Resources

Strategic government documents emphasise the need for more integrated land use and transport planning. This study, undertaken in 2009–11, considers the Sylvia Park retail centre in Auckland, New Zealand, as a case study of more integrated land use and transport policies. Our analysis of the costs and revenues associated with different transport modes suggests that Sylvia Park is likely to benefit from better integration of walking and cycling facilities, and improved bus services. This analysis indicates that improving alternative modes and more efficient parking management may deliver financial benefits to the retail centre, as well as economic benefits to wider society. To support more integrated outcomes, four key recommended priorities for regulatory reform are identified:

• Manage the location of major developments.
• Remove minimum parking requirements.
• Levy development contributions using shadow tolls.
• Replace transport rates with an annual parking levy. 

The thrust of these recommendations is to reduce upfront capital costs and risks for the private sector while providing ongoing incentives for managing travel demands. Together, these recommendations are expected to improve the alignment between private and public sector interests greatly, thereby contributing to more integrated transport and land use outcomes.

Keywords: Auckland, bus, costs, cycling, integration, land use, legislation, mode share, New Zealand, parking, policy, public transport, transport, rail, Sylvia Park, walking