Quick Wins for Auckland Transport

[jarbury]

Now that we have the Super City in place and operative, and have a pretty public transport friendly council in place, it would be useful to think about what might be some good "quick wins" for the Council and for Auckland Transport to improve public transport in Auckland over the next three years. I'm quite keen to collect a bunch of good ideas and pass it on to the powers to be as ideas to implement - and while I have a few of my own I'm keen to hear what ideas others might have.

For a definition of "quick win", it should be something that will be completed and operational by 2013. It should also be something relatively cheap and easy to implement. Signalising the intersection between Owairaka Ave, Euston Road and Mt Albert Road to reduce delays for buses would be a good example of a quick-win, building the Howick/Botany Line would not.

What do people suggest? I am particularly interested in bus-based quick wins as I think they have the most chance of being operational by 2013. What routes could be improved? Where do we most need bus lanes? Where desperately needs a new bus stop or a real time information sign?

[Chris Randal.]

Now that we have the Super City in place and operative, and have a pretty public transport friendly council in place, it would be useful to think about what might be some good "quick wins" for the Council and for Auckland Transport to improve public transport in Auckland over the next three years. I'm quite keen to collect a bunch of good ideas and pass it on to the powers to be as ideas to implement - and while I have a few of my own I'm keen to hear what ideas others might have.

For a definition of "quick win", it should be something that will be completed and operational by 2013. It should also be something relatively cheap and easy to implement. Signalising the intersection between Owairaka Ave, Euston Road and Mt Albert Road to reduce delays for buses would be a good example of a quick-win, building the Howick/Botany Line would not.

What do people suggest? I am particularly interested in bus-based quick wins as I think they have the most chance of being operational by 2013. What routes could be improved? Where do we most need bus lanes? Where desperately needs a new bus stop or a real time information sign?

Rethink train schedules to make them more realistic?

[jarbury]

Rethink train schedules to make them more realistic?

You mean slow the timetables down even more? On-time statistics have been pretty good lately, I would have thought we would want to quicken the train timetables up a bit to make people's trips a bit quicker if anything.

[kaiwhara]

Jarbs I can tell you now that speeding the timetable up will only exacerbate the problems we have with it now!

Rethink train schedules to make them more realistic?

You mean slow the timetables down even more? On-time statistics have been pretty good lately, I would have thought we would want to quicken the train timetables up a bit to make people's trips a bit quicker if anything.

[jarbury]

Jarbs I can tell you now that speeding the timetable up will only exacerbate the problems we have with it now!

Any suggestions for how things could be improved? Minor infrastructure improvements? Four aspect signalling? Grade separating Quay Park Junction (though that's pushing the limits of a "quick win"). Finishing off the Newmarket junction by building the link KiwiRail missed out.

[Matt L]

Better communication on trains. I get quite annoyed when TM's try to make an announcement and don't think about what they want to say first, the message is often so random you can't actually work out what is being said and can be incorrect anyway. This isn't helped by the fact that the TM normally doesn't know themselves what is going on.

I know it is happening anyway but ensure that PIDs are rolled out to train stations. Also perhaps include the current time on the on board PIDs.

Smarter use of the platforms at Britomart, I would like to see all trains for one region using the same platforms to make it easier for passengers e.g. all eastern line trains use 1 or 2, all western line trains use platform 4 or 5 etc. It means that if you are running late you can just run to your platform without having to stop and think to much. Also perhaps re arrange the station PIDs at the ground and concourse levels to reflect this and once again make it easier for customers.

Have pilots to reduce the end change at Newmarket (it seems much worse with the 6 car sets)

Perhaps try to get school kids to use only one carriage on a train (I'm sounding like an old grumpy man with this one aren't I)

Have a free day a year to encourage more people to try using PT

Be more open, I like the idea you posted on your blog a while ago about what one of the Canadian cities do, effectively have a blog type of website highlighting different things that are happening that the public can comment on and discuss as well as post issues on

[eurokiwi78]

Extend the bus lane hours on the BLine routes and other busy routes such as Great South Rd to the Harp of Erin.

And perhaps buslanes from Royal Oak to Onehunga as there are quite a few buses plying that route too.

[Matt L]

Jarbs I can tell you now that speeding the timetable up will only exacerbate the problems we have with it now!

