Feedback is open for Auckland Transport’s Airport to Botany Rapid Transit project, which is part of the Southwest Gateway programme – a partnership between AT, NZ Transport Agency and the Auckland Airport.
The programme will establish a connected, future-focussed transport system that provides choice for how people and freight travel around southwest and southeast Auckland, including to and from the airport. The programme consists of three transport projects: Airport to Botany Rapid Transit, 20Connect and Auckland Airport Precinct Improvements.
Project stages
The first stage of Airport to Botany Rapid Transit involves the proposed upgrade of Puhinui Station (subject to funding approval) to an interchange that connects rail services with new, fast, frequent bus services to the Airport and Manukau.
These services will run on new bus priority lanes to increase efficiency and reliability, and will be accompanied by improved walking and cycling facilities. This project is partly funded by the Regional Fuel Tax, and is expected to be completed by early 2021.
The second stage of the project is creating a new Rapid Transit Network (RTN) from Botany to the airport, via Manukau, and the Puhinui interchange.
Auckland Transport Chief Executive Shane Ellison says the Southwest Gateway programme will provide a substantial difference to the way people travel around southwest and southeast Auckland.
“By working with our project partners NZTA and the Auckland Airport, Auckland Transport is investing in a number of new public transport options to provide improved travel choices and enhanced accessibility to the airport, and its surrounding areas.
"By upgrading public transport in southern and eastern locations, Aucklanders and visitors will have better travel times and more reliability."
The NZ Transport Agency’s Chief Executive Fergus Gammie says the programme will work alongside other initiatives including Light Rail and the City Rail Link to ensure a connected transport system that was identified in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP).
“In the short term, we are upgrading Puhinui Station to provide a quality transport interchange that enables seamless connections between bus and heavy rail and will then enable people to connect with a modern bus service to take them right to the airport terminal.”
Adrian Littlewood, Auckland Airport’s chief executive says the Southwest Gateway programme will help support the airport’s significant investment into its transport network to better accommodate the increasing number of vehicles and buses that will travel to and from the airport in the future.
“We’re investing more than $100 million between now and 2022 to upgrade our transport network as part of our 30-year vision to build the airport of the future.
"This will ensure that we have the right transport infrastructure to allow people efficient access to our terminals, businesses on our precinct and to the surrounding areas. Our partnership with the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport is greatly contributing towards a better outcome for passengers, staff and freight.”
Public engagement on the Southwest Gateway starts on Thursday 22 November, with a number of public information sessions scheduled over the next few weeks.
For more information, timelines, and to provide feedback on the Airport to Botany Rapid Transit project, please visit at.govt.nz/AtoB
