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Central Connector

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Consultation

Planning for the central connector (CC) started in 1999, when it was included in the council's Passenger Transport Action Plan (PTAP), and the Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS).

Consultation began in 2001 as part of the legal process to designate the route for public transport. This included presentations and discussions with local community boards, business and academic organisations, and key stakeholders such as the University of Auckland, Auckland District Health Board and the Grafton Residents' Association.

The region's commitment to develop a CC project was confirmed in the 2003 Regional Land Transport Strategy.

Consultation was undertaken about the CC project in 2003 and 2004 in order to develop a scheme assessment report, which identified the preferred option for the corridor and was required to secure funding. The CC scheme assessment report was completed in 2004.

Public feedback on the scheme assessment centred around the following:

• encroachment on the Domain, noise, unsightly buses, bus reliability
• landscaping on Park Road, loss of parking on Anzac Avenue, impact on businesses from less cars passing through the route
• impact on access to private property, impact on heritage value of cemetery, bridge and historic toilet block.
• The concept design was completed in November 2005. Feedback on the scheme assessment report was used to develop this. Specific changes between the scheme assessment report and the concept design included:
• parking to be retained in key areas such as Anzac Avenue and Grafton village
• use of Grafton Bridge be restricted for general traffic during certain hours (initially it was proposed that Grafton Bridge was closed permanently to general traffic)
• improvements to the passenger environment including more pedestrian crossings, improved lighting, canopies for shelter and cycling facilities
• landscaping strategy.
• As well as public consultation, there has been on-going communication and consultation with the project's key stakeholders. These include the University of Auckland, the Auckland District Health Board and the Grafton Residents' Assocation, as well as the Langham Hotel (formerly the Sheraton), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland Regional Transport Authority and the Auckland Regional Council.

We have also communicated and consulted with other interested parties – including residents and businesses along the route, the Newmarket and Karangahape Road business associations, Heart of the City, and the Cycle Action group.

The concept design showed detail of where parking would remain, what kerb lines would look like and where trees were being removed and planted. The designs were on public display, widely advertised to the public and stakeholders and available online.

Feedback on the concept designs centered around:

• noise and air quality as a result of increased bus traffic
• loss of parking on Symonds Street and Park Road
• trees removed being replaced
• bus stops needed to be long enough so buses can stop behind each other; suggestions for providing bike racks to encourage park-and-ride
• Grafton Bridge to be kept open during construction
• improving the pedestrian environment through more pedestrian crossings and pedestrian-friendly traffic light phasing, concern that road widths may encourage increased traffic speeds

The council looked at all the feedback from the public and have incporated those suggestions that will improve the project overall and enhance benefits for all users.