Roads, including state highways, provide the primary access for most Aucklanders - to work and education, for leisure and social reasons, and by car, bus, cycling and walking. Auckland businesses also depend on the roading network to move their freight, goods and services around the region, between regions and overseas via the port and airport.
As Auckland’s roading system operates closer to capacity, it is more vulnerable to unforeseen traffic events such as breakdowns, crashes or roadworks. Many routes have unreliable travel times and trips are often taking longer, with more delays and average speeds declining.
While most people agree that the Auckland region needs to invest in better passenger transport, the local roading network also needs ongoing maintenance and improvement. Key links in the strategic roading network also need to be completed. Of the $11 billion that will be spent on transport in the Auckland region over the next 10 years, around $6.8 billion will be invested in new roading infrastructure, road maintenance and renewals, traffic management and safety.
Currently, local councils take care of local roads and NZ Transport Agency is responsible for the region’s state highways and motorways.
Since July 2006, the road controlling authorities have been able to delegate their functions and powers to ARTA. ARTA has prepared and managed the Auckland Land Transport Programme (LTP), which prioritises funding applications to Land Transport NZ for all land transport activities, with the exception of state highways and ONTRACK projects. Projects are assessed against:
ARTA applies to Land Transport New Zealand for central government funding for the priority projects. This normally amounts to around 50 per cent of the cost of local roading projects, with the balance coming from the local councils.
