In July, it short-listed four companies, including South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem which is building Wellington’s Matangi trains.

Named as those four were rolling stock manufacturers:

• Hitachi Limited
• Hyundai Rotem
• Bombardier Transportation Australia Pty Limited
• a consortium of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, SA. (CAF) and Mitsubishi Corporation,

But this coming Monday, KiwiRail has decided to make its “Request for Proposal”  documentation available to 8 companies. That was to be the next step in the process but was expected to be for only 4 bids.

Getting the documents as well now will be:

• CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Ltd The Chinese company was founded in 1936. In 1958, ZELC successfully developed and manufactured the first main line electric locomotive in China. In 1978, it switched to electric locomotives. It calls itself the main development and manufacturing base of electric locomotives in China.
• CSR Nanjing Puzhen Ltd. It build this high  speed train in time for China’s Olympics.
• UGL Rail Services Limited – the largest end-to-end rail technology solutions provider/integrator in the Asia Pacific region, and Australia’s largest supplier of outsourced asset management and lifecycle engineering services. Its clients include RailCorp in New South Wales, Yarra Trams in Victoria, MTR Corporation in Hong Kong, Queensland Rail (QR) and Pacific National (PN).
• a consortium of  Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Nippon Sharyo Ltd, China’s LORIC Import & Export Corporation Limited and Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd (which has been producing passenger vehicles for use throughout Australia since the mid-1800s).

KiwiRail CEO Jim Quinn said that “in extending the number to receive the documentation from an initial shortlist of four,  we have reflected on the critical importance of securing the best possible whole of life outcome taking account of quality and cost.”

He says all named were all the companies that did met KiwiRail’s qualifying criteria so instead of narrowing the number to 4, now all those companies will have a chance.

There has been speculation China has been recently chasing infrastructure work in New Zealand, especially after transport minister Steven Joyce and prime minister John Key both visited China recently.

With no change in the timetable, the process is still on track to award the tender by the middle of next year and have the first trains on the ground and operational from 2013.

The companies will have until November to submit their final bids.

The decision on the successful bidder will be made late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of next year.

Work continues around Auckland’s tracks and stations getting them ready for electrification. Pre-electrification drainage work continued at Morningside today.

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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.

The Waterview Connection is the first roading project to use the new national consenting process. The ability to make a direct application to the Environment Protection Authority under the RMA was introduced by Government last year to streamline the decision-making process for such projects.

The inquiry will be chaired by an environment court judge, Judge Laurie Newhook.

Other board members are resource management consultant Ross Dunlop, civil engineer and Franklin District Councillor Susan Jackson, barrister Alan Dormer, and consulting engineer Gerry Te Kapa Coates.

Environment minister Nick Smith called it “the most appropriate way to decide the outcome of this nationally significant roading proposal adding “we want to prevent the sort of debacle that occurred with the Wellington Inner City Bypass where consents took more than 15 years.”

The Waterview project incorporates 54 resource consents. It involves 5 km of new state highway including tunnelling and surface roads to complete Auckland’s Western Ring Motorway and also involves reclamation of tidal saltmarsh and marine space involving the Hauraki Gulf and Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve.

Transport minister Steven Joyce said :”This is a project that’s been debated for decades – I’m pleased that everyone involved will soon have certainty about exactly what’s happening, when and how.”

NZTA chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said the Ministerial decision marked a major milestone for New Zealand’s biggest and most complex roading project to date.

“We completed a significant amount of detailed investigation to ensure a thorough understanding of the effects, impacts and opportunities the project will have regionally and nationally. This is reflected in the large of volume of information presented in the application.”

Mr Dangerfield said the NZTA would be holding information evenings throughout the project area to update the public on the project.

“We want to continue to work closely with the community, local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure they are fully informed about the project as it is described in the application. All of our application information will be made available on our website early next week for anyone who wants to learn more about our designation and resource consent requirements.”

Local Green Party MP David Clendon said.”Pouring billions of dollars into a few kilometres of motorway and destroying a well-established community is the exact opposite of what we should be doing. It will lower property values and attract more cars into the city, condemning Auckland to more congestion and higher transport costs.

“It is ironic the the government is so keen to fast-track a project left over from the 1950s, but dragging their heels on the CBD rail loop.”

Information about how to make a submission can be found at here

In early July, the NZTA began calling for tenders to construct the SH20 section of the Waterview Connection. This followed a decision by the NZTA’s Board to approve funding to complete the Western Ring Route road of national significance project. Completing the route includes constructing the Waterview Connection, widening and raising the SH16 causeway and other capacity improvement works from St Lukes to Westgate.

