New funding a major boost for urban cycling in Auckland

Cycling in Auckland will be safer, easier and more enjoyable following today’s announcement of the projects to be included in the Government’s Urban Cycleways Programme.

The $24.75 million dollars of money for cycling in Auckland confirmed by the Transport Minister, Hon. Simon Bridges takes Urban Cycleway Programme (UCP) funding in Auckland to $90 million. The UCP comprises of funding from the Government’s Urban Cycle Fund, the National Land Transport Fund and local share funding.

The programme, which will be jointly delivered by Auckland Council, the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport, will be used to accelerate key projects over the next three years and help establish cycling as an integral part of Auckland’s transport network in line with the long-term vision set out in the Auckland Plan.

“Today’s announcement takes the total investment in cycling across Auckland for the next three years to approximately $200 million,” says Mayor Len Brown. It’s a positive step towards the strategic long-term vision for cycling in Auckland.”

“We congratulate the Government on providing this transformational funding to enable Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency to jointly speed up the delivery of a world-class cycle network for the city.”

The funding is part of the Urban Cycleways Programme which will see $296 million invested in 41 projects across the country.

The NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland Regional Director, Ernst Zöllner, says the significant increase in investment will help ease Auckland’s congestion and make cycling a safer and more attractive transport option - a key new priority for the NZ Transport Agency.

“With a 20% increase in cycle journeys over the past five years, it’s clear more Aucklanders are choosing to cycle than ever before. This programme will help grow the number of people cycling in Auckland by creating a city where people can feel safe riding a bike.”

The focus for the next three years will be improving cycling facilities in the city and to the city, along east and west corridors. We will also improve key public transport hubs in Glen Innes and New Lynn, says Kathryn King, Auckland Transport’s Walking and Cycling Manager.

“The objective is to get as many people as possible cycling for the money we have, which is why the emphasis is on these projects. Auckland Transport is also planning on-going education and promotional programmes to support this new infrastructure.”

Auckland’s Urban Cycleway Programme

• City Centre Network of separated cycleways and intersection treatments expected to increase the number of journey per day to more than 8,500 journeys each day. Total estimated cost $20.33 million made up of an estimated $7 million local share, estimated $7 million National Land Transport Fund share and $6.33 million Urban Cycleways Fund share.
• An additional 10.8km of cycling routes providing Eastern connections to city centre. Total estimated project cost of $39.03 million, made up of estimated equal shares of $13.01 million from local share, National Land Transport Fund and Urban Cycleways Fund.
• A safer and more direct route to the city centre for residents from the western suburbs, including improved links to the North Western cycleway and connections with the Waterview shared path. Total estimated cost $11.37 million, made up of an estimated $4.57 million each from local and National Land Transport Fund as well as $2.23 million from the Urban Cycleways Fund.
• Improved links to the New Lynn and Glen Innes public transport interchanges. Total cost $18 million, made up of an estimated $7.41 million each of local and National Land Transport Fund shares and $3.18 million from the Urban Cycleways Fund.

Wider Investment in Cycling for the Auckland Region

In addition to the Urban Cycleways Programme there are a number of other cycling projects funded through various funding channels which takes the overall investment in cycling across Auckland for the next three years to an estimated $200 million.

The Urban Cycleways Programme is designed to take full advantage of all available funding sources, including the National Land Transport Fund and local government, to enable high-quality projects to get underway much sooner than may otherwise have been the case.

The NZ Transport Agency anticipates the total investment in cycling in New Zealand over the next three years will be around $380 million to $400 million, delivering more than 250km of new urban cycleways and greater network connectivity.

To find out more about the Urban Cycleways Programme you can visit the NZ Transport Agency website www.nzta.govt.nz/UCP(external link)

For more details about Auckland cycling projects visit:
www.at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/cycling-and-walking-programme(external link)

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