City Rail Link on track to burrow under Auckland
Businesses affected by Auckland's proposed City Rail Link seem to be right behind the idea.
Auckland Council has released its concept drawings showing which route the underground link will take.
The link will start at Britomart and snake its way under Albert, Vincent and Pitt streets, then beneath Karangahape Rd and the central motorway junction to Symonds St, before emerging above ground to join the western line.
Click to enlarge
Auckland Transport chief executive David Warburton says the agency is talking to 210 affected property owners.
Heart of the City has the majority of its membership along the route and CEO Alex Swney doesn't see any major upsets.
"When we polled our membership, the majority of affected landlords weren't worried and in fact welcomed the project."
Mr Warburton says the link will require the future purchase of surface property from 210 owners. Underground portions of land from 70 interests, including 12 unit title developments with multiple owners, will also need to be purchased for the tunnels and stations.
The proposed route will leave Britomart, starting its incline, before reaching each of the three new underground stations – at Aotea Square, K Rd and Symonds St.
Trains will travel directly under Aotea Square, the Auckland central fire station and the central motorway junction.
"We are aware property owners adjacent to the link will want to know more about future construction impacts such as noise, vibration and access. We will explain these over the next few months," Mr Warburton said.
Mr Swney believes Auckland Council is being conservative with its values.
"They're spending $230 million purchasing property and I think they'll be able to sell it back to the market for more than the estimated $100 million."
He also believes being next to or above the link could have huge benefits to retailers and building owners.
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Comments and questions12
However, until the park and ride is sorted out, we will still use our cars.
Orakei station, for example, should have a multi-level car park. Similarly, Glen Innes. As for Meadowbank....
The Loop a good idea, but per capita / user, a horrendously expensive dream
it just needs to be done !
The idea of a 'Loop' would be good if it went through suburbs where it could service the public 'at home'; encouraging them to leave their cars in the garage. But this won't happen until Auckland Council realise that buses through the suburban streets must service the new stations; an integrated bus-rail system and fare card.
The other improvement that needs to be made is to have the new loop join the western Liine somewhere like Mt Albert, Avondale/New lynn area, via GreyLynn, Pt Chevaliar etc, thus traversing a large dormitory area of Auckland.
But with Brown as Mayor, we will be saddled with another white elephant like the Manukau City spur line.
Auckland Transport cant deliver on integrated ticketing so I dont know why they are pursuing an even more expensive project.
Get the ticketing up and running first, then focus on rail.
Perhaps at the next Local Body Election, people will give a lot more thought to whom they elect; unlike last time when it was 'recycle' the generous handouters and the economically challenged element from the old Councils; and not anyone who might call a 'spade a spade' and tell us a few economic truths
Now that the route is choosen they can now stop. Property owners now have certainty on what will happen to their properties in 20-30 years time.
In the mean time, it isn't funded so stop wasting money on it. In the long run, I think it needs to go ahead but there are short term solutions in the mean time. My guess is in 5 years, we will be no where further and will have sunk millions of dollars for absolutely no results.
Another half hearted plan. Like the Manukau spur line....Plans for parking garage now scrapped so no Park & Ride. Well done the council.
Stop moaning NZ!
Why should 200 shopkeepers on the line get the benefit at the expense of every other business throughout auckland. This rail link will not make auckland any more liveable. Just how many commuters are expected to use the loop at what cost per person? It would be cheaper to buy them all a new mercedes or at least a new VW. OR: Get the new dial a friendly driver service on iphone. It is being introduced in San Francisco or LA. Lots cheaper. It will make rail defunct when you can get a 'friend' ride from door to door. Technology solves all material problems.
Uber does look very cool but the cost is more than a regular taxi which are expensive enough as it is. I assueme that is the company you are refering to.
Great to see this moving forward, but it should be just a starting point toward a longer-term plan that is really not thought through. Some criticisms are warranted, however:
1. Is the loop inward or outward oriented (plans suggest both but not clear how it would be operated). This is extremely material to project economics. It goes to what proportion of the population is actually being serviced by the line, and accordingly whether (or not) the tunnel will mostly just provide extra stops for existing (rather than incremental) paying travellers.
2. Why buy all of the properties in the first place? I would assume there are many owners that would be willing to do deals that allow them to re-develop their properties subsequently when they may be much more valuable.
3. The "myth" of the Britomart through station. Yes, 3 of 5 Britomart lines could be run out to the west. Two lines will be required for the loop tunnel. Will this effectively nullify capacity at Britomart for handling a future cross harbour rail link? Will it effectively rule out other future new line developments? Should "future proofing" be added to this project by building few line capacity into the new stationsto enable future link capabilities?