The Transport Agency lodged its application with the Environmental Protection Authority in August using the new one-step consenting process for projects of national significance. It was reviewed by the EPA to determine and recommend whether it should be referred to a Board of Inquiry, the Environment Court, or to the local authorities for a hearing.

Board of Inquiry members:

Judge Laurie Newhook (chair) was admitted to the bar in 1972 and is experienced in resource management and local government law. He has been an Environment Court Judge since August 2001. As an Environment Court Judge he has presided over many resource management cases, including applications for sand mining, a prison, marine farms, designations, zoning, coastal subdivisions and urban development.

Ross Dunlop has extensive resource management and planning experience in both the public and private sectors in the following work areas: Environment Court hearings; decision-making and writing, Court assisted mediation, resource consents, assessments of environmental effects, feasibility investigations; public consultation, plan and policy statement preparation. Mr Dunlop was appointed as an Environment Court Commissioner in 2003.

Susan Jackson is accredited with a chair endorsement on the Making Good Decisions programme for hearing commissioners. She is a Franklin District Councillor and holds qualifications in civil engineering. Ms Jackson has been a lecturer in civil engineering at Manukau Polytechnic and has worked on numerous projects specialising in foundation drilling in the field of heavy construction.

Alan Dormer is a barrister who practices in public law and policy, environmental and local law and resource management law. Previously of Phillips Fox he is now a barrister in Auckland. Mr Dormer has advised government and the law commission, been retained by more than 30 local authorities since joining the independent bar, is an appointed hearings commissioner for eight local authorities, has taught the “Making Good Decisions” programme for hearing commissioners and has served three terms as President of the Resource Management Law Association.

Gerry Te Kapa Coates is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and has extensive experience in consulting engineering at all levels including expert witness services, strategic planning, sustainability and technical writing. He has experience as a chair and board member and is currently a Director for Ngai Tahu Holdings Ltd and Waihao Holdings Ltd and a Board member for Waihao Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu and Te Ana Whakairo Ltd. Mr Te Kapa Coates has more than 25 years of experience and has worked as an expert witness on 650 investigation cases.

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In fact while the small online poll does show he is polling 9% ahead of John Banks in the race for the Auckland super city mayoralty, the figure the candidates should be looking at is the one that shows 36% of the voters said they are undecided.

Even worse, 9% that bothered to take part in the poll say they won’t vote for any of the 23 official mayoral candidates!

So if that’s the case, the big issue will be apathy and candidate choice dissatisfaction out there . And people will have to be persuaded to post back their real votes (why can’t we have online voting?)

This is  an HorizonPoll survey of 500 super city voters (August 23-26, 2010) which shows Brown has 28% of decided voters, Banks 19%.

Current North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams currently polls just 1%, while Simon Prast and Colin Craig each have 2%. Among those who say they are likely to or will actually vote, Brown’s lead rises to 11%. He polls 34% of the people most likely to vote, Banks 23%.

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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.

The data gathered will be used to evaluate and improve on the air quality models which are currently used in planning major new roads, such as the Waterview Connection.

The NIWA team are also planning follow-up studies with public health researchers to apply the findings across the country to find out how the risk from living near traffic compares to other public health risks, such as damp homes and smoking.

From the Auckland experiments, they are analysing emissions from the motorway, their dispersion downwind, and the penetration of outdoor air into the indoor environment. Emissions from other sources (local roads and domestic woodburning) were monitored upwind of the motorway.

The scientists gathered their outdoor air-quality data by:

• Designing and mounting a mobile air-quality system in a late model Ford Falcon
• Using a quarter-century-old bike with a basket on the front containing measuring equipment
• Positioning sampling tubes on lampposts
• Using 3 air-quality monitoring stations,  strategically positioned within the one square kilometre study area.

NIWA designed and mounted a mobile air-quality system in a late model Ford Falcon.

On one side of the car there was a false window that allowed outside air to be drawn through a tube and into the car. Inside the car were two instruments: an aethomemeter and a particle counter. These instruments measured black carbon and gave a time-series chart of the particles, updated second-by-second, as they entered the instruments.

“We chose a 1 kilometre radius site in Otahuhu. It’s a flat neighbourhood which allows us to concentrate on the effects of dispersion, and it’s a very typical New Zealand layout, with small sections and low density houses – it means that we can apply our results to other locations across New Zealand,” says NIWA air quality scientist, Dr Ian Longley.

