Simeon Brown wants Auckland’s transport ‘back to basics’

Speaking in Auckland on Friday afternoon, Minister of Transport Simeon Brown said a new government policy statement of transport is in the works which will refocus expenditure on the “basics”.

Appearing in his capacity as Minister for Auckland in front of local business leaders’ coalition Committee for Auckland, Brown ran down his promises for the city, which include prioritising the cost of living and law and order issues.

But right after the tough on crime plans and promises of slightly less pain at the pump with the axed regional fuel tax, he pledged to bring a fresh approach to how the country’s biggest city deals with its transport challenges.

Brown said he is writing a draft policy statement as part of the National-led Government’s 100-day plan, which he called a “blueprint for refocusing the New Zealand Transport Agency, and by extension Auckland Transport, on the basics”.

Those basics are building and maintaining the roads, making public transport safe and reliable, and efficient use of taxpayers’ money.

“We are moving away from the previous government’s untargeted approach to a targeted strategy that addresses the core needs of our transport network,” he said. 

“Our directive to the transport agencies will be clear: we are prioritising projects that deliver real value to commuters and businesses alike, ensuring that our cities and regions are well-connected and that our economy thrives.”

But as much was revealed by what wasn’t said – the reduction of carbon emissions was not mentioned.

Speaking on his desires for the city’s transport network, Brown gave a few hints as to what his future may hold.

Light rail has already been axed, with a promise to focus on other transport links like Mill Road and State Highway 16 in its stead.

Brown said a rapid busway along State Highway 16 could be a priority, following in the mold of the much-lauded Northern Busway. 

“Priority projects we have identified include Mill Road, East West Link, a Northwestern Rapid Transit network and setting a vision for a four-lane connection between Whangārei and Tauranga to unlock economic growth in the upper North Island.”

He also spoke of the need for a new harbour crossing, but said he would remove the cyclist and pedestrian lanes and light rail options to the North Shore that had been previously considered.

But how these projects will be funded remains uncertain, especially in the wake of the regional fuel tax getting the chop.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown warned that without the fuel tax, Auckland could face a transport funding deficit of $1.2 billion during the next four years.

Simeon Brown, however, told the committee it was time to explore previously untouched funding models.

“We need to be open to alternative ways of funding and financing infrastructure,” he said, mentioning public-private partnerships, value capture, road tolls and time-of-use charging as possible choices.

Recently appointed Auckland Transport chair Richard Leggat was there to make a plea to Brown to keep his agency in the loop on the big decisions.

“I am hoping, and it is a plea and I think a justifiable one, that we have the expertise that justifies MOT, Waka Kotahi, the Government itself, coming to Auckland Transport and including us in all the discussions and getting our involvement, our expertise and our understanding, so that we can develop an integrated transport network,” he said.

Brown said while Auckland Transport did the operational work, the political relationship would be between the Government and the transport agency’s owner: Auckland Council.

“At the end of the day, in terms of how it’s signed off, we want to have a really close working relationship with the mayor and council to make sure we get that agreement across,” he said.

Leggat said the previous government had shown a desire to centralise decisions to Wellington, and it’s clear he wants to make sure his agency gets to make the calls for Auckland.

It’s a similar stance Wayne Brown has held during his tenure as mayor – advocating that the city should be able to look after itself.

So it ruffled his feathers when confirmation came this week that the regional fuel tax – a healthy revenue stream for the council group – is now in its last months.

“While I acknowledge that the National Party campaigned to repeal the regional fuel tax, and they are making good on their election promise, this decision will have unintended consequences unless the Government is prepared to foot the bill for upcoming transport projects,” he said.

The mayor said he was determined to keep rates under control, and had already proposed saving around $220m by cutting work on cycleways and raised pedestrian crossings.

“But this is a problem that can’t be solved just by making cuts,” he said. “Every Aucklander agrees that our transport system is a mess and it’s going to cost a lot of money to fix. That money must come from somewhere. Unfortunately, the Government has just made it a lot harder for us.”

Simeon Brown was also quizzed by a representative from the kindergarten association on whether stopping speed limit reductions and cancelling speed bumps made a safer city for young people.

Brown had just announced ensuring a “safe network” as a key purpose of the forthcoming policy statement.

“Getting rid of speed bumps and not funding speed bumps, how do you see that as enhancing accessibility and safety?” the woman asked.

Brown said a balance between safety and efficiency needed to be struck.

“The reality is we need to have a balanced approach around safety and efficiency,” he said. “And when Auckland Transport goes… and proposes to put a raised speed bump crossing on Pakuranga Road in my electorate which is six lanes wide and has 45,000 traffic movements, that’s lowering the efficiency of our roading network.”