Taking steps such as no parking zones for 24/7 on all Auckland’s main arterial routes need to be taken now to reduce the congestion clogging up the city’s roads.
That is one of the short-term solutions proposed by National Road Carriers (NRC), one of the five organisations that commissioned a report by the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research on the need for decongestion of Auckland’s roads.
“We need to make better use of the existing roads right now,” says NRC chief executive David Aitken.
The NZIER report says there is a need for more encouragement of the use of public transport, traffic management options, better use of technology and the continued upgrading of motorways and arterial roads.
“Those things have to happen and the sooner, the better even though they take time, but there are some things we can do right now,” says Aitken.
He said recent improvements to Nielsen St in Onehunga were an excellent example of achieving this.
“When disposing of the bridge at the Onehunga end, no parking was also introduced to the rest of the street. The traffic now flows much better with two lanes in both directions instead of only one lane because of parked vehicles,”
While some primary routes have “clearway” restrictions for traditional rush hour periods that was no longer sufficient, says Aitken.
“The NZIER report shows congestion is occurring throughout the day and it’s expected to get worse,” he says.
“Those clearway zones need to be permanent no parking zones 24/7 to free up another lane for free-flowing traffic, doubling what are effectively one lane roads in each direction to two lanes would enhance traffic flow,” says Aitken.
He says congestion has increased considerably in the last three to five years.
“Our members are making fewer trips over fixed routes and taking longer to do it, delivering fewer goods for a 30% productivity loss. Getting parked vehicles off major roads with high traffic volumes is a priority,” says Aitken.
“They restrict traffic flow and not just the trucks delivering goods and services, but all vehicles – emergency services, buses and general traffic,” he says.
“Not allowing cars to park on main arterial routes is one simple way of getting the traffic flowing,” says Aitken. “We can make better use of existing roads if there is a will to get things done.
Currently, the central and local government is looking at introducing decongestion measures in six to 10 years’ time. Among the recommendations of the NZIER report is the introduction of congestion charging sooner.
