Posts Tagged ‘Auckland Transport’

Orakei Local Board Comments to November 2019 Monthly Meeting

26 November 2019

We were fortunate to have the newly elected Chairperson of the Orakei Local Board (OLB) Scott Milne speak at our November 2019 monthly meeting, as well as Troy Churton, Troy Elliot and Margaret Voyce also in attendance. We were keen to hear their thoughts on priorities for Orakei Ward over the three year team ahead. Below is a brief summary of the discussion.

The OLB is in good health with a mix of incumbents and newly elected members. They are in the process of getting up to speed and understanding council systems, relationships and processes.

Some priorities that the OLB outlined for our area:

Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path – this is possibly the toughest job that the OLB faces. They emphasised that it is important that stage 2 is built and not be dependent on stage 4 also being constructed. The Auckland Transport (AT) board has changed with new people in place. Scott emphasised that the OLB needs to continue building a constructive relationship with AT to work together to improve progress. He noted that our successful One Local Initiative (OLI) in the long term plan of the Gowing Dr and John Rymer Place links to the shared path that would connect both sides of Pourewa Valley (and connect kids with their schools) are dependent on the shared path being built. Scott said “The new board is determined not to let go of the bone” referring to the success of securing funding for the links.
Meadowbank Community Centre – the community centre redevelopment is being funded by selling the Victoria Ave old CAB building. This has been completed successfully. The Tahapa Hall will also be sold to fund the redevelopment, but only once the redevelopment has been completed as to provide a venue for groups to use while the construction takes place. Detailed designs are not yet available.
Waiatarua Wetland Reserve – the OLB is keen to complete the Waiatarua Reserve Enhancement Plan and have a clear pathway for future investment in the wetland reserve. They are keen to ensure that it continues functioning as a wetland and that the reserve is used appropriately e.g. that dogs stay out of the wetland areas and that the sediment removal systems do their job. Scott said that there is a lot of space in the reserve and that good, fair and balanced solutions are definitely possible for all those who wish to use the reserve.

Mayor Phil Goff will be visiting the OLB area in late January 2020 to visit the major project sites including the shared path site and the Gowing Drive and John Rymer Place connection sites (funding secured in the OLI) to understand the area and the benefits these projects will bring to the community.

Our youngest residents association member (aged 10) asked a question from the floor about what the OLB intends to do to tackle climate change. Scott noted that the shared path and local links to it would contribute to fewer car trips and also encourage people to take alternative and more active methods of transport. He also emphasised that there is a long list of little things that collectively add up that we can all do to change the way we think and consider more climate friendly options.

Pushing for Gowing Dr Safety Improvements

31 January 2019

The Issue So Far…

We are extremely concerned about the tragic fatal accident on Gowing Drive on 12 January 2019. We had previously identified this area of Gowing Drive as needing safety improvements and have been pushing hard to effect change, especially following the hit and run incident involving a cyclist a year ago in the same area. We acknowledge and very much appreciate the support on this issue that we have had from the Orakei Local Board (OLB) and Carmel Claridge in particular. Last year the OLB asked Auckland Transport to investigate safety and issues with speeding cars at the Parsons Rd/Archdall/Gowing Dr intersection which is not far from the latest accident. As a result of this, some initiatives have been proposed and we expect to see some action shortly – and will keep pushing for effective improvements. It is especially frustrating that earlier in 2018 Auckland Transport declined to make any improvements to the road as their statistics did not identify the area as being sufficiently unsafe.

Come to a Public Meeting

The Residents Association in conjunction with the OLB will be hosting a public meeting on Monday 25 February at 6:30pm at St Chads Church and Community Centre at 38 St Johns Rd to discuss safety improvements. We urge all interested residents to attend. Senior Auckland Transport representatives will be attending to hear residents’ concerns, provide information on the proposed improvements, and explain the rationale for allocation of resources for regional safety improvements.

Sign the Petition

We are also supporting a petition requesting as a matter of urgency that Auckland Transport investigate what measures can be taken to improve safety, particularly for pedestrians using the road. Click here to download a petition sheet, print it, sign it (get some friends to sign too!) and post to MBSJRA, PO Box 87285, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742.

Our Opinion on What is Needed

We’re aware of many concerns from our members and residents generally about safety and vehicle speeds on this stretch of road which has a history of serious injury crashes, some of which we have reported on. We’re not transport engineers and are therefore not in a position to prescribe specific technical solutions: but we note the effectiveness of the road narrowing and speed tables on Meadowbank Road (further along the 782 bus route). Getting those established took years of advocacy, and the strong support of the Orakei Local Board, for which we and no doubt local residents are grateful, because the improvement since they were installed has been dramatic. So in this case we might be so bold as to suggest we would expect something similar to be effective here. Whatever, it needs to be done quickly. And the same could be said for other local streets in our suburbs where we all know traffic speeds can be excessive. We don’t want to have to share any more tragic stories like this in our neighbourhood.