Woody Pattinson, a Canterbury University PhD student, became part of this living, breathing reality, experiment as he rented a house in the area and monitored the outdoor and indoor air quality of his surroundings.

One of the aims of this work is to find out how we might reduce the number of people exposed to health-endangering concentrations of air pollution close to motorways. International research shows that the impact of major roads is significant up to one or two hundred metres distance and possibly further.

During the measurement phase, Woody was following a rigorous daily schedule.

He started his day in the house rented for the study by making sure all the instruments are running. Then, using a bike his grandfather gave him, he conducted up to three trips a day around a grid-like area, travelling at different distances from the motorway. This allowed the instruments on his bike to gather data on the levels of pollutants from the motorway. Woody even did a late bike run each night, gathering readings of smoke from wood fires.

Woody’s quarter century old bike had a basket on the front containing his measuring equipment. The cellphone in the basket logged the GPS coordinates to record where he had been, took a photo every three seconds and recorded voice logs of what he saw as he travelled. A dust monitor logged background concentrations of wood smoke, and a condensation-particle counter logged ultra-fine particles representative of fresh vehicle emissions, especially diesels.

The basket also contained a weather-tracking instrument that recorded temperature and humidity, and a carbon monoxide sensor.

While Woody was out on his bike he checked the 30 sampling tubes. These little glass flasks with filters in them were discreetly positioned on lampposts, a couple of meters off the ground, at different distances from the motorway. They gathered information that is being used to analyse the different pollutant levels away from the motorway, specifically nitrogen dioxide. Woody changed the tubes every two weeks.

The house, like a lot of New Zealand houses, was relatively draughty and not well insulated. The indoor instruments measured the same contaminants as the outdoor air-quality monitoring stations.

Most people spend most of their time indoors, especially at night and when there is wood smoke in the area.

“The choice of three-month research period, from April to June 2010, was deliberate,” says Dr Longley. “It’s the start of the wood-burning season in winter. The scientists investigated indoor air quality and the indoor exposure of local residents to car emissions, and to wood smoke. In the early stages of the experiment we were confident that most of the contaminants were due to the motorway and the traffic. As the experiment progressed we could see more and more people lighting fires, so we could contrast the difference that had on air quality.”

There are other ways to get a draught while on the Sthn motorway

The indoor instruments gathered data every minute and at the end of every week this ‘indoor’ data was sent back to the office at NIWA in Auckland. The data could then be compared with data from outside the house.

“We were trying to map air quality, street-by-street, almost metre-by-metre. So second-by-second we can see how air quality varies across our study area. The logging system was designed, created, and built entirely by NIWA staff,” says Dr Longley.

The system is sensitive enough to record the response of individual vehicles.

An Auckland Regional Council study in 2007 showed 400 people die prematurely each year because of health effects related to air pollution, much of which came from diesel.

It said that poor air quality is responsible for more than 750 000 ‘restricted activity days’ every year. Air pollution has the greatest affect on the young and the elderly, and people with heart disease, respiratory disease, asthma and bronchitis. The associated costs for the Auckland Region are estimated to be in excess of NZ$1.3 billion per year.

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Drivers are urgent to travel only if urgent because of the closure between Gillies Ave and St Marks Rd and closure of the CBD southbound onramps at Hobson St; Symonds St and Khyber Pass.

ARTA warns bus passengers to expect delays.

There will be some extra trains, longer carriages and travel on trains will be free from 5pm Saturday and on Sunday.

A revised timetable will operate. Some of the extra Southern Line services operate between Papakura and Newmarket – only. Southern and Eastern Line services will also mainly be operated by 4-car trains with more seats.

Additional services will operate for the rugby at Eden Park on all lines.

There will be extra ferry services.

Weekend train timetables: (Free travel from 5pm Saturday & all day Sunday)

Southern, Eastern line timetable Saturday

Southern, Eastern timetable Sunday

Western Sunday

Ferry timetables here

Newmarket Business Chief, Cameron Brewer, believes people underestimate the ripple effect it’s going to have on traffic across the region.

“If people don’t take heed of NZTA’s advice, we are set to see the biggest traffic jam in the history of New Zealand.

“We remain completely unconvinced that tiny Mortimer Pass in central Newmarket will be able to cope as a motorway diversion on Father’s Day. We think trying to get 20,000 cars down Mortimer Pass will see gridlock right back to the city, with the Northern Motorway potentially grinding to a halt as well.

