The Transport Pressures and Problems in

Auckland
Looking at how to solve those pressures and problems while linking to
Sustainability and Planning

Ben Ross. 2016

http://voakl.net
Twitter: @BenRoss_AKL
Facebook: Talking Auckland
@BenRossAKL
Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and
Problems in Auckland

Contents

1. Geography of Auckland
2. Political Geography
3. Questions
4. Focus Southern Auckland
5. The Otahuhu Bottleneck
6. Manukaus Economic Clout
7. Transport for Future Urban Growth outline
8. 2015-2025 Long Term Plan preferences with transport investment
9. Southern Auckland vs Auckland
10. Cities Skylines and Planning
11. Activity

Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and

Problems in Auckland

Geography of
Auckland

1.5m people as of 2015

2m people by 2030
Southern Auckland houses 38% of population and forecast to be at 45% by 2042
~800 new people a week in Auckland
Four State Highways
Four heavy rail lines carrying ~17m passengers as of 12 months ending July 31,
2016
One bus way carrying 4.2m as of 12 months ending July 31, 2016
Unitary Plan to go live on September 16 allowing capacity for 422,000 new homes
by 2042
Unitary Plan hierarchy has the City Centre, 10 Metropolitan Centres and five heavy
industrial complexes (four in Southern Auckland)
Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and
Problems in Auckland

Political Geography
Central Government still very mono-modal (roads, cars and trucks) in investment
into transport
City Rail Link only got commitment from Govt. in February 2016 after intense
pressure from Business Groups and out going Mayor Len Brown
Long Term Plan submitters overwhelming wanted investment in transit, walking
and cycling
ATAP due out sometime later this month (if not already)

Source: Auckland Council 2015-2025 Long Term Plan

feedback
Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and
Problems in Auckland

Questions
What are the transport pressures?
How can planning link to sustainability with transport?

Bonus Question
Will the centre of gravity in Auckland move away from the main
City Centre and go further south owing to growth in:
Southern Auckland
Waikato
Tauranga
Remember the Hamilton-Auckland rail service is back on the agenda

Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and

Problems in Auckland

Focus: Southern Auckland

Southern Auckland is home to 38% of the Auckland population. 45% by 2042

Southern Auckland contains second largest Metropolitan Centre by landmass and
largest by gross floor area in retail Manukau City Centre
Four of the five heavy industrial complexes and several large light industrial
complexes in Southern Auckland
Largest amount of Future Urban Zone area
Connected to the Isthmus (and City Centre) by narrow isthmus point at Otahuhu
Traffic and rail funnelled on a single rail line, State Highway One, State Highway 20,
SE Highway
Manukau generates 20% of Aucklands GDP worth $16b
Airport and associated traffic pressures

Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and

Problems in Auckland

Bottleneck with road and rail through Otahuhu and Mangere/Otahuhu

Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and

Problems in Auckland

30 minute accessibility by Transit to jobs

Source: https://maps.mrcagney.works/map/M-RK6W2F6pqVQMC
Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and
Problems in Auckland

Manukaus economic clout

Ben Ross. 2016. Transport Pressures and

Problems in Auckland

Manukau City Centre

Metropolitan Size
Comparison
62.66ha land mass
(second biggest)
152,100m2 GFA
(biggest)

Source: Panuku Development Auckland

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Problems in Auckland

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Transport for
Future Urban Growth
(Southern Auckland)

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Problems in Auckland

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Auckland Transport Alignment Program (ATAP) meant

to coordinate single response between the State, Govt and
Council (including CCOs) on recognising transport pressures
and how to remedy or mitigate them into the future.

Will the ATAP be able to coordinate that response?

Had issues defining congestion so doubts remain
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Problems in Auckland

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What to do and how to be sustainable in doing so

Auckland is wanting sustainable transport

investment according to Long Term Plan
Responses

Unitary Plan in place so planners have an

idea where major development is going and
how to link it up

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Problems in Auckland

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Southern Auckland

Auckland

1. Three of the Metropolitan Centres plus

four of the five industrial complexes
2. High Capacity Rapid Transit Links needed
especially between the its Metro Centres
and the Airport
3. Manukau City Centre acts as City Centre
to Southern Auckland and core of the
New South Auckland Bus Network that
starts in October
4. Fastest growing area in Auckland in terms
of population and new businesses
5. 50% of Southern Auckland commutes
within Southern Auckland
6. Centre of gravity moving towards
Southern Auckland

