Give the West a fair go in the Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034
On this page…
What’s happening?
Last year the project was paused due to a funding shortfall. In late 2023, thanks to your support, the New Zealand Government and Auckland Council came up with a funding agreement that enabled the project to be restarted.
This means that a section from the Northwestern Cycleway (SH16) to Roberts Field is being built and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. View the Current Construction Zone Map.
With construction underway and the contractor established on site, we can continue building the pathway more cost-effectively. Any savings achieved can be applied to other sections of the pathway. However, additional funding is still needed to continue the build after 2026.
“These sections can be built at a lower cost now by continuing the construction programme, as opposed to deferring to later years.” says Tony Miguel, Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust.
That is why Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust (TWPET) is seeking your support, to have the next stages of the pathway included in the Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034.
Which sections next?
Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust will be requesting Auckland Transport to prioritise funding for the following sections.
The Avondale-Kelston Connection
Route: Wingate Street to Rizal Reserve to Ken Maunder Park
These communities lie within the Whau Local Board area.
The McLeod Park Connection
Route: Roberts Field to McLeod Park, Te Atatū South
This community lies within the Henderson-Massey Local Board area.
What can you do?
You, your friends and your whānau can make a submission to the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) to let Auckland Transport know you want this pathway and why the pathway should be a priority by Monday 17th June.
The funding required in the RLTP to build these sections is estimated to be $7.5 million for the year 2026/27 and $13.5 million for the year 2027/28. However, less funding may be required if there are cost savings in the section under construction.
Let’s rally together to ensure that Auckland Transport includes funding for this crucial project in its Regional Land Transport. It’s important to make our collective voice heard, showing Auckland Transport that our communities greatly values this walking and cycling route.
Why these sections are a priority
A fair go for the West
In the 2021-2031 RLTP, Auckland Transport had planned to spend $594.7 million. During this time the only walking and cycling infrastructure built in West Auckland was the New Lynn to Avondale shared path, estimated to have cost $46 million.
2021-2031 RLTP: Travel Choices, Active Modes data
| Project Name | Project Description | 10-year total ($millions) |
|---|---|---|
| On-going Cycling Programme | An ongoing programme of cycleway delivery and associated projects following on from the completion of the Urban Cycleways Programme. Currently focuses on achieving maximum impact for short trips to the city centre, public transit interchanges, schools and local and metropolitan centres. | 306.0 |
| Urban Cycleways Programme | Completion of the Urban Cycleways Programme. Remaining projects are New Lynn to Avondale, Links to Glen Innes, Waitemata Safe Routes, Point Chevalier to Westmere and Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path – Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai. | 139.2 |
| New Footpaths Regional Programme | Programme to construct new and widened footpaths. | 49.0 |
| Meadowbank Kohimarama Connectivity Project | A shared path connecting the Meadowbank and Kohimarama communities, via the Pourewa Valley and the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path – Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai (the path of land and sea). | 22.1 |
| Māngere Cycleways (Airport Access) | Walking and cycling infrastructure to improve airport access. | 11.6 |
| Tāmaki Drive/ Ngapipi Road safety improvements | To improve the pedestrian and cycle connection on Ngapipi Bridge adjacent to the Tāmaki Drive/Ngapipi Road intersection. | 6.8 |
| Access for Everyone Introductory Works | Introductory works to support Auckland Council’s Access for Everyone and the City Centre Masterplan Refresh. | 30.0 |
| Minor Cycling and Micromobility (Pop-up cycleways) | A programme of minor improvements to the cycle network, that includes pop- up cycleways, cycling improvements in and around RTN Stations, community bike hub facilities and micro-mobility based improvements. The project will also look to address issues related to the monitoring of active modes. | 30.0 |
| Total 2021-2031 RLTP | 594.7 |
In the 2024-2034 RLTP, AT is planning to spend $509.9 million over the next years, seemingly nothing in West Auckland.
2024-2034 RLTP: Urban & cycleways data
| Project Name | Description | 10-year total ($millions) |
| Cycleways Programme (lower cost) | New lower cost cycleways to encourage more cycling, improve safety and travel options, and reduce emissions | 295.7 |
| Cycling for Climate Action | Deliver new cycleways and cycle facilities to improve transport safety, travel options, and emission reduction as specified for CATTR | 106 |
| Mangere West and Westmere Cycleways | Cycleway and links from new Māngere pedestrian bridge area towards the airport, and residual costs from Point Chevalier to Westmere delivery | 31.2 |
| Meadowbank Kohimarama Connectivity Project | Pathway to connect Gowing Drive with the Glenn Innes to Tāmaki Shared Path and Kohimarama (including rail underpass) | 24.7 |
| Urban Cycleways GI to Tamaki Drive Stage4 | Connection (boardwalk) for the Glen Innes to Tamaki Shared Path (Stage 4 Ōrākei to Tāmaki Drive) | 45.9 |
| Urban Cycleways Glen Innes Links | Local cycle connections within Glen Innes and linking to Glen Innes to Tāmaki Shared Path | 6.4 |
| Total 2024-2034 RLTP | 509.9 |
Connectivity
The Pathway connects about 98,000 residents in Green Bay, Blockhouse Bay, Avondale, New Lynn, Kelston, Glendene and Te Atatu South; 35 schools with 17,487 students and 33 parks and reserves, providing safe off-road facilities for going to work, school and shopping and for recreation.
Alignment with Auckland Transport’s strategy
Auckland Transport’s strategy with cycling, delivered mainly by the ‘Cycleway’s Programme (lower cost)’ is to target new cycleway investment to routes that will link to the existing network, are relatively simple to deliver, and are expected to achieve significant cycling uptake (Source: Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034).
The unfunded sections are Te Whau Pathway meets these criteria!
- The whole route is consented
- The contractor is established onsite, thus lower construction costs going forward
Population growth
Since 1996 the population of West Auckland has grown by 49%, but the walking and cycling network has not increased correspondingly.
Connectivity
The Pathway connects about 98,000 residents in Green Bay, Blockhouse Bay, Avondale, New Lynn, Kelston, Glendene and Te Atatu South; 35 schools with 17,487 students and 33 parks and reserves, providing safe off-road facilities for going to work, school and shopping and for recreation.
Reduced travel times and safe off-road route
The Avondale-Kelston Connection
- Currently, distance by road is 3.3 km, travel time by car is 7 minutes, and by bike 9 minutes
- With the Rizal Reserve to Ken Maunder Park connection, distance is 2.4 km and 6.5 minutes by bike
The McLeod Park Connection
- Currently, distance by road/cycleway is 3.7 km, travel time by bike 13 minutes
- With the McLeod Road to Northwestern Cycleway connection, distance is 1.8 km and 5 minutes by bike
This was an update from Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust who is working hard to make sure that the next sections of the pathway get funding. Thank you to those who continue to support this project and see it as a priority for West Auckland!
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi.
(With your food basket and my food basket, people will thrive.)
