Ponsonby Road, Three Lamps Auckland Transport ran an advertisement in the April issue of Ponsonby News to alert users of roadworks disruption at the Three Lamps end of Ponsonby Road.
This is untimely as the construction of a large complex in that last block will also cause traffic disruptions and change area dynamics. AT’s plan, in the name of ‘safety’ - reduce to one lane the current two left turning lanes into Pompallier Terrace, raise the pedestrian crossings, and move the bus stop out further into the traffic lane. (see photo from Google Earth how its already projected out from the kerb line).
If they had advertised their pre-Christmas ‘consultation’ to our readers, shoppers, commuters, retailers and residents who use this road, there may have been a larger response than just the mere 42 submitters.
The most popular comments of those 42 - “waste of money” (by 6 submitters); “unnecessary/not needed” (by 6); “support proposal” (5); “help slow down traffic” (4); “improve safety” (6); “no accidents” there (4).
Let’s not forget the council is trying to make savings (including from services ratepayers actually want) while AT are pushing ahead with unwanted changes disregarding the cost to ratepayers.
Meola Road and Zoo ‘user-pays’ parking
If AT had genuinely consulted on the changes to Meola Road via Ponsonby News advertising, signage along route, and not doing so pre-Christmas, then dog walkers, commuters, residents, footballers and visitors to MOTAT may have responded to: the narrowing of the Garnet Road roundabout to single lane; potentially stopping traffic 120 times a day by changing currently indented bus stops to ‘in-line’; the removal of 35 healthy mature trees; and all road parking replaced by a user-pays parking only accessible from Motions Road, between 9am and 5pm.
This user-pays parking includes outside the Zoo and its overflow outside TAPAC and Western Springs College. Here, out-of-zone students attend ‘Ngā Puna o Waiōrea’, the ‘school inside the school’ - a Te Reo Māori immersion kura. By driving, students with restricted drivers licences can save two hours a day on long distance travel time. I have asked WLB to investigate an exemption for them of $40 per week parking fee. Hopefully my design of 40 additional parks for dog walkers parking will be included in this cycleway design.
Great North Road Cycleway
The proposed Great North Road Cycleway has been on the cards for some time.
After receiving a $10,000 grant from the Waitematā Local Board, the Grey Lynn Residents put forward their own proposal but it was withdrawn by their internal vote after years of advocating immediately prior to the critical AT Board meeting. WLB’s ‘red team’ and chair voted to proceed with the AT design, against recommendations from Mayor Brown and Councillor Lee and the vote of ‘the blue team’.
That 4 - 3 vote went to the AT Board, being divided on the matter referred it to the Council's ‘Transport and Infrastructure Committee’. After their April site visit and recommendations, AT’s Board will decide whether to proceed in May.
The Mayor rode the route on the footpath following the suggestion of a local cyclist who presented at the T&I meeting. This idea is consistent with AT’s installation further down GNR, opposite the Bullock Track, where the wide pavement is shared by cyclists and pedestrians.
This solution ‘in paint’ can save most of the $32M budget.
Further suggestions of car-carrier loading zones outside dealers; signalised crossing for Central School walking bus; keeping parking; bus lane only for rush hours to keep the arterial road two lanes wide; not narrowing entry into side streets; connecting with widened Arch Hill cycle trail; upgrading Grosvenor Street cycleway (proposed 4 years ago); and detouring the shared path into Collingwood Street/Williamson Ave to avoid impact on Grey Lynn village are also being considered.
The Strand, Parnell
Another consultation is in progress currently on the ‘qt’, for The Strand in Parnell with a dangerous corner at St George’s Bay Rd. It is an extension of State Highway 16 of freight delivery to the Port, so this is a joint venture of NZTA and AT.
The diagram proposes to widen the street toward the Port to two lanes with trucks and T3 on the inside lane. Yet if freight and containers are railed off the Port, this may be redundant. The left footpath, to be shared between pedestrians and dual directional cycle lane.
A better route to access the Quay St cycleway is via Churchill St, Beach Rd and the rail bridge by the Stadium as it is safer to avoid the trucks. The sharp corner at St George’s Bay Rd needs to be signalised with the large pohutakawa in a traffic island so trucks are seperated in a softer corner.
The three signalised pedestrian crossing and ‘in-line’ bus stops will only disrupt freight. Consultation ended 17 April without a response from NZTA to my request for details addressing my concerns that the road corridor is too narrow to achieve the proposed layout, even with the removal of all street parking and possibly the large mature trees that line the road.
Victoria Street Linear Park
‘The ‘Centre City Master Plan’ was consulted on in 2012. This includes the narrowing of Queen Street which will eventually become a car-free mall. Construction started on 11 April 2023 on the next phase where Victoria Street will become a ‘Linear Park’ extending from Albert Park to Victoria Park.
Vehicle access will be reduced on this main arterial road, becoming pedestrianised with large trees, seating and cycleways. ‘Te Hā Noa’ (Breathing Common) is estimated to cost $34.2M, to be taken from the targeted rates paid by businesses and residents in the centre city.
Retailers will not be benefiting from the removal of customer car parking, restricted service vehicle access and cutting the centre into inaccessible quarters.
The Governing Body has approved this ludicrous plan led by Panūku, after their closed door meeting, and narrowing vehicle lanes on “Queen Street, from Custom Street to Shortland Street, starting in mid-2023.” Apparently it “ is to ensure efficient movement for people and goods across the city centre.”
That’s not how I’ve experienced it.
infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Open/2023/04/20230420_TICCC_AGN_11397_AT_SUP.pdf
Whilst these drawings look pretty, it isn’t practical for an arterial route when businesses need service access and customers. In a future where Auckland has a working public transport system these humps and bumps, and mazes of blocked roads won’t make it ‘world class city’. (GAEL BALDOCK)
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PUBLISHED 5 MAY 2023