1. High capacity Rapid Transit Links

between Metropolitan Centres,
City Centre and industrial complexes
2. Encourage intensification in and
around Metropolitan Centres
3. Do not forget 8-80 city with your
cycleways and walk ways
4. Centre of gravity moving towards
Southern Auckland

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Problems in Auckland

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Cities Skylines and Planning

Urban Simulator that turned more into an urban transport simulator

Successor to Sim City 4 (released in 2003)
Mod-able with high amount of user creator content
Transport Mods allow for as-near-as realistic as possible with managing
individual
transit lines, transit systems and even simulating 24-7 day a week cycle that
has
weekend day rush hours, and random events generating traffic
If Rain Fall mod is operating rain and storm events have consequences
including
localised or city wide flooding that affects the transport system
Game used by cities internationally to simulate transit systems or model
new/renewed
districts (http://www.pcgamer.com/cities-skylines-used-by-swedish-city-planners-to-design-new-city-district/ )

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Problems in Auckland

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Cities Skylines and Planning

Cities: Skylines used by Swedish city planners to design new city district
By Joe Donnelly
See Stockholms Norra Djurgrdstaden modelled in the city-builder.
Intuitive Cities: Skylines players have recreated real life locations within the city-builder in the past,
however the Swedish Building Service Svensk Byggtjnst is now using the game to plan the development
of a new city district.
Alongside Paradox and officials from the city of Stockholm, a workshop is set to run on September 3 and
4 to explore possible methods for this district to become sustainable, and versatile enough to support the
needs of its residents, according to a statement.
Norra Djurgrdstaden will add 12,000 new homes and 35,000 workspaces to help combat
accommodation shortages in the area, and the idea is to simulate the district in-game to test different
scenarios.
Source: http://www.pcgamer.com/cities-skylines-used-by-swedish-city-planners-to-design-new-city-district/

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Problems in Auckland

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Cities Skylines and Planning

12,000 homes and 35,000 work spaces is similar to what the Transform Manukau
project covering 600ha by Panuku can potentially deliver if densities are realised
to the full extent per the zones applied (24,000 new residents (Panukus goal is
20k))
While there is the High Level Project Plan (https://www.panuku.co.nz/manukau) for Manukau
could Cities Skylines be used to help design the Transform Manukau area?

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Problems in Auckland
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Problems in Auckland

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Problems in Auckland

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Panukus Transform Manukau Goals

Source: Panuku Development Auckland

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Problems in Auckland

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Activity
Factoring in the eight goals of Transform Manukau as well as transport
pressures in wider Auckland previously mentioned design a possible outcome
for the Transform Manukau area
Remember to link sustainability especially in the transport area as:
Auckland Transport want no more that 20% of Southern Auckland
commuters to go further north than Manukau or the Airport
Increasing active transport modes within the Transform Manukau area
(currently auto-centric)
Potential for 12,000 homes (20-24,000 new residents) and 35,000 new work
places
Finally do you think Cities Skylines could help Panuku and Auckland Transport
whether it be with Manukau or wider Auckland?

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Problems in Auckland

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Problems in Auckland

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Problems in Auckland

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Transport Interchange

SHA for
900 homes
Manukau Station

Terraced Housing and low rise apartments

Housing for Older Persons planned for construction near Manukau Super Clinic
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Problems in Auckland

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References

MOVING IN MILWAUKEE: THE IMPACT OF ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT ON JOBS

HTTP://WWW.STRONGTOWNS.ORG/JOURNAL/2016/7/6/MOVING-IN-MILWAUKEE-THE-IMPACT-OF-ACCESSIBLE-TRANSIT-ON-JOBS

Moving in Milwaukee: The Impact of Accessible Transit on Jobs

https://blog.mysidewalk.com/moving-in-milwaukee-the-impact-of-accessible-transit-on-jobs-9d2a89f6fbb2#.h6hc2dpz1
BIKE LANES: GOOD OR BAD FOR BUSINESS?
HTTP://WWW.STRONGTOWNS.ORG/JOURNAL/2016/7/5/BIKE-LANES-GOOD-OR-BAD-FOR-BUSINESS
Cities: Skylines used by Swedish city planners to design new city district
http://www.pcgamer.com/cities-skylines-used-by-swedish-city-planners-to-design-new-city-district/
Panuku Transform Manukau: https://www.panuku.co.nz/manukau

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Problems in Auckland

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