Initial inspections show that Canterbury State Highways appear to have held up well after this morning’s major earthquake, but the NZTA is urging people to only travel if it’s essential.

In a surprise move, KiwiRail has decided to give more than the four short-listed companies a chance to build Auckland’s electric trains,including two major Chinese manufacturers.
On Monday the number will be extended to 8.

Confirmation today that NZTA’s proposal for the Waterview Connection Project will go to an independent board of inquiry under the new national consenting process and the board’s members have been named.

Today’s announcement means a decision on the application will be made within nine months of public notification, with appeal rights limited to points of law.

Len Brown says he considers he has a “healthy lead” in the Auckland supermayor race but is “not taking anything for granted.”

NIWA scientists working with Auckland and Canterbury University are researching how dangerous Auckland’s motorway pollution is.

Using a late model Ford Falcon and getting a student to live in an Otahuhu flat near the motorway, they now have data which will be analysed and a report ready by 2012.

NZTA’s closure of the SH1 southbound over the Newmarket Viaduct from 5pm Saturday to 5am on Monday morning is the biggest road closure Auckland’s ever seen.
Here are the details and links for timetables for the free trains and extra ferry sailings.

An exciting PT September ahead – two big openings at Onehunga and New Lynn.
Onehunga’s grand official opening will be on Saturday September 18.
Here are the details:

Auckland City Council’s transport committee was today presented with a proposal for the planned Waterfront heritage tram service to be extended to Three Lamps, Ponsonby Rd, Grey Lynn shops and down to link up with Motat’s Western Springs and zoo service.

The Grey Power lobby group and Labour have today speculated that cuts are on the way for the SuperGold card scheme which gives those over 65 years transport concessions.

As part of the Auckland Governance reform, Auckland is to have a spatial plan and the government this afternoon revealed more of what it has in mind.

The price of petrol fell a total of two cents per litre during August, dropping from $1.76 per litre to $1.74 per litre for 91 octane in the main centres.
But fuel prices are scheduled to rise on October 1.

In the wake of media hysteria about the number of motorists being pinged for entering the bus lanes too early before turning, the Auckland City council transport committee today decided on new measures to be seen as fairly enforcing the rules.

The plan of T2 bus lanes in the Dominion Road plan was deleted today after a lengthy Auckland City Council transport committee discussion.

The outcome was a victory for the pro-active Save Dominion Road group, led by local Dominion Rd businesses, which presented a 6,704-signature petition opposing the council’s earlier plan.

KiwiRail has produced an annual operating profit before depreciation and grant income for the year of $74.4m- an 11% decrease on the previous year.

But chairman John Spencer said today he’s optimistic as rail freight revenue for the second half year of the financial year rose by 11%.

It took an extra day for the the 124-year old historic Freemans Bay Rob Roy tavern to be slowly moved to its new home – 40 metres up the road.