Revised School Bus Routes for St Thomas’s School

17 December 2018

The parents of St Thomas’s School have spoken and Auckland Transport have listened – new school bus services will be in place for the start of term 1 2019. Auckland Transport will operate one bus on a revised morning service #549, one bus on a revised afternoon service #549, and one bus on a new afternoon service #550. Maps and timetables for the new services are available on our website.

As a result of the changes more bus stops in St Johns will be served, both in the morning and in the afternoon. No bus stops that are in-zone will lose service. The majority of students using the current service will be unaffected.

The new routes will not serve Stonefields. Auckland Transport is inviting customers currently using the 549 to or from Stonefields to refer to our online Journey Planner (AT.govt.nz/journeyplanner) in January 2019 or call our contact centre in January on 09 366 6400 to find out about alternatives. Current school route #547 (Panmure – Stonefields – St Johns – Selwyn College) will not be changing so will remain an option for students travelling from Stonefields to St Thomas’s.

Route 549 (one bus) mornings
Route: 20 Norman Lesser Dr (stop 7722), Norman Lesser Dr, (R) Panapa Dr (at the second intersection of Norman Lesser Dr and Panapa Dr – buses travel north on Panapa Dr and clockwise round the loop), (L) Norman Lesser Dr, (R) Truman St, (L) St Johns Rd, (R) Dorchester St, Gowing Dr, (L) St Johns Rd, Kohimarama Rd, (R) Allum St, 113 Allum St (stop 1442).

Timetable for Route 549

20 Norman Lesser Dr – 7722 08:10

113 Allum St – 1442 08:40

Route 549 (one bus) afternoons
Route : Opp 255 Kohimarama Rd (stop 1422), Kohimarama Rd, St Johns Rd, (R) Gowing Dr, Dorchester St, (L) St Johns Rd, (R) Truman St, (L) Norman Lesser Dr, (R) Panapa Dr (at the first intersection of Norman Lesser Dr and Panapa Dr – buses travel south on Panapa Dr and anticlockwise round the loop), (L) Norman Lesser Dr, 79 Norman Lesser Dr (stop 7725).

Timetable for Route 549

Opp 255 Kohimarama Rd – 1422 15:10

79 Norman Lesser Dr – 7725 15:35

Route 550 (one bus) afternoon
Route: Opp 255 Kohimarama Rd (stop 1422), Kohimarama Rd, St Johns Rd, (R) Gowing Dr, Dorchester St, (R) St Johns Rd, (L) Gerard Way, (L) Norman Lesser Dr, 56 Norman Lesser Dr (stop 1408).
Timetable for Route 550
Opp 255 Kohimarama Rd – 1422 15:10
56 Norman Lesser Dr – 1408 15:30

Final decision for Replacement Orakei Basin Balustrade

13 December 2018

The results of NZTA’s consultation are in and their final decision on a more suitable balustrade for the Orakei Basin Boardwalk is in – option B pictured below. We are very pleased that the height has been lowered and that the project team has taken on board the community’s opinions that the views from the boardwalk are very important. Read the full press release below and thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback and voice your dissatisfaction and desire for something much more suitable for years to come.

Final design decided for Orakei Basin balustrade

Thursday 13 December

The NZ Transport Agency is pleased to announce that following a second round of public feedback the design and materials of a replacement balustrade for the Orakei Basin boardwalk has been selected. The Orakei Basin boardwalk forms Section 3 of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path, a seven kilometre walking and cycling path, connecting people with routes at Pt England and Tamaki Drive.

The balustrade that has been selected comprises a mix of metal and wood, with thin metal slats to provide the best visibility of the surrounding area. It was the preferred option in a second round of consultation about a replacement balustrade for this section of the path. This option received 67% of votes (156 votes) from the 233 people overall who took part in the survey.

The combination of materials and design also provides better visibility which was important to people and is likely to tie in better with other balustrade designs planned for sections 2 and 4 of the shared path.

The Transport Agency’s Director of Regional Relationships Steve Mutton says it understood from the community that the height of the balustrade was a key design element.

“During the process to change the balustrade from what was originally designed, we established the community wanted whatever we built to be only 1.2 metres high and not 1.4 metres, because people said that 1.4 metres high blocks the beautiful views across the basin. We are pleased that we are able to deliver that outcome for the community as we know that this area is precious to locals and a real treat for visitors.”

“It has been a more difficult process to establish the preferred materials and design of the balustrade but we are pleased that this round of feedback is quite clear that people prefer the mostly metal option.”

“It is also in line with a very important theme that came out during both rounds of consultation including the two open days. People are keen on a design that allows them the best view of the surrounding area.”

“The Transport Agency knows there is also support for a design that replicated the all wooden balustrade that was there originally but this is not the majority view that has emerged during two rounds of consultation.”

We are now focused on getting the new balustrade manufactured and installed as soon as possible so that this section of the path can be fully open for everyone to enjoy.

The boardwalk is expected to be finished by the middle of 2019. The Transport Agency is grateful to the public for their feedback and also for their patience while the work is undertaken to complete this section of the path.

Feedback about Section 2 of the shared path was also sought during the past few months and results from that round of consultation will be available early next year.

