AHB walk and cycleway & $9 million for Waterfront Boulevard
Hot off the press, we hear from Bevan Woodward (AHB Pathways Trustee and cycling campaigner) that the Auckland Harbour Bridge walk- and cycleway has been included in the Long Term Plan of Auckland Council as a “zero budget” line item!
As the name says, this means that currently, there is no funding associated with it. However, this allows the project to fomally proceed to the next steps, and sends a positive message to the private capital funders that the Council sees a toll as a workable way forward.
Related to this, Waterfront Auckland have apparently also received a $9 million budget to construct a big part of the Waterfront Boulevard. The new section of the waterfront walk- and cycleway is to run from Wynyard Quarter to… the south end of the Harbour Bridge!
We will give you more detail once we have it, but these two messages were just too positive to not hand on right away.
Auckland Council, Auckland Harbour Bridge, Auckland Plan, Auckland Waterfront, City Centre, Funding, General News, Key Projects, Northcote
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AHB, Auckland Council, Auckland Harbour Bridge, Auckland Harbour Bridge walk, Auckland Plan, Auckland Waterfront, City Centre, cycleway, Funding, General News, Key Projects, Northcote
Fullers (CAA Sponsor)
Themocracy
Hi everyone – news from the SkyPath team. It’s great news that the SkyPath (the Harbour Bridge walk and cycle way) has been included in the Long Term Plan for Auckland as a “zero-budget” line item. Although this means Council hasn’t made any funding commitment, the important thing is that it keeps the project on the table and gives Council the chance to fully consider the funding options.
Plus it sends a positive message to private investors that Council will consider the proposal seriously. The project can now move ahead to build on the agreement with NZTA regarding the construction feasibility.
SkyPath will have huge synergy with the waterfront walk and cycleway, providing a great commuting link for walkers and cyclists from the North Shore right into the CBD, and also creating a very attractive Auckland waterfront experience for tourists and locals.
The SkyPath will be self-funding through the user toll – $2 per trip if you use a HopCard.
A private funding partnership using a toll is a way to provide this much-wanted access across the harbour [CAA typo fix: earlier than] in the next 20 or possibly 30 years, as NZTA have repeatedly said they won’t fund a Bridge walking and cycling facility.
Aucklanders made it clear to Council that they want this facility. Thanks to everyone who took the time to submit or contact Councillors – more than 60% of submissions on walking and cycling to the Draft LTP and RLTP supported access across the Bridge.
Len Brown also has been right behind the project for a long time. This brings the SkyPath proposal out of the background- watch for further developments!
Here’s a note from Councillor Cathy Casey’s Facebook page:-
Hi John McKillop, The meeting supported the following amendment: “That the submissions for advancing a privately funded Harbour Bridge Pathway be referred to the Transport Committee for consideration.” Moved: Richard Northey Seconded: Cathy Casey Keeps the project alive.
So I guess now it is a matter of working closely with the AC Transport Committee.
20-30 years?
Bugger, was hoping for 2-3 years…
Whoops, Kirsten’s post is very misunderstandable, Adam – she means “EARLIER than…” – the 20-30 year timeframe was the number given some years ago when NZTA was still very much in a “not before we build a new bridge” mode… a lot has changed since.
Nice one Max
Looking forward to it happening, and CAA has definitely helped reduce it from that 20-30 year estimate (was there when that minister said that, my heart sunk!)