11 Jul 2013

Faster upgrades to public transport in Auckland proposed

8:35 pm on 11 July 2013

Public transport advocates in Auckland say a plan they have devised would mean a faster improvement, costing much less than current plans.

Transport Blog website editor Patrick Reynolds with a map of the group's proposed network.

Transport Blog website editor Patrick Reynolds with a map of the group's proposed network. Photo: RNZ

The Transport Blog and Generation Zero groups say their plan focuses on dedicated bus lanes on existing roads.

Their programme would drop many major roading projects currently on the books and cost $10 billion over 17 years rather than $24 billion.

Transport Blog website editor Patrick Reynolds said no city has built its way out of congestion with roading projects like those proposed for Auckland.

The plan includes light rail along the Dominion Road arterial route, cross-harbour tunnels exclusively for rail and a new rail link to Mount Roskill.