AGM on Monday 23 July 2018

3 July 2018

We are pleased to confirm our AGM will be held on Monday 23 July from 7pm at St Chads. Our guest speaker for the night will be representatives from Auckland Transport. They will talk about the new bus network rolling out Sunday 8 July.

The talk is pitched primarily as an information-giving session, and any questions that the AT representatives cannot immediately answer will be captured by our Transport Subcommittee and discussed with you further, prior to a more formalised presentation to AT. We are always interested in other broader transport related concerns in our area and this will be a great opportunity to ensure we have them properly identified.

If you have any questions you’d like raised about either the new bus routes, timetables, changes etc or other transport related concerns please email us at .

We will also be electing new committee members at the AGM. You need to be a paid up member to vote or stand for election. If you haven’t yet paid your bargain membership of $10 please join us and have a say on how your residents association is run and what things we focus on.

Please note that for July our AGM will replace the regular monthly meeting usually held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Roadworks at intersection of St Johns Rd and Meadowbank Rd

28 May 2018

Road works are starting on Monday 28 May at the St Johns Road / Meadowbank Road intersection. The work is being done ahead of the roll out of the New Bus Network on 8 July, to enable the new #782 bus route to turn left from Meadowbank Road into St Johns Road.

Unusually, there was very little consultation by AT about these changes, which we think are pretty significant.

As part of the works, AT have said that the unsignalised free left turn by the BP petrol station will be closed. We welcome that: finally there will be a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing all the way across the road, in a location that’s very heavily used by school students of all ages.

There will also be changes to the kerbs and channels on the opposite side of road, outside the bakery. We’re not so keen on that, or some of the other details. We understand the bus has to be able to turn, but in our view, what’s proposed goes against the objectives of the Corridor Management Plan for Remuera / St Johns Road, that we were consulted on back in 2015.

Needless to say, we’ve written to AT to encourage them to engage with us on this issue. We asked them to limit any increase in the road width of St Johns Rd; instead using this as an opportunity to create a ‘gateway’ to the Town Centre, in a way that contributes to a slower speed environment, and to avoid, if possible, any loss of car parking, which we consider vital to the businesses located on St Johns Road.

In our letter, we noted that from our surveys, residents want our Town Centre to be a better place, as well as a functioning transport corridor, and we offered to work with AT to review opportunities in this area. If you’ve been following what’s been going on in Grey Lynn, you’ll know how ugly it can get when consultation is done badly; but also how with a bit of creative thinking and genuine community engagement, great outcomes are possible.

We’re planning to workshop some of this at our next meeting. Watch this space!

Meanwhile, watch out for all the cones and construction work (and workers!) and maybe allow yourself a couple more minutes if you commute through this way!

Bus Stop Proposal for Meadowbank Train Station

19 May 2018

Another quick transport consultation! Most of you will know that over 1,000 residents signed the petition last year to get a bus service to connect with Meadowbank Train Station.

The petition noted that up to 22 car park spaces may have to make way for the bus stop and turn around. But also that just one bus per hour could deliver many more people, resulting in a net saving of car parks. The wider context of course is that on weekdays 100s of cars are parked along every street all the way to Bonnie Brae and Harapaki Street. More people are using the train each year, and whole lot more are likely to in five years’ time when the CRL opens, bringing Midtown, K Rd and Grafton closer to Meadowbank by train that they are by bus from the Meadowbank Town Centre.

Hence our support for the bus service. And for that matter, our support for better cycling / walking links to the station, not least from Gowing Drive! Besides parking hassles, one of the reasons we think the bus service will be popular for locals is because using the bus to the train station will be free from Meadowbank and St Johns if you also use the train.

Below is AT’s detailed design proposal for the bus stop and turn around. As you can see, the plan is for a bus stop and shelter right at the train station entrance, which we think is great. This makes for the shortest, flattest connection between the bus and train which is important for less able bodies, and allows the bus driver to see the trains on the platform. So buses shouldn’t inadvertently leave the stop just as a train pulls in!

The plans remove 21 car parks. They provide a number of time-restricted spaces for drop-offs and pick-ups, which is not always easy today without using nearby residents’ driveways (hardly ideal). The three car parks on the left hand side of Manapau Road have to go to allow the bus to swing around to the stop. These have been replaced with three new time restricted car parks opposite, at the island with the trees. Thanks to Orakei Local Board rep Carmel Claridge for that particular improvement 

But are there any other improvements that you could suggest? Can we squeeze another car park or two back in? Is there the right amount of parks in the pick up zone? Are you concerned about the possible loss of the trees, due to the new footpaths on the island? We think if the tree has to go, then it should be replaced with a new one. Or maybe the whole island could be replanted, saving on mowing costs?

*Closing date is this Monday 21 May 2018*

We haven’t been advised of a specific web page for this consultation, so please use the AT online feedback form: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/contact-us/feedback-form/ Select > “Making a suggestion” About > “Something else” and put “Meadowbank train station bus stop, Purewa Road” at the top of your comments. Or simply add comments on our and we’ll work with the OLB make sure these get to AT.