Penlink drops on priority list
Penlink may be on hold for over a decade following the release of a joint government and Auckland Council report on the recommended direction of Auckland’s transport system over the next 30 years.
The report marks the culmination of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) which prioritises transport projects from 2018.
Alleviating congestion on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula by building the Penlink Rd failed to be considered even a low first decade priority and was put off to 2028 ahead of already committed investments like the City Rail Link and the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway extension.
Other first decade priorities are the Westgate to Te Atatu section of the Northwestern Busway, bottlenecks on the Western Ring Route and Southern Motorway, the SH16 to SH18 connection, an early rail development plan and investment into smarter transport pricing.
But the good news is Penlink is included in the report’s final indicative package of major interventions, Councillor John Watson says,
‘‘That’s important because this is the package of major projects that has been agreed to by both Auckland Council and the government to be constructed in the future. Although Penlink’s construction is signalled for the second decade that’s an indicative timing only. There will be changes in timing and prioritisation of projects as more analysis and information is sought,’’ Watson says.
‘‘This means some projects can be brought forward. I’m confident that Penlink will be one such project brought forward, if not the first. I say this because Penlink is the only major project in Auckland that is currently all set to go – all the planning, designations and significant property purchases have been made.’’
The fact it is likely to be advanced as a Public Private Partnership means its impact on the ATAP budget is minimal in relation to other projects and increases its likelihood of being brought forward in timing when a partner is found, Watson says. In the meantime transport improvements tabled for this year and early 2017 like Whangaparaoa Road dynamic laning, extensions to Silverdale park and ride and a 250 per cent increase in Gulf Harbour ferries will improve the network over the short term, he says.