Viewpoint – Start listening AT

Congratulations to the various Warkworth community groups and individuals, coordinated by One Mahurangi through the local roading forum, who continually seek more practical transport solutions. Auckland Transport (AT) has been predominantly Auckland CBD-centric, with projects such as the $4 billion city rail link and the proposed rollout of light rail to the fore, but who on occasion have responded to such lobbying. Examples include restoring double lanes on the Matakana link road, the ongoing fight to upgrade Hill Street, not to toll the new motorway, achieving AT’s reconsideration of Sandspit Road layout changes, along with proposed safety improvements to both Hamilton and Anderson Road intersections. If only AT would communicate better with residents who have decades of experience living in the area. Investigation costs such as the $48,400 spent on Anderson Road would have been avoided before that project was ultimately cancelled.

Development work is underway on the previously Downer-occupied SH1 site to be funded by the Rodney Local Board via the ratepayer funded Transport Targeted Rate. The park and ride project itself will essentially provide little more than 137 out-of-town car park spaces, two roadside bus stops, a bike rack, and a bus layby area at a ratepayers’ cost of $3.7 million, with $700,000 already spent to date and in my business experience will be not less than the recently accepted $3 million tender price. AT is to provide two onsite toilets in preference to meeting its more normal full financial responsibility. It’s a great deal for AT, not so for the ratepayer who effectively pays twice!

Question: With the above project approved, why is funding for remediation work on the more centrally located Baxter Street car park continually overlooked and why was Auckland Council’s building share more recently on the market?

The new Ara Tuhono Puhoi to Warkworth motorway is making final connection strides to provide long overdue transportation relief for lower Rodney. AT’s focus now shifts to the future handover condition of its reciprocal maintenance cost share of SH1. The Matakana link road opening then follows, asking the question of Matakana and Sandspit roads as to the capacity of these roads to handle the likely increased traffic volumes brought about by these additions to the roading network, plus two recent private plan changes together with ongoing residential development nearby.

Meanwhile, AT has a duty of care to the Warkworth community, be sure to monitor the condition of footpaths and pedestrian accessways. Click the link https://at.govt.nz/about-us/contact-us/report-a-problem/ for AT website (or phone 09 355-3553) to report in your own words known safety hazards and add a photo. The link records directly into AT system and generates an automatic reference number for follow up purposes.