Bridging the Communications Gap

Here we provide some of the key  documents in our campaign to make the walkway and cycleway on the Auckland Harbour Bridge (AHB) a reality...

November 17, 2008 Letter from NZTA Board Chair advising that it will not include the walkway and cycleway on its prioritised list of projects because this project has achieved a low assessment against the criteria in the Planning, Programming and Funding Manual.  This directly contradict's the earlier statement from the previous CEO Rick van Barnefelt that: "Transit acknowledges that the provision of appropriate access for cycles and walking across the Waitemata Harbour is a priority for the Auckland region"

The NZTA Board Chair also refers to the "consequential impacts of the proposed facility on the structural integrity of the bridge and its ongoing operation" - the implication being that the walkway and cycleway would reduce the economic life of the clip-ons, however May, 2008 Land Transport NZ Board Paper 3089 ensures that the clip-ons are being future-proofed for the walkway and cycleway:

• "While carrying out structural analysis of the AHB. Transit included a loading case involving a cycleway/walkway.  The analysis found that a cycleway/walkway, which partly used the existing carriageway and also included a slight extention on the operating width, was structurely feasible.  Accordingly, the current proposed works include minor additional strength in the lateral members to accomodate this addition if required at some time in the future." (Item 8)

•  "Transit NZ considered that incorporating this future-proofing in the current works would be sound, given its modest cost at around $500,000." (Item 8)

October 21, 2008 Letter from NZTA confirming the details of the structural additions to the clip-ons strengthening project to ensure that walking and cycling access can be added to the Bridge.

September, 2008 NZTA (Transit) Board Paper 0041 recommending NOT to support the walking and cycling access.  The rationale used to make this recommendation is flawed, as decribed by the GetAcross campaign in this review.

May, 2008 Transit Board Paper 6173: AHB Strenthening project

• "Through innovative thinking, further structural elements have been incorporated into the current strengthening works at relatively low cost to future proof for future walking and cycling options" (item 4)

• "The works are due to commence in July 2008 and will extend the structures life and preserve this critical transport link across the Waitemata Harbour" (item 2)

May, 2008 Transit Board Paper 6189: AHB Walking & Cycling Study 

• "Through innovative thinking, further structural elements have been incorporated into the current strengthening works at relatively low cost to future proof for future walking and cycling options on the box girders."

May 19, 2008: Letter from Transit's Chairman to Cr Christine Rose, ARC's Chair of Transport.  Key extracts include:

• “The Board deliberately sought the necessary funding to ensure that further structural elements will be incorporated 
  into the current strengthening works to future-proof the clip-on lanes and allow for future walking and cycling 
  options on the box girders.”

• "The ability to fund an additional walking and cycling facility will be the real issue for region to face."

May 14, 2008: Letter from Transit's CEO to Hon Judith Tizard.  Key extracts include:

• "Transit acknowledges that the provision of appropriate access for cycles and walking across the Waitemata Harbour is a priority for the Auckland region"

• "Provision of a walkway/cycleways is one proposal that will help the Auckland region increase the mode share of walk and cycling, which is a key requirement of the draft Updated New Zealand Transport Strategy"

• "Given the likelihood that the next Waitemata Harbour Crossing will be a tunnel the Auckland Harbour Bridge strengthening project must specifically include the detailed provision for a future walkway and cycleway"

• "Structural elements have been incorporated into the current strengthening works to future-proof for walking and cycling facilities on the box girders"

   

March 18, 2008: Letter from Transit Auckland's Regional Manager: Peter Spies. Key extracts include:

• "I have asked the AWHCS Implementation Executive to have Stage 1 of the access study completed with a recommendation within 8 weeks of commencement to allow for the detailed design work described above.  This would, subject to regional agreement and funding approval for any within box girder works by July 2008, allow for seamless integration of activities into the current work programme.

May 7, 2008, Transit Board Meeting Action Paper 6189. Key extracts include:

1. Under Item 2 it refers to “A first stage report due 30 May will identify a preferred option having considered demand, safety and operation implications for all modes of travel”.  Transit officers advise that no such a report has been prepared.
2. Under Item 5.(a) “That the Board requests that the outcome of Stages 1 and 2 of the AHB Walking & Cycling Study be reported to the Board following completion of each stage”.
   Transit officers advise us that it has subsequently decided that there is no stage 1.
3. Under Item 17 “As part of the stage 1 assessment, a workshop is planned with stakeholdsers including Cycle Action Auckland ”
   Such a workshop was never held.

4. Under Item 19.  “The two projects [ie: the structural upgrade and the provision for walking and cycling] however are independent of each other”
   This is not correct as evidenced by Item 12: “further structural elements have been incorporated into the current strengthening works at relatively low cost to future proof for future walking and cycling option on the box girders”.

5. Again under Item 19. “In fact the structural upgrade works are a necessary part of strengthening ahead of any walking and cycling provision”
   This is not correct as evidenced by the Beca “AHB Box Girder Strengthening Concept Design Report” on page 39 with states under 6.3.2: Cycle/Walkway Construction Programme “This work may be carried out concurrently with the box girder strengthening”

January 22, 2008: Letter from ARTA's CEO to the ARC regarding funding. Key points include:

• There is currently an Auckland regional fuel tax of 5c per litre (from 2005 to 2015) - it is referred to as "R Funding"

• It is expected to generate $770 million of which 7% is to be allocated to regionally important Travel Demand Projects (such as walk/cycle ways) - this equate to $54 million

• ARTA has include the AHB walk/cycle way in its list of potential projects to be funded with "R funding" (see page 3, "100% FAR" means 100% Financial Assistance Rate, ie: no local council contribution is required)

September 5, 2007: Transit Board Paper CS/07/9/5981 (acquired after a drawn-out Official Information Act request).  Key extracts to note:

• "Our message should be that the bridge is capable of including a cycleway/walkway and therefore such a facility does not need to be included in any below harbour crossing. However there is no intention to progress the project further at this stage"