been a lot of hype around these cars in recent years, although it is potentially tailing off more recently as the technology progresses a bit slower than expected.…
Thinking about City Centre Capacity
The council yesterday did the thinkable and voted to future proof the City Rail Link for 9-car trains and the Karangahape Rd for the Beresford Square entrance. Then, in a joint press release Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced the government agreed with it too after cabinet agreed to it yesterday.…
Takapuna Carpark Consultation
Takapuna is one of Auckland’s most important and iconic centres. It’s also one I know well given I work there.
But like so many places around Auckland, it could do with some love and Auckland Council and Panuku Development Auckland have big plans to do just that, to help encourage more development and much needed housing in the area.…
City Rail Link to be Future-Proofed
Barely 24 hours after I discussed the need to fix up two problems with the City Rail Link, it seems that our wishes are to be granted.
Mr Goff said the council was considering plans to widen the rail tunnel and lengthen the platforms at two stations – Aotea and Karangahape – and put in a second entrance to the latter at Beresford Square.…
Old Harbour Bridge Videos
I recently came across this series of old videos of the Harbour Bridge, one from shortly after it’s opening and one from during the construction of the clip-ons.
https://youtu.be/pjFvU3m1DMA
It’s interesting that even back when the bridge opened, detailed counts of traffic were being taken.…
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