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City Rail Link Update Click to edit
style Transport Committee 4 September 2013
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Overview
Click to edit Master title • CCFAS •style Government statement • Timeline
• Timing impacts • CRL progress
The City Rail Link (CRL) connection
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CRL timeline •
EMUs begin service in April 2014 and are rolled out by end of 2015
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City Centre Future Access Study (CCFAS) The SKM study responded to a government request in July 2011 to develop a robust and achievable multi modal programme for access into the city centre 46 options identified and evaluated. Three shortlisted. Key objectives in developing options were to: • Provide for future city centre growth and employment • Support regional growth objectives • Deliver benefits for all transport users
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Criteria
Effect on city centre access Impact on wider regional movement Improving economic performance & potential Reducing impacts on environment & amenity Implementation costs and difficulty Reduction in exposure to harm
Surface Bus
Underground Bus
Underground Rail (CRL)
Integrated CRL and SB
Worst
Poor
Better
Best
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CCFAS findings • A multi modal solution of the CRL and surface bus improvements best meets city centre access needs
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• Solution is part of a broader network programme addressing city centre access
• Study suggests implementation by 2021- delays would limit employment, growth, and ability to capture wider economic benefits
• CRL being implemented in advance of bus improvements offers greatest benefit to most while deferring negative impacts of land take required for buses and slower vehicle speeds • Early implementation would fit well with wider strategic view of Auckland Plan, and transport projects (e.g. Additional Waitemataa Harbour crossing)
Government statement- 28 June 2013
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• Broadly agrees with CCFAS findings • Doesn’t agree CRL needed by 2021 • Instead is committed to:
Click to edit Master title style a joint business case with Auckland Council in 2017
providing its share of funding for a construction start in 2020 (so completion mid 2020s)
• Prepared to consider an earlier start to business case if : city centre employment increases by 25 per cent over current levels (of 78,000 but did not specify when)
annual rail patronage is on track to hit 20 million trips well before 2020 (currently 10 million) and said that was something to discuss with council. Identified need to address funding, including how project costs are shared between Government and council
Progressing city centre transport projects The proposed CRL construction timing significantly affects the ability to deliver other important city centre projects
Co-ordination of city centre construction works with the CRL construction is critical to ensure the road and transport networks remain operational and functional.
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Some of the key projects affected are: • Fanshawe/Customs St busway corridor • Wellesley St bus corridor • City centre public transport/bus interchanges • Ferry basin redevelopment • Port to motorway connection • Quay St and seawall upgrade • Victoria St Linear Park
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Timing and construction implications The CRL will create inner city disruption during cut and cover construction
Albert St dug up progressively over two years, Aotea station estimated to be under construction for up to five years and major east west intersections closed for at least six months at a time
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Adverse effects will include: • reduced and altered business and property access • changed and limited vehicle and pedestrian movement • noise and vibration While this can be well managed, timing is critical
Forecast and potential city development and events: • International Convention Centre • Elliot Tower • Downtown Shopping Centre • 2015 Cricket World Cup • 2017 World Masters Games • America’s Cup?
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CRL - timing and long term gain
Click to edit Master title style • Leading growth with transport infrastructure is vital to city shaping
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Britomart- from seedy to sought after
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10 years old - 40 million passengers- 24,000 a day • Britomart Precinct has the lowest vacancy rates and some of the highest lease rates in the city centre Relocations attracted from the city centre, city fringe and outside
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Commercial Vacancy Rates All City Centre
Britomart Precinct
Core
Western Corridor
1995
14.6%
13.5%
17.5%
13.5%
2003
12.7%
14.9%
16.7%
8.6%
2011
11.3%
1.3%
14.3%
8.8%
Annual Average Employment Growth
Source: Colliers International 2012
10.0% 8.0%
Employee annual growth
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6.0% 4.0%
2.0% 0.0%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
-2.0%
Britomart images thanks to Cooper and Co
-4.0% Britomart precinct
Auckland except City Centre
City Centre
Why 2021?
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Land use patterns and economic outcomes will differ if we lead or lag development 2021: • Britomart has reached capacity at peak
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• Major bus routes at or over capacity
• Lead development and shape city centre • Intervene before problems get too bad After 2021:
• All other options for city centre access exhausted
• Problem becomes sufficiently bad to justify CRL (based on standard transport analysis) • Standard" economic think is that major benefits achieved through travel time reduction so need to let congestion worsen for it to be “economically” efficient to build CRL • Cost of delay is $100m a year
CRL progress
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Planning • Hearing adjourned until mid October to allow commissioners to consider the material
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Property
• Two purchased, two in final stages, about 30 underway
Design • On going design to inform a business case and costs
Trains
• First trains to be unveiled this month • Rollout April 2014 - late 2015
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