National Road Carriers want to see more new thinking to gain some quick wins in the battle against Auckland’s traffic congestion.
Chief executive officer David Aitken says while there are some positive long-term solutions in planning for Auckland’s traffic and transport problems, short-term solutions need to happen now.
“However, we need to see primary arterial freight routes throughout Auckland de-congested now, for the benefit of all road users,” says Aitken.
“We want to see some quick wins for everybody, but it will need some new ideas.”
The benefits of Decongestion Report released two months ago showed congestion on Auckland’s roads cost the economy between $1.2 and $2 billion a year in lost productivity.
Major infrastructure projects like the East-West link between Sylvia Park and Onehunga were still required according to Aitken, as well as improvements in public transport and park and ride facilities to get single-occupant vehicles off the roads.
“Using existing roads better is the key to a quick fix and a solution for all road users,” says Aitken. “Everybody wins.”
The organisation’s focus is on main arterial roads between industrial and commercial areas throughout the city and those roads which service the waterfront port, the inland ports, including the Te Papapa Metroport and container parks.
Aitken has already raised the prospect of no parking on these routes and trucks having access to bus lanes. He says dedicated freight lanes on key routes could also be part of the mix.
“Now, there are only freight and T2 lanes on several of the motorway on-ramps. And at times they get jammed up with single occupant vehicles.”
Aitken says there had been suggestions trucks want better access along Dominion Rd.
“That’s not correct. It’s not a major freight route,” he says.
The main arterial routes in need of decongestion include Great South Rd, Onewa Road, Ti Rakau Drive, Puhinui Rd, Saleyards Road, Church St Te Papapa, the eastern end of Remuera Road to Greenlane Rd East and St Johns Rd.
“Road freight transport is the lifeblood of the city,” says Aitken.
“Every factory, distribution centre, building site, supermarket, and shopping mall relies on trucks to deliver what they need.”
Decongesting roads do work, even when traffic volumes increase.
Recently Nielsen St in Onehunga had no parking and clearway zones extended, and at the Onehunga end there was a bridge removed.
Traffic is now flowing 15% faster over the 2.2 km, despite the traffic volume increasing 8.5 percent between August 2016 and March 2017.
“Freeing up traffic flow doesn’t just benefit our members, but all vehicles using the same road,” says Aitken.
