Auckland Regional Transport Authority

Infobox Company
name = Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

type = Council controlled organisation under the Auckland Regional Council
genre =
foundation = 2004 by act of parliament
founder =
location_city = 21 Pitt St, Auckland
location_country = New Zealand
headquarters =
locations =
area_served = Auckland Region
key_people = Mark Ford (Chair) Fergus Gammie (CEO)
industry =
products =
services = Transport planning and public transport agency for the Auckland Region
revenue = $263 million in 2007/08, mainly capital and operating grants from the Auckland Regional Council and NZ Transport Agency
operating_income =
net_income =
assets =
equity =
owner = Auckland Regional Council
num_employees = 114
parent =
divisions = 4
subsid =
vision = A world-class transport system that makes Auckland an even better place to live, work and play.
homepage = [http://www.arta.co.nz www.arta.co.nz]
footnotes =
intl =

ARTA (Auckland Regional Transport Authority) was established in 2004 to be the central co-ordinating agency for transport (especially but not only public transport) in the Auckland Region. In this role, ARTA provides public transport services, assigns funding and subsidies, and organises and advises on many aspects of regionwide transport. ARTA is under the control of the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).

Functions

ARTA's roles include:

* Integrating transport planning in the Auckland Region, with a goal of an efficient and sustainable network providing modal choice

* Prioritising transport projects in Auckland and making recommendations on funding (especially since the NZ Transport Agency-related law changes of 2008)

* Operating the passenger rail network in Auckland in cooperation with ONTRACK, and improving stations, trains and maintenance facilities

* Designing and operating bus and ferry services

* Marketing passenger transport services under the MAXX brand

* Assisting Auckland schools and workplaces in fostering sustainable transport, such as by developing travel plans

About half of the ARC's rates go to fund public transport via ARTA. [" [http://www.nscc.govt.nz/your_council/News_Releases/Releases-2006/February/Public-transport-funding-gap-highlighted-in-ARC-Funding-gap.htm Public transport funding gap highlighted in ARC Draft LTCCP] " - Auckland Regional Council, press release, Sunday 27 February 2005]

Establishment

ARTA was established through the [http://www.arh.co.nz/docs/Local_Government_Auckland_Amendment_Act_2004.pdf Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Act 2004] to take on the transport functions of the ARC along with new roles in transport planning and the prioritisation of transport funding.

The establishment of ARTA was one of a set of changes announced on 12 December 2003 in the [http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/informationreleases/aucklandtransport/investingforgrowth Investing for Growth] transport package. The package also announced significant new funding measures including a $900m Crown contribution to Auckland transport over 10 years.

Governance and funding of transport in Auckland remains complex. The [http://www.royalcommission.govt.nz/rccms.nsf/CONTENTPAGES/$first?open Royal Commission on Auckland Governance] describes the current arrangements for transport in Auckland as:

A number of entities are involved in transport infrastructure in Auckland (road, rail, public transport). Central government agencies involved in planning and funding road and rail infrastructure include the Ministry of Transport (transport policy), Land Transport New Zealand (funding and safety management), Transit New Zealand (management and development of State highways), and ONTRACK (management and development of the rail network). Land Transport New Zealand and Transit were replaced by the NZ Transport Agency on 1 August 2008. Regional entities involved in transport planning and public transport include the ARC, the Regional Land Transport Committee and ARTA. Territorial authorities own, build, and manage all roads that are not State Highways.

Planning and funding

The Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy [ [http://www.arc.govt.nz/transport/regional-land-transport-strategy-2005/regional-land-transport-strategy-2005_home.cfm Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy] ] (ARLTS), prepared by the Auckland Regional Council, sets out a vision for Auckland’s transport system, and a 10-year framework for working towards this vision. ARTA is required to give effect to the ARLTS, both through its own actions and by setting priorities for the funding of land transport activities in the Region [ [http://www.arta.co.nz/what_we_do.html [Official ARTA website] ] .

ARTA achieves this by preparing the Auckland Transport Plan [ [http://www.arta.co.nz/publications-projects/test/publications.html#aucklandtransportplan Auckland Transport Plan] ] , and detailed implementation plans. Each year, ARTA prepares a Land Transport Programme [ [http://www.arta.co.nz/publications-projects/test/publications.html#aucklandlandtransport Auckland Land Transport Programme] ] setting out its recommendations for the funding of transport projects (excluding below-track rail infrastructure) in the Auckland region.

Rail Projects

ONTRACK is currently undertaking Project DART [http://www.projectdart.org.nz Project Dart website] ] (Developing Auckland's Rail Transport network) in association with ARTA to upgrade Auckland's rail network, signalling and train station platforms and buildings. The budget for the project is $600 million [http://www.arta.co.nz/arc/xxarta/news/rail-newsletter-issue-29.cfm Rail newsletter issue 29] (from the ARTA website, 2006)] , and includes:

* Double-tracking the Western line as far as Swanson;
* Redeveloping Newmarket station and the associated junction;
* Improving signalling on all routes to allow more frequent services
* Building the Wiri - Manukau Branch linking Manukau City centre to the rail network.
* Reopening the Onehunga Branch line [http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=28632 "Onehunga rail upgrade gets green light"] - "The Beehive", Tuesday 13 March 2007]

Network extension proposals

On 13 March 2007 the Government announced that it had given approval to ONTRACK to spend $10 million reopening the Onehunga branch for passengers and freight. There are proposals to extend the line south to Auckland International Airport and north from Southdown to Avondale.

Commuter trains have been extended to Helensville on the North Auckland Line in the west, and there are proposals to extend them to Hamilton on the North Island Main Trunk line in the south.

Services are likely to start running to Manukau City centre in 2010 when a branch line to be built from Puhinui is completed in conjunction with the SH20 Manukau motorway extension project.

Bus and Ferry Services

ARTA aims to grow public transport patronage in Auckland by:
* Designing a simpler public transport network, linking people to the places they want to go, at times they want to travel
* Delivering fast, frequent, reliable services that fit conveniently into people’s busy lives
* Implementing world class stops, stations, and route branding

The Northern Busway in North Shore City is an example of a flagship project.

References

ee also

* Public transport in Auckland
* Transport in Auckland
* List of Auckland railway stations
* Veolia (New Zealand)

External links

* [http://www.arta.co.nz/ Official website]
* [http://www.maxx.co.nz/ Public transport information website]
* [http://www.travelwise.org.nz/ Travel Planning website]