OIA 3942 Ben Ross response FINAL.PDF.pdf

Level 11, HSBC House
1 Queen Street
Private Bag 106602

Auckland 1143

New Zealand

T 64 9 969 9800

F 64 9 969 9813

www.nzta.govt.nz
19 July 2018

Ben Ross
[email address]

REF: OIA-3942

Dear Ben

Request made under the Official Information Act 1982

Thank you for your email of Tuesday, 26 June 2018 requesting the following information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):

1.  What exactly is the project delivery of the Manukau to Airport via Puhinui Station section of the
Botany to Airport MRT line. That is what does the budget al ocations and works entail (what do
we get)?
2.  When are the works likely to start for the Manukau to Airport section of the Botany to Airport
MRT line
3.  Wil  the entire Botany to Airport MRT line be future proofed for Light Rail?
4.  What walking and cycling improvements will be done along the entire Manukau to Airport
section of the Botany to Airport MRT line especial y along the length of SH20B
5.  What is the forecast start date for the Manukau to Botany section of the Botany to Airport MRT
6.  What steps is NZTA taking with other partners including Auckland Transport, Auckland Council
and Panuku Development Auckland to enable full integrated land use/transport planning
(noting this from the NZTA CEO Report - February 2018 (Slide 5: The City – Airport light rail
project wil  be: an integrated transport urban development project)
-  that is Transit Orientated Developments around the Botany to Airport MRT line given these
opportunities were missed with Manukau Bus Station (delivered by AT but part funded by
NZTA), and is expected as a matter of policy in the Auckland Plan 2050, and the GPS 2018
7.  Wil  NZTA be engaging with the community and stakeholders to help deliver TODs as
mentioned in question six above?

By way of background for your request, the NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport, and Auckland
Airport are working together to plan for and deliver access improvements to and from the Auckland
Airport area.

Auckland Transport is leading the Airport to Botany Rapid Transit project, working in collaboration with
the Transport Agency and Auckland Airport, as wel  as other key project partners and stakeholders.

The project is currently in the early stages of business case development. The purpose of the business
case is to assess how access issues in the area can be addressed, and to identify a recommended
option based on a range of requirements.

The business case will be complete by mid-2019, and there wil  be opportunities for the community
and public to inform the work alongside this. Project specific information wil  be clearer as the
business case is developed in more detail.

The broad elements investigated will identify how the Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and
Auckland Airport can collectively:
•
provide an improved public transport link for people between the airport, and south and east
Auckland, and the Auckland city centre via a transfer to rail at an enhanced Puhinui Station
•
improve access and transport options for people in the south and east of Auckland, and to major
employment zones in these areas, and
•
support growth opportunities at key locations along the route, particularly around Manukau,
Botany and the airport.
While the business case work wil  identify improvements that can be undertaken in the medium to
longer-term, the Transport Agency together with Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport, are also
seeking to progress early improvements along the Airport to Manukau section of the route to provide
more immediate benefits to people accessing the area via this corridor.

In regards to your specific request, we have the following comments.

1.  What exactly is the project delivery of the Manukau to Airport via Puhinui Station section of
the Botany to Airport MRT line. That is what does the budget allocations and works entail
(what do we get)?

The Airport to Botany Rapid Transit project will be delivered in stages.

The Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP 2018) has allocated funding for the first decade as follows:
•
Funding for Auckland Transport to complete the Airport to Botany Rapid Transit investigation
(business case) by 2019. This wil  inform subsequent work to seek route protection for the project.
•
Funding to deliver a range of early improvements to improve airport access by 2020/2021. Along
the Airport to Manukau corridor this encompasses:
o
A new bus/rail interchange at Puhinui Station (led by Auckland Transport).
o
Bus priority lanes between the Airport and Manukau City Centre via Puhinui Station
(delivered by Auckland Airport, the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport in
accordance to each agency’s road network area).
•
Funding to complete the Botany Interchange by 2025/26 as part of the AMETI (Auckland Manukau
Eastern Transport Initiative) Eastern Busway programme. While not within the Airport to Manukau
corridor, the proposed new Botany Interchange is an integral component of the Airport to Botany
Rapid Transit project as this interchange will be the connection point for the two rapid transit lines
serving the East Auckland area.
2.  When are the works likely to start for the Manukau to Airport section of the Botany to Airport
MRT line?

The Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP, April 2018) and the RLTP indicates implementation
of the full Airport to Botany rapid transit facility to be a second decade project (post-2028).

It is anticipated that the business case work being progressed now wil  provide more clarity on
timeframes in due course, as the purpose of the business case is to determine the scale, form and
recommended timing of proposed improvements. The business case is expected to be complete by
mid-2019.

As outlined above, there is a programme to provide for more immediate improvements identified for
the Manukau to Airport to Manukau section, targeting completion by 2020/2021, with delivery being
undertaken by Auckland Airport, the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport.

3.  Will the entire Botany to Airport MRT line be future proofed for Light Rail?

The aim of the business case is to identify what is needed now and into the future to address the
transport access issues in this area. This wil  include considering different modes of transport rapid
transit, such as bus rapid transit and light rail, and what future proofing should be incorporated as part
of the project.

4.  What walking and cycling improvements will be done along the entire Manukau to Airport
section of the Botany to Airport MRT line especially along the length of SH20B?

The Transport Agency, together with Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport, will be investigating
walking and cycling facility improvement opportunities along this corridor as part of the business case
work. The form the walking and cycling provision will take, and timing for implementation, is still to be
confirmed.

5.  What is the forecast start date for the Manukau to Botany section of the Botany to Airport
MRT?

Please refer the response given to question 2.

6.  What steps is NZTA taking with other partners including Auckland Transport, Auckland
Council and Panuku Development Auckland to enable full integrated land use/transport
planning?

The Transport Agency is working together with Auckland Transport, Auckland Airport, Mana Whenua,
Auckland Council and other organisations such as Panuku Development Auckland to develop the
business case, which includes opportunities for achieving full land use and transport integration.

7.  Will NZTA be engaging with the community and stakeholders to help deliver TODs as
mentioned in question six above?

As the business case progresses, Auckland Transport will work with key stakeholders and the
community to identify desired improvements and opportunities in this area, including land use and
transport integration opportunities such as Transit Orientated Developments.

If you would like further information, please contact Ida Dowling, Senior Transport Planner, by email to
[email address] or by phone on 021 406 176.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Reid
Acting Senior Manager, System Design