Any suggestions for how things could be improved? Minor infrastructure improvements? Four aspect signalling? Grade separating Quay Park Junction (though that's pushing the limits of a "quick win"). Finishing off the Newmarket junction by building the link KiwiRail missed out.

As electrification is finished in a section, put a cycleway alongside the tracks (separated by a fence of course) doesn't have to completely grade separated at roads or stations

[Chris Randal.]

Rethink train schedules to make them more realistic?

You mean slow the timetables down even more? On-time statistics have been pretty good lately, I would have thought we would want to quicken the train timetables up a bit to make people's trips a bit quicker if anything.

No that is NOT what I meant!

[Feijoa]

A few quick-win suggestions:
1. Increase the frequency of the pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Queen Street. There are always loads of pedestrians at that intersection, and it can be frustrating waiting a long time if your train is about to leave Britomart. If they made more of the crossings work like the Victoria St and Wellesley St intersections on Queen Street it would be a easy way to significantly reduce the travel time for 1000s of commuters
2. Improve city bike lanes to a reasonable standard. Apart from a short stretch heading out of Mission Bay to the city, the rest of the lanes on Tamaki Drive are not fit for purpose. Simple things like creating ramps on and off the lane ahead of intersections, fixing the surface, removing posts from the middle of the lanes, etc. would make a huge difference. Someone from Auckland Transport should be sent and made to ride along all of the existing routes to see the problems!
3. I remember Andrew mentioned a few months ago that buses on the B-Line were overcrowded to the point people couldn't get on from Symonds Street. They need a system of monitoring capacity and responding quickly
4. Improve bus stop signage to clearly show routes and connections (like in London) as mentioned on another thread
5. We should enforce and fine smoky vehicles -- pollution in Auckland from car fumes is much worse than many cities!!
6. Teach the guards on trains to open the doors more promptly when approaching stations

I'm sure I can think of more, but this would be a start. It's a good idea of yours, Jarbury.

[john-ston]

Here are a couple I could immediately think of:

Otahuhu Interchange - why not shift the bus interchange on Great South Road across to Otahuhu Station? I understand that might cause problems with the Great South Road buses, but there shouldn't be too many losers and it would make it easier for people to use buses to get to Otahuhu Station (a lot of routes already terminate at Otahuhu Interchange)

Timetabling - align the bus and train timetables a bit more, and dependent on operational needs, try to have the trains pass each other at crucial stations such as New Lynn. Obviously this would make feeder bus operations a lot easier

Frequencies - that is always a way we can win - improve them and see patronage rise

Rethink train schedules to make them more realistic?

Agreed; half the problem is that the train timetables are the exact same throughout the day and week - obviously, a morning peak train will take a little longer to get into the City than one leaving Papakura at 10 in the evening. Similarly, a train with Blue Rattlers will be more likely to run late than an SA train,

[Chris Randal.]

Rethink train schedules to make them more realistic?

Agreed; half the problem is that the train timetables are the exact same throughout the day and week - obviously, a morning peak train will take a little longer to get into the City than one leaving Papakura at 10 in the evening. Similarly, a train with Blue Rattlers will be more likely to run late than an SA train,

I don't think that you can make the timetables stock specific, but Jodi highlights a major problem - it might take 4 minutes in the peak from Homai to Puhinui, but only 3 off peak.

People have been complaining that West trains are running early - that is the sort of thing I mean.

Being deliberately disingenuous isn't helpful!

[Matt L]

6. Teach the guards on trains to open the doors more promptly when approaching stations

Yes this is a must.

Timetabling - align the bus and train timetables a bit more, and dependent on operational needs, try to have the trains pass each other at crucial stations such as New Lynn. Obviously this would make feeder bus operations a lot easier

Agreed, also have weekday peak and weekend timetables aligned with only extra services added for peak runs, I would like to see a 10 min peak and 20 min off peak schedule as that makes it easy to just slot extra trains in when needed.

Another thing from me, trial pedestrianisation of Queen St, New York style. Just close off sections with big planters, perhaps only on weekends to begin with but extending to weekdays as well in the future. The initial sections I would like to see are, Customs St to Shortland St, Wyndham St to Victoria St and Victoria St to Wellesley St. Also pedestrianise Quay St from the Hobson St to Britomart place.

