I agree with your article about the Mangere bus routes ("Out in the cold again", July 26) and access to the airport.
I would also like to know whether there is a plan to have the modern illuminated arrival signs placed at the Onehunga terminal (by the library), and perhaps smaller boxes showing buses' expected arrival times. - I Orsbourn
Your correspondent Isaac Broome has again highlighted the dysfunctional nature of Auckland's public transport network and scheduling. Both issues could be easily fixed. A revamped programme for Auckland public transport has been available to Auckland Transport and Auckland Council, and their predecessors, for five years. Called Supermaxx, it brings together all five elements of a highly functional and economical public transport system - network, schedules, fare type, fare level, and infrastructure. It offers services every 10 minutes from 7am to 8pm, every 20 minutes 6am-7am and 8pm-midnight; hourly midnight-6am on weekdays. One primary route [would be] Aotea to Newmarket, Royal Oak, Onehunga rail station, Airport domestic terminal, Puhinui station and Manukau City. This connects with secondary and local routes at Newmarket, Greenlane Rd, Royal Oak, Onehunga, Kirkbride Rd and Manukau City. All local areas mentioned by your correspondent are served [under the Supermaxx model] every 20 minutes.
If implemented fully, Supermaxx would save more than $50 million per annum in operating subsidies based on an unlimited travel fare of $70 for 30 days anywhere between Albany and Papakura and Swanson and Howick.
The revamped network and schedules can be introduced within three months at a minimal cost. It is tragic Auckland Transport and Councilperpetuate the current dysfunctional system rather than have the courage and integrity to revamp the system for the benefit of the people. [Abridged] - Stephen Greenfield,Auckland Transport Consultancy
Before we were all forced into being part of this "stupid city" (aka Auckland), the "old" Auckland City Council knew it had to spend mega-millions to fix the knackered sewers and stormwater.
That's why it wanted us all as a cash cow and Watercare are charged with milking us as well as the new Auckland Council. The council have a bigger bucket of money now, so watch them spend, spend, spend. They don't know the meaning of a recession, or unemployment. - Vivienne Keohane,Kaipatiki Local Board
MARKET MOVES
Who, I ask, is Peter White ("New home mooted for market," August 9)? Devonport-Takapuna Local Board will make the decision if the Sunday Market will be moved to Hurstmere Rd. I object to decisions being made by unelected people or parties. - Jean Revill, Takapuna
Call it Hall's Corner, Takapuna Beach or plain old Takapuna, the image is the same - a dreary, uninviting place to shop. Peter White and decades of predecessors have redeveloped Takapuna so many times over the past 50 years that it resembles a '60-minute makeover'. Any sense of character has been developed into dust.
But wait, there's more. Now the dunderhead burghers have their sights on the Takapuna Market, one of the rare spots of retail vitality. Suddenly they are worried about people getting wet at the market, how sweet.
Instead of more grandiose and costly schemes to change the location and nature of the market (many of us don't want another ghastly farmers' market) they should be worried about why so many of us drive past Takapuna and over the bridge to shop. - Bernice Beachman
PETROL STATION
Traffic congestion is only one of the major concerns about the placement of a petrol station ("Petrol station fuels anger", August 23) and six shops on the corner of Gladstone and Onewa Rds.
Our major concern is the cost to our community. Gladstone Rd is home to long-term residents. One elderly resident was born there and many people have lived there 20-30 years or more. The residents know one another, help one another, have community gardens together and generally feel this place is their extended family and home.
It is clear that people and their homes will be impacted upon by this commercial development.
Examples of noise-generated activities are trucks delivering fuel, milk and groceries, vehicles arriving and departing, noise from fuel pumps, customers and staff. Petrol stations also have a lot of neon lighting and general lighting to attract customers. This will be a significant adverse effect on the social environment.
The site is extremely dangerous as many of the residents have witnessed accidents at the proposed road intersection already.
While this area is designated light commercial, we wonder why? Largely this is area is residential. Auckland Council, please come and have a look, talk to residents whose lives will be disrupted. We lodged an objection to a bottle store in the middle of homes, schools and churches and you chose to ignore us. We want to be heard by council.
- Anne Whitcombe and Jan Preston, Northcote
If the traffic congestion on Onewa Rd is already woeful, any acceptance by Auckland Council of a proposal for the development of a service station and shopping centre on its north side between Gladstone Rd and St Mary's Church/School, would exacerbate the problem and make it absolutely intolerable.
Consider measures to reduce congestion not increase it, such as subsidised ferry fares between Fisherman's and Birkenhead wharves and Auckland, or a subsidised and expanded bus service. Alternatively, increase facilities for pedestrian bridge traffic, which would reduce both pollution and frustration. - E Dominikovich, Northcote