“Take it from me Mortimer Pass already jams up on a busy weekend, let alone being used as a defacto motorway. It simply won’t cope if people use the motorway in big numbers.

Here  a full list  of the weekend and week’s Auckland motorway closures.

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE (SH1)

• Shelley Beach Road southbound off ramp and southbound lanes one and two on the Auckland Harbour Bridge 6 – 9 September (approx 7.30pm to 5am)

CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (SH1)

• Fanshawe Street northbound on ramp 6 – 8 September (approx 10.30pm to 5am)
• Symonds Street southbound on ramp (continuous from 4pm on 4 September to 5am on 6 September)
• Hobson Street southbound on ramp (continuous from 5pm on 4 September to 5am on 6 September)
• Khyber Pass Road southbound on ramp (continuous from 4pm on 4 September to 5am on 6 September)

SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Gillies Avenue southbound off ramp 8 – 9 September (approx 10pm to 5am)
• Southbound lanes between Gillies Avenue and St Marks Roads/Greenlane on ramps (continuous from 5pm on 4 September to 5am on 6 September)
• Southbound lanes between Gillies Avenue  and St Marks Road on ramp 6 – 7 September (approx 10pm to 5am)
• St Marks Road southbound on ramp 4 September (approx 10pm to 5am)
• St Marks Road southbound on ramp 6 – 7 September
• Southbound lanes between Market Road off ramp and Greenlane on ramp 6 – 9 September (approx 11pm to 5am)
• East Tamaki Road southbound off ramp 6 September
• East Tamaki Road northbound off ramp 8 September
• East Tamaki Road northbound on ramp 8 September
• Manukau southbound on ramp 8 September
• Southbound lanes between Te Irirangi Drive off ramp and Manukau on ramp 7 & 9 September
• Northbound lanes between Takanini off ramp and Manukau on ramp 6 – 9 September
• Takanini northbound on ramp 6 – 9 September
• Hill Road northbound on ramp 6 – 9 September
• Drury/SH22 southbound off ramp 9 September

NORTH WESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

• Wellesley Street westbound on ramp 8 September
• Hobson Street westbound on ramp 6 September
• St Lukes Road westbound off ramp 7 September
• Westbound lanes between Great North Road off and on ramps 6 – 9 September
• Royal Road eastbound on ramp 7 September

SOUTH WESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

• Southbound lanes between Mahunga Drive off ramp and Walmsley Road on ramp 8 – 9 September
• Coronation Road northbound on ramp 8 – 9 September
• Northbound lanes between Coronation Road off ramp and Rimu Road on ramp 8 – 9 September
• Neilson Street northbound off ramp 6 – 9 September
• Neilson Street northbound on ramp 6 – 9 September
• Puhinui Road southbound on ramp 7 – 9 September
• Lambie Drive southbound on ramp 6 – 7 September
• Southbound lanes between Puhinui Road off ramp and Lambie Drive on ramp 8 – 9 September
• Cavendish Drive southbound on ramp 8 – 9 September

NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Oteha Valley Road southbound off ramp 6 September
• Oteha Valley Road northbound on ramp 8 September
• Northbound lanes between Greville Road off ramp and Oteha Valley Road on ramp 7 September
• Greville Road northbound on ramp 7 September

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This steam engine will bring the official party

Attached will be probably 3 Mainline Steam cars, led by a DC locomotive (for trainspotters: probably 444).

Trains testing out the new Onehunga station

The train should reach the new Onehunga train platform at 10.30am for the official party (hopefully prime minister John Key) to bless the re-opening of the line after 38 years  pat themselves on the back for doing a great job for public transport and to unveil the official station plaque.

Onehunga comes alive with trains again

There will be special activities to celebrate from the businesses on Onehunga Mall and hopefully Dress Smart.
There’s talk of an extra treat – maybe 2 free Onehunga to Penrose and return shuttles on the steam train being run for onlookers.

Penrose 3 - the Onehunga platform

The train with the official party returns to the Strand at 1.30pm.
The commuter service proper starts at 7.12am from Onehunga the next morning.
That’s the same day the New Lynn transport hub – seen here -opens for business with its big TV screen in the waiting area beaming in bus departure times.
A week or so later, on September 24, the Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, will officially open the New Lynn hub.

