New era for Auckland transport still some way down the road

By PHILIP ENGLISH

Today is a big day in the history of Auckland - as big, perhaps, as the day the last tram rolled into its depot, or the day the Government cancelled Mayor Robbie's rapid rail scheme.

If the politicians and bureaucrats are right, today marks the start of a new public transport era for the region.

The big change today will see the establishment of a single transport body for the region - the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

But Aucklanders stuck in traffic dreaming of an answer to road congestion will have more time to dream - the authority will not become operational for six months and its directors have yet to be appointed.

The intention to establish the authority was announced by the Government last December.

The announcement also included details of an additional 5.6c a litre petrol tax from next April and other Government funding to raise $1.62 billion over 10 years for Auckland.

The authority will be responsible for the integrated planning, funding and implementation of all modes of public transport throughout the region.

It will have a wide range of responsibilities, from identifying and establishing new public transport services to promoting walking school buses, but will not be responsible for physical improvements to local roads or for motorways and state highways.

Local councils will remain responsible for local road improvements and Transit New Zealand will keep control of motorways and state highways.

In spite of being established today with the passing of the Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Act, the authority will not start work until January 1.

As well as the appointment of its directors, a decision has to be made on whether it will meet in public.

Appointing the directors will be a job for the Auckland Regional Council, where some members are concerned about the new organisation's accountability. The council will retain the direct responsibility for transport in the region, but the worry is that the authority will be one step removed from the public.

Today, Auckland Regional Holdings will also be established and its forerunner, Infrastructure Auckland, will be disbanded.

Auckland Regional Holdings will also be under the regional council's control, and will be responsible for owning and managing assets previously held by Infrastructure Auckland - its investments, an 80 per cent stake in Ports of Auckland, and the America's Cup Village - together worth $1.362 billion.

The money generated through ARH will provide the regional council with a new source of funding.

The regional council will use money from ARH to fund some of ARTA's transport activities as well as water quality or stormwater projects.

Amid the change one body remains constant - the ARC. Current thinking is that there will be a need for some regional council overview of ARTA.

New structure

* The Auckland Regional Transport Authority is established as a single body responsible for planning, funding and implementing all public transport in the region. The authority will be under the control of the Auckland Regional Council but will not become operational until January 1.

* Auckland Regional Holdings will be established to replace its forerunner, Infrastructure Auckland.

* ARH, also under the control of the ARC, will provide funding for transport and stormwater projects with the $1.362 billion of regional assets it inherits from Infrastructure.