Who should be driving the bus of transport investment in Auckland?

[Your Auckland header] Hi {NAME}, Who should be driving the bus of transport investment in Auckland? Auckland Council’s move to explore seeking a law change giving it more direct control of transport planning in the city is a sign of frustration with the current system. The amalgamation of Auckland’s eight council’s into one in 2010, deliberately kept the delivery of transport, and all but the highest-level of planning out of the hands of elected officials. Thus was born Auckland Transport, a “council-controlled organisation” or CCO, with its own board of directors steered by an annual agreement with councillors of expectations and intent. The councillors also get to appoint the board, including two of themselves, but not the seat occupied by a representative of the government agency Waka Kotahi. It seems like a lot of influence on the end result. However AT was given the final word on signing off three-yearly, the statutory Regional Land Transport Plan, the nuts and bolts plan of what will happen and where the money will come from. That plan needs to mesh with a range of strategies and plans drawn up by the government which co-funds most transport investment. It’s a process in which the hopes and dreams of a council or individual councillors gets diluted. The AT model seems particularly broken in a world where transport has become a big part of the city’s need to reduce climate-changing carbon emissions. Political ambition has become disconnected from political funding for AT, and on an issue requiring a big push across decades, the political cycle of just three years has introduced swings in priorities that don’t fit with the long-term nature of transport investment. That the law changes promoted by the mayor and endorsed unanimously by the council might be part of the current relationship problem, was highlighted by a response to his ideas from Auckland Transport, noting that it hadn't been consulted, and that while change is needed, some what the mayor was suggesting could make things worse. A more collaborative, round table approach on how to reach transports goals, how to plug the identified funding gaps, and lead public support for behaviour changing policy may be a more productive route. [Todd Niall] Todd Niall Senior Reporter   [See more Auckland news →]( [timer][trk_px] [timer][trk_px] New Lynn terror attack survivors share their stories Seven survivors of the 2021 LynnMall terror attack have [shared their stories]( and explained how they feel unsupported by the Government. [Read more →](   Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters.]( [timer][trk_px] More Auckland stories you might have missed   Cost blowout on Auckland rail rebuild raises question about final stage [Read more →]( Temple boss who claimed 'living God' told him to lie has final appeal dismissed [Read more →]( Bike lane bullies: Bad drivers putting cyclists at risk with repeat offences [Read more →]( K' Road Chronicles: Celebrating the human spirit born from the gritty realities of homelessness [Read more →](   We want the best for Aotearoa's biggest city, but we need your help to keep reporting on local issues. Support our newsroom by making a contribution. [I'd like to contribute →]( [Discover more Auckland news at Stuff]( You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive the Your Auckland newsletter. [Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter preferences]( [Privacy Policy]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get the Your Auckland newsletter in your inbox.]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland 1021, New Zealand [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [TikTok](