Surface Light Rail
The Council’s online submission form is the quickest way to have your say.
There are many questions in the Long Term Plan about different areas. We recommend going through the document and questions to see what is important to you. This guide will specifically cover the areas and questions that are important to the development of a surface light rail network. If you support surface light rail this guide will help make feedback quick and easy!
Auckland Council is taking a different approach to their public consultation this year. They have presented 3 options for Aucklanders to have their say on; The Central Proposal, Pay Less get Less, and Pay More get More.
Surface Light Rail is looking to get Auckland Council's commitment to investing in a surface light rail network in Auckland. Within 7 years we hope to see a surface light rail line from the City Centre to Mt Roskill built and operational, and tangible steps made to extend the line to Onehunga and Māngere. This will serve as a foundation for further expansion along other transport corridors such as the North-Western and Northern corridor. To achieve this, surface light rail should be a priority in any “Auckland Deal” between central government and Auckland Council. Mayor Wayne Browns “Auckland Deal” manifesto can be found here if you would like further information.
Feedback guide
The long term plan covers a wide variety of topics and we encourage everyone to read it through and give feedback. For Surface Light Rail, there are only a few key questions we would like you to comment on to give support to a surface light rail network.
The following document shows parts of the wider consultation document that are related to Surface Light Rail including what is anticipated for each level of council services/investment (ie Do less pay less, Central proposal, Do more pay more).
We have examples that cover key points for what we are working for but feel free to add in additional information, or context about how transport issues affect you, and why you support surface light rail in Auckland. Feel free to copy and paste, or reword to suit your preferences.
Overall Direction for Long-Term Plan - Question 1
1a. Which option fo you prefer for the overall direction for council’s Long-term Plan
While this is primarily personal preference we would recommend putting “Do more” or “Other”.
1b. What would you like Auckland Council to do more or less of?
We would recommend putting “Do more” for transport
1c. Is there anything else you would like Auckland Council to do more of that you would be prepared to pay more for?
I support further investment into a surface light rail rapid transit network starting with a route from the City Centre to Mt Roskill, and then further expansion to Onehunga, Māngere and other transport corridors such as the North-Western and Northern corridor. Any busway development along the North-Western corridor should be future-proofed for surface light rail upgrades. Consistent work over the last decade, reflected in Auckland Transports Auckland Rapid Transit Pathway 2023 report, has shown that to effectively address Auckland's congestion issues we cannot rely solely on a bus network. The busiest bus corridors in our city are already reaching capacity, and the long-term plan should reflect that reality.
Additionally, I support Auckland controlling its own transport priorities. An “Auckland Deal” provides the means for central government to support Auckland Council’s priorities, rather than the other way around. A surface light rail network would provide opportunities for growth, development, and productivity in the city. I believe this should be included in the “Auckland Deal” with central government. I urge Auckland Council and the Mayor to make the development of a surface light rail network, starting with the City Centre to Mt Roskill line, a priority in such a deal.
(Feel free to add how congestion impacts you, as well as why you support surface light rail)
1d. Is there anything else you would like Auckland Council to do less of so that you could pay less?
This question is personal preference.
Transport - Question 2
2. What do you think of the transport proposal?
While this question is personal preference we would recommend only putting a maximum support level of “Support most of the proposals”
Tell us why:
I do not fully support this plan as it does not include investment and commitment to a surface light rail rapid transit network. Any work on a busway in the North-Western corridor should be future proofed for surface light rail and there should be commitment to surface light rail along the City Centre to Mangere corridor, starting with a City Centre to Mt Roskill line. I worry without this we will not be able to address Auckland's congestion issues as projected growth in these corridors would require higher capacity transport modes such as surface light rail.
2a. Is there anything you would spend more on?
I want to see Auckland Council spending more to develop a surface light rail network, with a City Centre to Mt Roskill line constructed as a priority. There has been significant design work done by Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi on surface light rail pre-2019. Adopting these plans will allow any work to be fast tracked with only minor updates and improvements needed. From this stage I would support expansion of surface light rail, such as what is proposed in Auckland Transports Auckland Rapid Transit Pathway 2023 report. The line should be expanded to Onehunga and Mangere, and eventually to other transport corridors such as the North-Western or Northern corridors, upgrading any busway infrastructure. Staging the development of the network in this way ensures it remains affordable for Aucklanders and is practical to build.
Congestion is a major issue in our city that costs Aucklanders time and money. It restricts our growth and potential. Consistent work done over the last decade has shown that we cannot only rely on our bus network in our busiest corridors in order to address our cities transport issues. Surface light rail provides a higher capacity solution that is affordable, deliverable, environmentally friendly, and will connect communities in Auckland. It provides a plethora of economic benefits that will create jobs and help businesses while improving our streetscapes to make our city a better place to live.
(Feel free to add personal experiences and opinions on our cities traffic issues, and also the reasons why you support surface light rail)
2b. Is there anything you would spend less on?
This question is personal preference
Questions 3-6:
These questions are unrelated to surface light rail but we recommend answering them according to your personal preference.
Local Board Priorities - Question 7
7a. Which local board area does your feedback relate to?
Enter the Local Board that you live or work in (you can choose multiple).
7b. What do you think of our proposed priorities for your local board area in 2024/2025?
This question is primarily up to your personal preference and we would recommend looking at the Long Term Plan to comment on your own local boards priorities.
Do you have any other comments?
This section is open, and if there is any other information or views that you would like to share regarding surface light rail this is a good place for it. If you are short of ideas you could comment on other sections of Auckland Council’s proposed Long Term Plan and how the development of surface light rail relates to them. We have outline some example comments about other sections below:
City and Local Development
I support a surface light rail network as it provides the opportunity to regenerate urban centres and enables development through a higher capacity transport system.
Environment and Regulation
I support a surface light rail network as it reduces transport emissions and pollution in Auckland, creating a cleaner city for all.
Economic and Cultural Development
I support a surface light rail network as it facilitates economic growth through an efficient and accessible transport system. This enables more people to reach businesses and commercial areas to support and grow Auckland's economy.