RobiNZ Personal Blog: Tackling Congestion in Auckland, Yeah Right

Saturday, 18 March 2006

Tackling Congestion in Auckland, Yeah Right

The solution offered for tackling congestion in Auckland seems to be charging for something without offering a viable alternative. My commute (blue line) is 23km each way, takes 35 – 40 minutes and costs about $60/week ($12/day). That’s the total cost of running, registering & maintaining the mighty Uno, not just petrol. The proposed charging will increase that to about $90/week ($18/day) yet that won’t have me shifting to public transport. Why?

Here is the Maxx (Regional Transport Planner) Quickest Journey to/from work;

From Oratia to Akoranga (arrive before 09:00am)

Duration: 2hrs 03mins
Total Fare: $12.50 Concession Fare: $7.20

Walk; 501 Metres to Bus
Bus; Departs: 6:59am Arrives: 7:40am Surrey Cres
Bus; Departs: 7:45am Surrey Cres Arrives: 8:02am Albert St
Bus; Departs: 8:11am Arrives: 8:36am Raleigh Rd
Walk: 21 Metres Raleigh Rd
Bus; Departs: 8:42am Raleigh Rd Arrives: 8:50am Aut North Shore
Walk; 354 Metres to The Warehouse

From Akoranga to Oratia; (Leave after 06:00pm)

Duration: 1hr 29mins
Total Fare: $8.00 Concession Fare: $4.80

Walk; 354 Metres to Akoranga Dr - Aut Campus
Bus; Departs: 6:20pm Aut North Shore Arrives: 6:25pm
Walk; 39 Metres to Archers Rd
Bus; Departs: 6:39pm Archers Rd Arrives: 7:20pm Henderson Shops
Walk; 27 Metres to Great North Rd
Bus; Departs: 7:30pm Arrives: 7:38pm Solar Rd
Walk; 384 Metres

So the alternative costs $12, about the same assuming concessions, but requires 1.5km walking (fine if it’s fine) and takes a killer 3 hours 32 minutes assuming all the connections actually do connect. Given there are 3 or 4 buses each way that is not very likely.

It makes 70 minutes of door to door driving per day, at whatever time suits me, seem rather attractive at any price.