Central government has also made it clear that it wishes to see accelerated delivery of the East-West Connection between Onehunga, Penrose and Southdown on the northern shore of Mangere Inlet, a long-standing proposal to provide an efficient link for the 6000 heavy freight trucks that each day service the upper North Island, either by rail or road from distribution centres located in the area.
Says David Warburton, Auckland Transport chief executive: "In the four years Auckland Transport has existed, we have worked to bring fundamental change to the total Auckland Transport system.
"We [Auckland Transport] and NZTA are working in partnership on a single, integrated transport solution for Auckland, by looking at Auckland as a whole to come up with an overall network solution for all modes, and not just having a collection of projects that are planned and programmed separately.
"The mindset and culture within Auckland Transport is built around delivering a customer-sensitive transport service. This means providing services that are responsive to customer groups -- from freight operators to pedestrians, from rail and bus to cyclists and our ferry services, as well as the private vehicle commuters."
At the same time, AT's long-term plan objectives, he says, are to to get this city moving
maintain existing assets, manage growth, support a liveable city -- environmental, health and urban form -- through public transport, active modes, roading improvements and intelligent transport systems.
"Our key challenge in the period ahead," he says, "is to achieve the balance between looking after what we have and building for the future."
But maintaining Auckland's shared desire for increased momentum won't be easy.
Auckland's rocketing population growth -- projected at around 825,000 over 30 years -- and an economy firing on all cylinders, has not only decoupled Auckland from the rest of New Zealand in the way it is growing but, according to a 2013 Government Growth Agenda report, tipped Auckland into the top 10 fastest growing cities in the OECD.
We are living at a time when Auckland needs a higher level of transport investment to address both current issues and to get in front of Auckland's growth curve, as well as some smart, innovative thinking and initiatives to improve the efficiency performance of the existing network and services.
As well as the Auckland Plan's highest priority projects -- East-West, Ameti, the City Rail Link and next Waitemata Harbour crossing -- Auckland's cityscape faces big but necessary change from rapid transit connections needed to eastern Auckland, the southeast (Mangere), Auckland Airport and the northwest (towards Waimuku and Helensville); local feeder bus services connecting to trunk rail and busways, especially at peak times; and, public transport services to the new housing areas.
Without this level of comprehensive public transport service in place, Auckland will stay on the back-foot in getting commuters to abandon their cars.
To improve the management of the existing network and services, Auckland Transport proposals include greater use of new technology and applications, route optimisation, CCTV and Analytics and Network Operating Plans.
Given the distance Auckland has come in the recent years to overcome decades of underinvestment and slow decision-making, maintaining a "catch-up" momentum through better use of the network is a logical step.
Together with the next generation of transport projects listed above, as other world cities have done to improve their liveability, what we do next on transport will be pivotal to the success of Project Auckland -- critical for helping Auckland lift its game to meet employment demands and retain talent, support urban development, enable freight and distribution competitiveness, attract investment from offshore, and enhance the brand of Auckland as a great place to work and live.
But that's far from guaranteed.
To accommodate funding constraints signalled in the preparation for the Long-Term Plan (2015-25), AT has prepared what it has termed a Basic Transport Network investment proposal (i.e. no alternative funding in place) that includes only the highest-priority projects and constrains public transport spending to 2016 levels, provides minimal improvements for local and arterial roads, walking and cycling and defers new capital works and renewals of infrastructure. Predictably, local boards whose pet projects are set to be chopped are threatening to revolt.
A second investment proposal -- the Auckland Plan Transport network (i.e. with alternative funding) -- has also been prepared which includes all the projects in the Auckland Plan, optimised to meet strategic directions for transport and provide best value for money.
Together with Auckland Council's Long-Term Plan (2015-25) with respect to addressing the "funding gap", AT's 2015-25 Regional Land Transport Plan will be going out for public consultation early next year.
With the final plans due for adoption in June, the scene is set for a highly charged and emotional transport debate with potential to make or break political aspirations is set to be played out in the first half of next year.
For some, Auckland's growing pains will inevitably get personal.
Tony Garnier is an Auckland-based business commentator and consultant.
