Currently in Auckland transport infrastructure delivery, public transport services, and transport planning is managed by Auckland Transport, a council controlled organisation which seems more or less equivalent to translink but with the infrastructure and planning powers of Brisbane city council, but apparently the mayor has been unhappy with this arrangement and wants to delegate the infrastructure and planning powers like setting speed limits and planning bike lanes to more local community boards within the Auckland region, some people including the mayor have been annoyed at construction and bike lanes by Auckland transport especially.
This is interesting and I think it is relevant as the current situation is pretty close to what we have been advocating for as a forum in regards to the administration of public transport and the relationships between different authorities like translink, Brisbane city council, and QR. But even if we do achieve this I think there is a significant risk that it may be undone if people in power get annoyed due to the actions of a new amalgamated authority and dissolve or redelegate powers under the guise of “local control”.
What do you guys think? I feel that this is something we should consider while we are advocating and maybe do more education on the benefits of having a unified plan even if it comes with temporary inconveniences.