Get trucks from the port out of the CBD with heavy penalties for infringements. Trucks for things like construction and deliveries will be able to get a permit.

[kaiwhara]

I personally would prefer that the guards don't open any of the doors while approaching stations...

A few quick-win suggestions:

6. Teach the guards on trains to open the doors more promptly when approaching stations

[Scott]

1. Increase the frequency of the pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Queen Street. There are always loads of pedestrians at that intersection, and it can be frustrating waiting a long time if your train is about to leave Britomart. If they made more of the crossings work like the Victoria St and Wellesley St intersections on Queen Street it would be a easy way to significantly reduce the travel time for 1000s of commuters

I second this one. This intersection timing is far too long for the number of pedestrians that cross it. The footpaths get clogged with people waiting.

I would add:

- Improve Newmarket station square (maybe not so quick - a lot of work needs to be done.) Some of it could be done fast i.e. nicer signage. this would also promote New market station.

- Add some rain shelter (as long as it is visually appealing) to the traffic island at the corner of broadway and remurea road. It sucks waiting for the pedestrian light if it rains.

- Get Real Time PID's working on the rail network

-Introduce a Britiomart "station"/fare paid area for the NEX to speed up boarding

-Introduce a $1 or $2 a day fee for the NEX park and rides to get people use to the idea that park and ride isn't going to always be free.

-Introduce some kind of incentive for TM's who have the best on time stats (without getting complaints).

-Some kind of emissions standards for buses entering the CBD. Some buses are really smokey. This makes PT look bad.

- Plan a oil price spike action plan, for how they will handle a massive Increase in both demand and costs if (/when?) oil spikes to $200+ a barrel in the near future

- Common stop for buses heading out of the city certain ways (make it easy to transfer from a ferry or eastern train to a bus to Grafton for the hospital)

- Kiosks in Britomart running the same journey planner that is on the Maxx website. (perhaps other staffed rail stations too)

- More weekend capacity on the western line.

[edit] Spelling errors

[Kalelovil]

- Expand the Waitakere station Park-and-Ride

- Rename Fruitvale Rd station to Kelston station

[jarbury]

- Rename Fruitvale Rd station to Kelston station

That's quite a good idea actually. Would be more useful in letting people know where in Auckland the station is.


In general, some great ideas coming through. Keep them coming and I'll collect up the ideas, perhaps with some comments, in a few days' time. It would be particularly useful if we can work out a good "argument" for each of the improvements.

I envisage taking a list to Auckland Transport and/or Auckland Council, with the list having the project and then a paragraph or two saying why this is a good idea.

[Dion]

I'd like to see a pedestrian bridge over the rail line between Middlemore and Papatoetoe stations built...each side of the rail line is currently cut off from the other (meaning for example that if somebody wants to go from say the vicinity of Station Rd to the vicinity of Swaffield Rd they have to go via the pedestrian crossing at Papatoetoe Station or more likely the bridge at St George since the trip is so long you're more likely to do it by car). By having a link between the two sides it would be much easier to walk/cycle in the area and people would also be able to access the bus stops on the other side.

Now you could either link Portage Rd/Gordon Park with Swaffield Park and/or Spring Street with Woolfield Rd. Both options have advantages and disadvantages though.

I'm sure there are other places in Auckland that could do with a few extra pedestrian bridges too (be it over Rail or Motorway)

[eurokiwi78]

Pedestrian/Cycle Facilities over the Southern Motorway at Ellerslie Panmure Highway too...

Its a long way between the Penrose Rd and Ellerslie tunnel pedestrian facilities to cross the Motorway.

[dpalenski]

Free Peak time travel for school children with a thales card meaning I want this when we get integrated ticketing. It has benefit of getting smart cards in the hands of many people who'll become used to how easy the system is and see public transport as a good and "normal" option. It shouldn't cost to much it's not 24/7 365 just peak time and during term time when the congestion caused by them occurs and course in places where school PT isn't all that great I would improve that too.Len Brown is for the latter but just needs to be won round to the former and I hope to get JJ to support it too but that's as likely as getting him to stay in the same room when 8 Foot Sativa is playing.