The NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport are working together on the Southwest Gateway programme to deliver three projects to create an integrated, 21st century transport system to move people and freight between the city‘s south east including Botany, and south west including Onehunga and Mangere, as well as the south including Manurewa, Papakura and Pukekohe.

NZTA chief executive Fergus Gammie says the programme will work alongside other initiatives including Light Rail and the City Rail Link to ensure a connected transport system that was identified in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP).

“In the short term we are upgrading Puhinui Station to provide a quality transport interchange that enables seamless connections between bus and heavy rail and will then enable people to connect with a modern bus service to take them right to the airport terminal.”

The upgrade of the interchange will be accompanied by fast, frequent services into and out of Puhinui, starting with priority lanes along State Highway 20B to increase efficiency and reliability. This will also include new direct bus services to run on the priority lanes between the airport, Puhinui Station and Manukau as well as improved walking and cycling facilities. This work will be finished in stages in 2020/21.

Gammie says in the longer term NZTA and AT are working on a rapid transit service from Botany and Flat Bush through Puhinui to the airport and could also include links to and from Manukau. This will integrate with the City Rail Link and a third rail line through Wiri – for express trains from the new Britomart Train Station in the city centre. Light Rail will then create yet another route to open up connections between Botany, Manukau, Mangere and then stations between Onehunga and the CBD.

“This will give more people across Auckland access to a reliable, frequent connection to the employment hub of Mangere, including the airport.”

While getting air passengers quickly and reliably to and from their flights is important, Gammie says data in ATAP suggests they make up only 4% of overall travel demand. Far more people need frequent, reliable options to get to work, education and other daily activities across the south west and south east.

“We‘re investing $100 million between now and 2022 to upgrade our transport network as part of our 30-year vision to build the airport of the future,” says Auckland Airport‘s chief executive Adrian Littlewood. “Our partnership with the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport is greatly contributing towards a better outcome for passengers, staff and freight.”

NZTA and AT are now asking for public and stakeholder feedback to ensure customer and communities are at the centre of investment decisions. Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MDMD6NX or https://at.govt.nz/AtoB to find out how you can participate.

Airport to Botany Rapid Transit will deliver a fast, frequent and reliable public transport system between the airport, Manukau and Botany. It will significantly improve transport choice, reliability, and journey times in the south and east of Auckland – as well as provide an important public transport link to the rail network at Puhinui.

20Connect will improve journey reliability along State Highway 20, 20A and 20B and provide more choice when travelling around southwest Auckland, including to and from the airport.