Why Is The Govt Riding Out The Super-City Uproar?

None of the big media throng at the late afternoon post-Cabinet news conference at the Beehive asked prime minister, John Key, a question about Auckland’s governance.

Not even the Royal NZ Herald , which has been running a daily attack on the super-city plan, especially the CCOs, including Auckland Transport. If he had been asked, he may have given the same answer he gave about mining on conservation land, that , in his opinion it was “hysteria in the media.”

Support For Lower Adult Drink Driving Level

A Motor Trade Association poll claims strong support for the Government to lower the drink drive limit for drivers over 20.

BikeWise Got Newbies Out Cycling

BikeWise month got thousands of people out on their bikes.
Always pleasing to see.

Cheer Up!

Interesting blog post here about how negative Auckland public transport forums have become and whether it drives people away.

When Motorways Go Bad

Incredible how many of the city’s roads can come to a standstill for hours because of one accident somewhere.

Onehunga Monthly Update: Dream On

Every month, I take photos of the site of the new Onehunga railway station, the old ITM building.

I wasn’t going to publish this week’s ones because the news concerning the new line is all too depressing but I reluctantly will.

How To Treat Disabled On Public Transport

While some Auckland mums and disabled grumble about the treatment on Auckland trains, Hamilton local bodies are doing good.

Minister Dampens SuperGold Talk

The transport minister is damping down talk of SuperGold card users missing out on public transport trips.

Mike Lee Slams Joyce Plan “A Joke”

ARC Chairman Mike Lee cranked up the rhetoric about the new Auckland Transport body today saying to the transport minister: “The point is we don’t want a bar of his transport bureaucracy – period.”

Local Wireless Energy System For Home & Car

An Auckland university engineering fellow has designed a wireless green energy system to supply the home and the car.
The system would harness and integrate renewable energies, such as solar and wind, to power a house and an electric vehicle.

Could Council Ask For Open Auckland Transport Meetings?

Can the new Auckland super-council ask the new Auckland Transport body to hold meetings in public?
Stephen Selwood, CEO of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development, which has been staunchly behind Rodney Hide’s local body reform legislation, seems to raise this possibility today.
In came in Selwood’s vigorous defence of the setting up of Auckland Transport.

He calls criticism “farcical nonsense” and sharply rubbishes ARC Chair Mike Lee raising the issue of the Kingdon St station demolition last Christmas as evidence of the sort of things Auckland Transport may do in secret.

Waterfront Trams: Will Money Be Found In Time?

The plan for the waterfront trams is moving forward but there’s no certainty that the funding will be found, before the Auckland Transport agency takes over in November.

ARC Chair, Mike Lee, who has been enthusiastic about the idea, has written for it to be progressed in the ARC annual plan and tells me he has “demanded we continue to progress it.”

And We Think We Have Problems…

Sometimes, it’s good to know we are not alone in having train issues.

Slim Ride The Answer? (Updated)

A driverless, electric-powered light rail system designed to whisk commuters more efficiently around central Auckland and across the harbour bridge could appeal to people who snub existing public transport, says its creator.
It’s an nteresting idea pushed by a Massey university design school lecturer on Campbell Live tonight – a light rail system for Auckland
But maybe we should get the Auckland rail system fixed first -and a CBD loop approved – before we start looking at other options.

Here’s the video for the item:

Tag This Stupid

Those of us who have been protesting against the never-ending graffiti vandalism all along Auckland’s rail corridor, including rail stations presently under development, will be thrilled to learn of YMCA Mt Abert’s treat for teens this weekend.

13 year olds, who i thought were not yet legally able to buy spraycans, will be handed them in a two-day workshop to teach them graffiti art.

CBD Loop Alignment – Graphic

Here’s a graphic of the proposed CBD rail loop alignment.

Highway Rockfall Cause A Mystery

No-one seems to be able to get to the bottom of a rockfall in the Mangorewa Gorge on State Highway 36 between Tauranga and Rotorua, that damaged two cars, trapping and injuring three people.

The rockfall happened last August near where contractors were working to replace two bridges and widen the highway.

Are They Running Out Of Excuses?

Now we know why trains are delayed for “operational issues.”

Wiri Rail Link Officially Opened

The Wiri to Waitemata seaport rail link was officially opened today, with KiwiRail chair Jim Bolger saying that the new rail exchange had the potential to create some fundamental changes to the landscape of Auckland’s transport patterns.

Oldies May Lose Free Waiheke Trips

Oldies may find their free trips on the Waiheke ferry clipped after Steven Joyce’s review of the free off-peak public transport component of the SuperGold Card.

That review has moved into its second phase with targeted consultation for the next two months.

Citing the Waiheke ferry as one costly item, Steven Joyce says some changes will need to be made because it is currently stand on track to exceed the available budget.

Banks, Lee Enthusiastic About CBD Loop Plan

Auckland mayor John Banks is enthusiastic about the suggested route for the CBD rail loop – and ARC chair Mike Lee says the suggestion of running the line under upper Symonds Street is a “stroke of brilliance –and will certainly revitalise this wonderful old part of the city.”
Banks says the loop will unlock “the constraint of Britomart being a dead end station and double its capacity.”

CBD Rail Loop’s Next Stage

The CBD rail loop project now moves into the next step involving concept design work to identify a required footprint and prepare a strong business case to justify the expected $1b –plus required.

Train Fire Report: Fault Unnoticed For A Week

A rail inquiry into a fire on a Wellington train reveals a fault was a week old but never reported because of “weaknesses in the fault reporting system.”

The high current being drawn by a short circuit even caused overhead traction lines to part and fall onto the train, in the incident , which happened at the Mana station in April, 2008.

The rail report, released this morning details what happened.

Hutt Judged NZ Bike Mad City

Upper and Lower Hutt Cities have been named NZ’s most cycle mad cities.

This is the annual ratings, based on how many cyclists took part in the recent Bike Wise Mayoral challenge event.

Council Takeaway Update III: Taking No Chances For Cricket

Good to see the council taking no chances this time with the car exclusion zone aorund Eden Park for tomorrow’s cricket.