New Lynn's new transport hub now only weeks away

Spring is in the air- thank goodness as I hate winter and wish I had John Key’s bank balance to hibernate to a Hawaii hideaway all winter.
But the sun is starting to shine a bit more, the days getting longer and it’s another exciting start to more great things for public transport in Auckland.
And of course new timetables start on September 19 along with Onehunga’s service and the new timetables – on the positive front- allows some longer trains on the Western Line.

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He said that Motat’s tram experts had told him they see no technical problems.

“It’s the one chance for non-polluting rail in this central part of Auckland and the best thing is  that if we start now, it’ll be ready for the RWC,” he told the committee, seeking its support.

He said that while the ARC had decided to run heritage waterfront trams around a small rectangle on Wynyard Wharf,  the service needed to go where people sought tourist attractions.

“Luckily we have a string of such destinations close to Wynyard, some of them already connected by tram: Victoria Park, Vic Park market, Three Lamps, Ponsonby Rd, Western Park, Grey Lynn Park, Grey Lynn shops, Western Springs stadium and Motat where the existing tram link whisks us to Western Springs Park, the zoo and Motat 2.

Motat's tram is popular

“180,000 people a year use the Motat trams already so how many more would use the expanded version?,” Mr Houtman asked.
At the meeting, council chair Ken Baguley asked Mr Houtman if he wanted only heritage trams or would support a modern light electrified rail type solution. Mr Houtman said he felt that heritage trams kept the costs down and would itself be a tourist attraction.
To a suggestion that the council investigate it further, a council officer told the meeting with that only 40 days left before the council went out of operation, there wasn’t time and resource to start researching the idea.
The committee passed a resolution that it at least supported the proposal for an electric tram service along these lines in principle and recommended the incoming Auckland Transport body gave it consideration.

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This especially follows a Dunedin newspaper report that the Transport Ministry has told the Otago Regional Council it wants to cut the SuperGold Card bus subsidy from 75% of the adult fare to 65%.

A Grey Power spokesperson says it believes the government is proposing a 10% cut to their subsidy of this scheme,” assumedly because the scheme is being so well utilised.

“Surely this tells Government that there is a very real need for the scheme since it is so successful. On the other hand, it is reported that Dunedin bus operators are saying that collectively they could face a six-figure loss if they have to cover the extra 10%.

“One operator said that they might have to charge travellers a top-up of possibly 20% to meet the shortfall while another is suggesting that they may consider leaving the scheme entirely. If Dunedin bus companies foresee that a 10% reduction in the subsidy could produce a six-figure loss, then Grey Power wonders what they are making from this scheme currently.”

She said that her group didn’t believe it’s rocket science to continue with a successful scheme that has off-peak buses running with passengers rather than empty.

Labour transport spokesperson Darren Hughes, said that six months after the prime minister promised that the scheme would not be cut back, the transport ministry “no doubt acting on (transport minister) Mr Joyce’s instructions, is trying to back the Otago Regional Council into a corner where it is forced to try to screw more funding from bus companies.

“Otago Regional Council is not making this up. Nor is the newspaper making it up. Nor is the ministry making it up. Grey Power knows that, and that’s why it smells treachery.”

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“We are also looking at how to ensure the agreed spatial plan is delivered through lower level plans and decision making. This will be critical to delivering results on the ground.

“For too long have high level plans for the development of Auckland been devised, only to then flounder at the implementation stage. We need one affordable strategy to be developed, agreed and delivered.”

He told the conference that work was already progressing in preparation for the first Auckland spatial plan. On the establishment of the Auckland supercouncil, local government will work closely with central Government and other stakeholders to get the plan in place.

In addition to the spatial plan, a National Policy Statement covering the urban environment could also set out those principles needed for a well functioning and well designed city.

“These are complex issues requiring careful consideration and expert input. The government’s Technical Advisory Groups groups have brought to bear their experience in providing me with considered advice on these issues. They have worked hard to develop a set of proposals and I am currently considering their findings.

“Next month I plan to release their reports, accompanied by a discussion document for public consultation. I expect this to form the starting point for a conversation on the range of options to improve our urban and infrastructure planning system.”

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It initially rose two cents in early August to $1.78, before falling four cents during the month.

“The price reduction follows a 15 percent fall in crude oil costs since early August, with a barrel of oil dropping from around US$83 to US$71 although it has since begun climbing again, says AA PetrolWatch spokesperson Mark Stockdale.

He said that while this may seem to some to be quite a big reduction, the cost of refined fuel only fell about 10 percent, and the savings for motorists have been further offset by a 3 cent loss in the value of the kiwi dollar during the same period. When commodity prices rose 6 percent in early August, this only equated to an extra 2 cents at the pump because the exchange rate also climbed several cents.

