Tolling strategic corridors on the Auckland road network will reduce congestion by 8-12%, finds a report from the Ministry of Transport The report explores a number of different congestion pricing systems used overseas to reduce congestion and improve travel times. Continue →

The 10-kilometre long Christchurch Northern Corridor will partially open today ahead of its full opening in mid December From Monday 30 November to Friday 11 December one traffic lane in each direction will be open. Continue →

Motorists with smartphones could help maintain road quality by sending ‘crowdsourced’ data from their mobiles that would allow engineers to assess when repairs are needed, according to a new study by the University of Birmingham Road roughness is an important measure of condition and ride quality, but many agencies around the world with large road networks lack the resources to regularly check the state of their highways and make informed maintenance decisions. Continue →

The Government has asked Infracom (New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga) to oversee an urgent and wide-ranging review into the Transmission Gully Project after multiple mistakes and set-backs Infracom Chief Executive Ross Copland has advised that international expert reviewer Steve Richards has been appointed to lead the review and he will be joined by two New Zealand based peer reviewers, Sir Michael Cullen and Lindsay Crossen. Continue →

The full reopening of Auckland’s Harbour Bridge provides the opportunity for a considered and independent examination of all Waitematā Harbour crossing options, says Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Hamish Glenn “That a steel strut some 6 storeys high could be manufactured, transported and installed into one of New Zealand’s most heavily utilised and critical infrastructure assets in such a short period is something to celebrate. Continue →

Now is the time to recognise the manufacturing capabilities of Australia says the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) ARA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie says that the Australian manufacturing sector’s capabilities need to be recognised, particularly in the wake of Covid-19, and calls for consistent procurement choices to benefit the Australian economy. Continue →

The newly released Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) saw a welcome increased investment in transport funding, but more needs to be done to get New Zealand’s transport up to the standard we need The role of the GPS is to outline the government’s land transport strategies over the next 10 years, and to influence decisions on fund allocation. Continue →

The politicking over priorities and funding is underway over the National Party’s $31 billion infrastructure plans but the promise of pipeline clarity and the focus of the programme as a blueprint draws praise If elected in September, National will spend $31 billion on additional transport projects across New Zealand in the next 10 years with plans cemented for a further 10 years. Continue →

New National Party leader Judith Collins today announced a $17 billion transport investment programme for the Upper North Island and signalled a future allocation of $14 billion across the rest of New Zealand, supported by the repeal of the Resource Management Act Collins says National would go ahead with everything Labour has said it will do in transport – with the exception of light-rail and the probable exception of the $360 million Skypath 2. Continue →

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced the preferred site of the 2.5 kilometre long inter-modal freight hub is between Palmerston North Airport and Bunnythorpe “The announcement of the preferred site for the Regional Freight Hub near Palmerston North is a significant milestone for this nationally important logistics project,” KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller says. Continue →

The Government’s decision to end the twin track light rail process provides some clarity, but questions still remain about process, problem definition, outcomes and how now Auckland will meet its transport and housing needs After Government parties were unable to reach agreement on a preferred proposal for Auckland’s Light Rail, Cabinet has agreed to end the twin track Auckland Light Rail process and refer the project to the Ministry of Transport for further work.  Continue →

Global events company is reshaping the way we attend conferences   Terrapin is holding a 24-hour marathon conference on the future of rail with more than 50 specialist speakers from all corners of the earth. Continue →

The Government’s $1.2 billion rail investment in Budget 2020 will help KiwiRail attract more customers and get more freight on rail, says KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller Building on the Government’s $1 billion investment in Budget 2019, this second round of funding includes $400 million towards replacing the aging Interislander ferries and $421 million to continue the replacement programme for some of KiwiRail’s oldest locomotives. Continue →

Investment in transport is expected to invigorate development, and while there will be clear benefits for the property market, the work could also bring short-term disruption, labour shortages, construction cost increases and land speculation pressures Announced in late 2019, the Big New Zealand Upgrade is a $12b public works programme that aims to futureproof the country’s growth. Continue →

The Government’s latest investment in Northland will enable hi-cube container freight to be transported by rail in the region for the first time ever, KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller says State Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced a further $109.7 million rail investment through the Provincial Growth Fund at an event in Whangarei today. Continue →

The government is moving to fast-track billions in funding for rail investments in a change that is being hailed as historic The state-owned enterprise’s funding is usually approved annually by the Crown, but the government has already released a draft rail plan that will prioritise new trains, tracks and bridges across the country by funding KiwiRail’s budget through the National Land Transport Fund. Continue →

Plans for the new $5.3 billion Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport are underway, which will meet the city’s growing aviation needs The terminal building will be designed by an architectural team consisting of London-based Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture in Sydney. Continue →

When Kevin Smith told rail conference delegates in Auckland on September 13 that a $6 billion Auckland-to-Airport light rail budget could be reduced to under $1 billion, he was greeted with silence Raised hands at question time from the audience of local and overseas rail transport experts also disclosed that the South American technology is still not well known in this part of the World, despite its first 18km line being installed in Jakarta 28 years ago. Continue →

The urban air mobility market is heating up as two Australian cities vie to become the first international test city for Uber’s “flying car” trials Ana Narvaez – The Urban Developer The ridesharing giant will make the decision on which city will be home to the first international Uber air market test site on Monday — the first day of Uber’s two-day Elevate Summit held in Washington D.C. Continue →