As part of the growth of the wider rapid transit network, this project is investigating options to provide fast, frequent and reliable public transport for people to get around the northwest of Auckland – from Brigham Creek to the city centre, alongside State Highway 16 (SH16).
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is investigating public transit options along State Highway 16 (SH16) from Brigham Creek to the city centre.
A rapid transit corridor along State Highway 16 will improve access to employment opportunities, provide faster, more reliable journeys, support quality urban form and residential and commercial growth, and provide more transport choices. The Northwest Rapid Transit Corridor is a strategic priority as identified in the Draft Government Policy on land transport and State Highway Investment Proposal.
The emerging preferred option for this rapid transit corridor is a busway, similar to the Northern Busway, to provide fast, frequent and reliable transport choices.
Alongside the busway, a park and ride facility and station is proposed at Brigham Creek, with stations in the west including Westgate, Royal Road, Lincoln Road, Te Atatū. There will be with other connections between Te Atatū and the city centre, where people will be able to seamlessly connect with the wider transport network.
More work is underway to provide a cost effective, value for money transport solution and NZTA is looking into ways to build the busway in stages to provide west Aucklanders with better transport choices sooner.
This work is being led by NZTA in partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and other iwi partners.
Te Kawerau ā Maki have gifted the name ‘Te Ara Hauāuru’ to the project. This name references the wind that blows from the west, a powerful force and story for the iwi. The west wind carries the voice and vision of the community of the west, and the path of connection between these communities and Tāmaki Makaurau.
We would like to express our gratitude to Te Kawerau ā Maki for this taonga (treasure) and significant gesture.
Next steps for Te Ara Hauāuru – Northwest Rapid Transit underway(external link)
Te Ara Hauāuru – Northwest Rapid Transit information brochure [PDF, 1.8 MB]
Video: Te Ara Hauāuru - Northwest Rapid Transit, August 2024(external link)
The project area covers from Brigham Creek to the city centre along SH16 and includes providing:
We investigated 15 different routes, alignments and modes, including bus and rail (light rail, light metro, passenger rail). Each option was assessed against many different factors, including:
A busway is preferred because it:
It was important that we undertook a robust analysis of all the potential rapid transit options to deliver the best outcome for the northwest.
A previous investigation, as part of the Indicative Business Case, looked at the Westgate to Newton Road section of the northwestern motorway and recommended bus as the preferred mode.
However, those investigations didn’t include the city centre components of the journey, from Newton Road to downtown, where the most critical constraints are. Previous work was also undertaken around five years ago, so it was important to reflect any changes that have occurred since then – like further development of other rapid transit projects in Auckland as well as more recent city centre planning by Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.
CloseThe need for rapid transit in the northwest, along SH16, has been identified in:
We’re currently at the Detailed Business Case (DBC) phase, the aim of which is to build a complete understanding of the potential options – including their benefits, risks, dependencies and uncertainties - and then confirm a recommended option. Funding discussions will then follow once the business case has been analysed and reviewed.
Learn more about the detailed business case phase
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