The price of diesel remains unchanged since early July on $1.19 per litre, despite increases in imported costs during July and subsequent reductions in August.

“Lately diesel pump prices seem to have been immune to small fluctuations in import costs and the exchange rate. For some of the time that means the margin between import costs and retail prices has been above average and motorists haven’t been able to benefit from lower diesel prices,” Mr Stockdale says.

AA PetrolWatch advises that fuel prices are scheduled to rise on October 1. Excise on petrol will be rising 3 cents per litre, and the GST increase will add about 4 cents more to the price of petrol, and 3 cents to diesel.

Based on today’s prices, that means a litre of 91 octane will rise to $1.81, and diesel will cost about $1.22 a litre.

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A sign indicating the 50 metre limit before vehicles can enter lanes to turn was considered impractical, confusing and costly – and research showed it didn’t change vehicle behaviour.

In the wake of media hysteria about the number of motorists being pinged for entering the bus lanes too early before turning, today’s committee meeting sought to introduce initiatives that show it’s taking a “fair and reasonable approach” to enforcement.

Committee chair Ken Baguley said it wasn’t the council that had imposed the $150 figure for a fine for bus lane infringements and the council would lobby the government to reduce the fine to a “more appropriate level.”

A council officer reported to the committee that month – long research had been carried out by a research company and concluded:

• One week when there was no compliance saw one in 6 cars using a bus lane
• The mere presence of a person with a camera caused infringement to drop
• The best option was when there was both a camera and a sign saying a camera was operating
• It wasn’t about ignorance of the law but a willingness by people to actually comply with it
• Putting up 50 metre signs had no significant difference
• Some motorists seeing someone monitoring the lanes shouted abuse
• There was a herd mentality: when motorists saw one person sneak into a lane, they and others followed

Today’s meeting approved:

Clearer markings

• Extending the bus lane marking right up to, and through the intersection where possible, to avoid instances where bus lanes stop and start (the source of some confusion for motorists)
• Lobbying the NZTA to look at whether there should be a national standard for an affordable form of on-road marking that would more clearly identify the bus lane and that might indicate an appropriate point from which to start making left turn

Increased warnings

• Encouraging correct use of bus lanes where there is high levels of non-compliance, a sign indicating that a bus lane camera is in operation will be placed for a temporary period

Camera positioning

• Where locations allow, cameras located in such a way that it is possible to view not only the bus lane, but whether a left hand turn was taken be an infringing motorist
• At locations, where in order to comply with the bus lane, the road layout clearly encourages unsafe driving, enforcement will not be carried out

Applying greater tolerance

• Only issuing tickets where a motorist has used a bus lane well in excess of 50m
• Waving tickets where there has been a genuine attempt to enter the all-user lane or the motorist was clearly avoiding cutting in on a bus by entering the lane more than 50 meters from a corner

In another resolution, the council committee approved in principle for existing 24-hour bus lanes in Fanshawe St, Symonds St, Anzac Ave and park Rd to instead operate as 12 hours bus lanes between 7am and 7pm, and operate as clearways outside these times. The council will seek ARTA support for the changes.

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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, just weeks out from the local body election, making councillors nervous about the strength of the local opposition. Representatives of that group crowded the 15th floor council committee room for the meeting, with some having to stand outside.

Surprisingly, the 1500 submissions also received by the council about the plan have yet to be read or at least analysed before today’s meeting, meaning they did not influence today’s decision. 500 phone surveys were also conducted. That analysis will eventually be handed to the new Auckland Transport body which will make the final call.

The council committee resolution eventually passed after a lengthy debate, recommends more consultation with the local community and passes its recommendations on to Auckland Transport as the Auckland council goes out of business in a month’s time.

But it backs down from its plan of just weeks ago – completely dumping talk of T2 – and instead gives as the committee’s thinking for Dominion Rd between View Rd to Denbigh Ave:

• Peak hour bus lanes for Dominion Rd with cyclists continuing to share the lane. That’s 630am to 9.30am and 3.30pm to 630pm weekdays but offering further consultation on the hours
• Consideration to taxis using the bus lanes
• Parking to be allowed at other times
• A review of right turn restrictions with the desire to seek a reduction in the number
• More consultation and investigation of cycle lanes including whether some alternative route such as through some back streets or using Sandringham Rd might be an answer
• A “one level” road surface allow for future-proofed flexibility around lane markings

Dominion Rd

Some councillors sought to make the recommendations firm council policy rather than what Cr Aaron Bhatnagar termed “the pathway we want to go.”
Cr Mark Donnelly, not a voting member of the committee, sought such a resolution that, among other things, stated definitely that the existing bus lane will remain as it is and not become a T2 lane. He called the earlier resolution a “weasel” option.

