Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has issued a demand to Auckland Transport (AT), urging them to heed the community’s voice and implement transit reforms aligned with his election promises.
Brown is advocating for the installation of more dynamic lanes and the utilization of transponders on buses to optimise traffic flow.
Dynamic lanes, also known as managed lanes or reversible lanes, are a type of roadway configuration where the direction of traffic flow in certain lanes can be changed based on traffic conditions or peak travel times. Brown believes such lanes are under-utilised in Auckland.
Brown also wants to grant Auckland Council a more substantial role in shaping long-term transportation projects, a sentiment echoed by Transport Minister Simeon Brown.
Expressing frustration with the current system, Brown said there was a need for greater council control over the Regional Land Transport Plan, currently overseen by AT.
In his quest to bring council-controlled organisations (CCOs) back under local authority, Brown has been vocal in his critiques of various entities, including AT. He aims to enhance transit efficiency through measures like dynamic lanes, a concept he believes is underutilized in Auckland.
While AT acknowledges the implementation of dynamic streets where suitable, Brown is pressing for broader adoption, along with the integration of transponder technology on buses to optimise traffic signal coordination.
Acknowledging the positive outcomes of initiatives like the Bus Booster trial, AT is expanding the programme to more intersections, with noticeable improvements in bus efficiency.
Despite facing resistance from some councillors, Brown remains committed to advancing his proposals, buoyed by public support for his vision of a more responsive and efficient transit system.
‘I discovered that the only council in New Zealand that doesn’t control its Land Transport Plan is this one, thanks to the way the council was set up, which was stupid,’ Brown said.
‘It’s been handed over to AT, who think they’re independent, well they’re not. We’re funding you, shut up and listen.’