But his resolution was lost with other councillors saying T2 had already been dropped out of the plan during the meeting and as for other issues, further consultation was needed with the community on the use of taxis in bus lanes and the best way to cater for cyclists.
Among those who addressed the committee before it voted were representatives of both NZ Bus’s Metrolink service and the association that represents bus and coach operators, both groups strongly opposing T2.
Jon Calder from Metrolink said NZ Bus had invested heavily in Dominion Rd, now offering services at peak time of just under 2 minutes and off peak 5 minutes, making it the most heavily serviced corridor in Australasia.
He said there were 2100 bus passengers using Dominion Rd weekday mornings and an average 8600 each weekday.
He said Metrolink opposed the T2 plan which would be a retrograde step for encouraging public transport. It supported separate cycling lanes and wanted removal of parking 6 days a week from 7am to 7pm.
Barbara Cuthbert, representing Cycle Action Auckland, congratulated the transport committee chair Ken Baguley on the way he had handed the emotional debate about cycling along Tamaki Drive and urged the same measured approach to resolving the issue rather than rushing into urgent action.
She said cyclists were vulnerable in bus lanes as they were like ‘a mouse travelling with elephants.’
Cr Graeme Easte pushed for investigation of whether cycle lanes could run essentially parallel to Dominion Rd, largely using existing streets roughly midway between Dominion and Mt Eden Rds. He had drawn a rough map suggesting this could be done but acknowledged this would require council acquisition of some properties.
The chair, Ken Baguley, considered talk of property acquisition at this time only added to uncertainty for local residents but agreed more investigation could be made by Auckland Transport of how best to accommodate cyclists.

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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%, largely offsetting a 12% reduction during the first half year.

“Our result reflects the difficult trading conditions during much of the year,” said Mr Spencer. “The first half year was sluggish but an export led recovery in the later months of the year, driven by higher forestry and dairy volumes, lifted revenues to within budgeted expectations.

“While the market continues to be challenging, the board is encouraged by the way major customers have responded to the good work KiwiRail staff have done to improve levels of customer service.”

Mr Spencer said that while this is an 11% decrease on the previous year, comparisons were difficult because the former Toll and United Group businesses purchased in 2008 were only included in part of that year’s reporting period. In addition to this the previous year included transactions relating to the acquisition of these businesses.

For that reason, the comparison with targets set for the year in KiwiRail’s Statement of Corporate Intent were more valid. This showed revenue just 1.3 percent below target but EBITDA 26.1 percent up on the SCI target of $59.0m.

“When we look at KiwiRail’s results we focus on freight carried on rail and Interislander ferries because these generate almost 75% of KiwiRail’s revenue,” said Mr Spencer.

“The biggest contributor to freight revenue is import-export (IMEX) goods. It is encouraging that IMEX revenue rose almost 8 percent during the year and volumes carried increased by more than 4 percent.

“We can expect further improvement once the measures we are introducing as part of the turnaround plan begin to make an impact on our freight business.”

Mr Spencer said Interislander business had been a mirror image of the previous year, but the long distance passenger business had produced a pleasing 10% increase in both passenger numbers and revenue.

As reported here yesterday, Overlander has been a success story.

“Our long-distance passenger services are earning an international reputation,” he said. “As we modernise our passenger fleet, we should be able to build substantially on this platform.

“While we can take satisfaction from the performance of our long-distance trains, we recognise we have work to do to improve service levels on the Wellington Metro levels. It’s been a difficult year for Metro as it has worked through the challenges of maintaining services while the network is being upgraded.”

Mr Spencer said highlights of the year included the Government’s agreement to invest $250 million in KiwiRail in the current year with further investment agreed in principle, agreement with Fonterra to move greater volumes of dairy produce by rail and the commitment to buying 20 new diesel electric locomotives.

“Our work on the Auckland and Wellington urban rail projects represents the biggest upgrades since the networks were first established. We were also mandated by the Government to manage the purchase to a budget of $500 million of Auckland’s new electric trains,” he said.

The net profit after tax figure of $185.5 million is approximately 46% below the SCI target of $348.3m. The majority of this difference ($132.0m) resulted from the timing of capital work on the Metro projects in Wellington and Auckland with a further $34m arising from tax changes in depreciation on buildings and differences from the underlying foreign exchange assumptions from the SCI.

“We expect market conditions to continue to be challenging into the new financial year. We are committed to improving service standards for our customers and from this platform we will continue to drive revenue and volume opportunities.”

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The NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland, Tommy Parker, says clearing the brick and mortar building from its original foundations today made a considerable difference to the speed of the move.
Yesterday only 19 metres was achieved in an operation they had hoped might take only 6 hours.

Mr Parker said once the hotel was crossing ground that was stronger and more stable, this enabled the team to extend the reach of the hydraulic rams pushing the hotel each time the building is moved.

The Rob Roy was being pushed by the rams along a series of concrete runways covered with Teflon to make it slide easier.

It was being moved so that the NZTA and its partners in the Victoria Park Tunnel Alliance can start work on the southern portal of the motorway tunnel. When that work is completed in six months, the hotel will be pushed back to its original site, which will be above the tunnel portal.

Videos of yesterday’s work are here and Photos here

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Some lanes of SH16 heading to the Southern, Northwestern and Northern motorways will be closed from 7.30pm until 5am to repair a damaged stormwater drain near the Newton Bridge.

To carry out this work the following motorway links and ramps will be closed:

• SH16 westbound from Stanley Street to Newton Road (including link to SH1 north)
• Wellesley Street eastbound on-ramp
• SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link

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But construction is some way off – it starts the first quarter of 2014.
The redevelopment will include reclamation which will be transformed into parkland and beaches where people can swim, walkways and cycleways, a new carpark, toilets and BBQs, and a sheltered boat ramp where people can launch small boats into a protected harbour. The area will be landscaped and planted with coastal plants.

People will be able to access the area from the Onehunga Lagoon Reserve side via a low pedestrian and cycle bridge over State Highway 20.

Auckland City Council is contributing $10 million and the NZTA are contributing $18 million to the $28 million total foreshore redevelopment project.

The council will issue a request for tender in September to shortlisted companies to plan and complete the development.

The council will continue to work with the society, NZTA and the Maungakiekie Community Board to refine the designs.

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NZTA’s Tommy Parker, says clearing the brick and mortar building from its original foundations has made a considerable difference to the speed of the move.
“The hotel is now crossing ground that is stronger and more stable and this has enabled the team to extend the reach of the hydraulic rams pushing the hotel each time the building is moved,” says Mr Parker.
Hydraulic rams gently push the hotel along four concrete runways which are covered with Teflon to allow the building to slide more easily. The rams can stretch out for a maximum of 1.8 metres, but movements have been shorter so that the team of experts responsible for the move can continually monitor the runways and the hotel for stability and stress.

The move will mean that work can start on the southern portal of the Victoria Park Tunnel.
The NZTA is confident the move will be completed today, but Mr Parker repeated that time is not the issue and the priority remains to get the hotel to its destination safely.

When construction is completed in about six months, the building will be moved again on the runways back to its original site, which will be above the portal.

Built as the Rob Roy Tavern in 1886, it was originally situated on the waterfront, prior to the reclamation of Freemans Bay.

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It’s the latest example of an Aucklander teenager doing excessive speeds on the motorway.

Worse, this guy, when eventually stopped and breath checked, recorded an EBA reading of 462 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. This is three times over the limit of 150 mg/l.

He’s insisting on a blood test to determine if there is to be a future court appearance.

And not surprisingly, once again the driver was on a  restricted licence.

In fact, when police looked inside the car they found six other occupants  for which the offending driver held a restricted licence only.

Police say that the driver insisted he had learned a lesson from this one experience.

But when they did a check on their database, they found he was known for speed and alcohol use and had previous convictions for both.

Police are appalled and don’t buy his “sorry, sir let me go” plea.

They say this is an example of a young male driver who has no respect for the law. This individual has put the lives of his passengers and other road users at great risk as a result of his attitude to dangerous driving, speeding, excessive drink driving, restricted licences, and passenger overloading.

The car was eventually stopped at the Shelly Beach off ramp.

Yesterday, AA Insurance revealed the car he was driving, the Nissan Silvia, is the country’s most frequently stolen car.

Only a few weeks ago, officers of an Auckland Motorway Patrol Unit were left speechless when a BMW car passed by their stationary position on the Northern Motorway at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour.

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