"SuperMaxx" is an effective, low cost, affordable, integrated,
public transport system for Auckland which can commence within 6 months.
By maximising efficiency of public transport routes 30% more passengers can be carried with approximately 200 less buses on the road leading to far less pollution and congestion.
"Supermaxx" is a time based fare system offering 2 hour, 1 day, 7 day, and 30 day electronic passes. Main unit is a 30 day pass for $60 providing unlimited travel on all "Supermaxx" train and bus services in the area bounded by Albany, Papakura, Henderson, Howick. This is a massive cost reduction for most commuters. "Supermaxx" will reduce the subsidies required by $50-$60 million per annum.
It is long past time we took action to bring our transport system into the 21st Century. The original "Supermaxx" proposal was presented to ARC AND ARTA in early 2007. It could have been introduced by November 2007. If it had been introduced then :
** Ratepayers and taxpayers would have saved over $200 million in taxes for operating subsidies.
** Everyone travelling more than 1 stage would have saved huge amounts of money in fares
** Over 200,000 tons of carbon and other pollutants less would have been pumped into our skies.
** Aucklanders would have enjoyed a far more functional public transport system - and the transport fiasco of World Cup opening night would not have happened!
"SUPERMAXX" FOR A SUPER CITY
Latest proposal herewith updated August, 2010 Features
** Integrated bus and train public transport from Wellsford to Waiuku, Helensville and Piha to Beachlands
** Introduction of LOCAL and REGIONAL bus services
** Over 80% of Aucklanders will now be within a 15 minute walk of a "Supermaxx" bus or train stop.
** New REGIONAL 30 day pass for $90 introduced covering all public transport bus and train services within the Supercity boundaries from Wellsford to Waiuku.
CHALLENGE
My Challenge to Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Minister of Transport and Prime Minister is to
1. Find a better programme to provide the best possible public transport for Auckland in the shortest possible time at the lowest possible cost OR
2. Prove that Supermaxx will not work OR
3. Implement SUPERMAXX immediately to cater for the rapidly increasing numbers using public transport through financial stringency. The current minor hugely expensive incremental improvements will not do this.
AUCKLAND PLAN PRESENTATION
I was scheduled by Auckland Council to make a 30 minute presentation on Supermaxx to the Council at 2pm monday 21st November. Friday afternoon 18th November I was told my presentation had been cancelled on the order of two Councillors!!!! Why would they be worried?
Update Monday 5th December. Finally got 15 minutes to present to Council. A stoney silence greeted my presentation on how they could get a much more functional public transport system in Auckland at much reduced costs to commuters and save $50 million a year in operating subsidies. They declined to ask any questions or respond to my challenge above. Mayor Len Brown walked out as I was called to the lecturn to speak! Very sad really!
INTEGRATED TICKETING - There needs to be an urgent independent thorough investigation of the whole integrated ticketing/Thales/Infratil fiasco. How did Infratil (NZ Bus) weasel their HOP card onto their buses when they failed to get the integrated contract? Why is Auckland Transport now paying tens of thousands of dollars to replace Infratil HOP cards? In my estimation over $50 million of ratepayers/taxpayers money has been wasted on this fiasco - and its still not in service!!
AUCKLAND CONGESTION - The city gets more congested by the day which affects all transport - public and private. Auckland Transport are incapable of providing the solutions and are wasting vast sums of money proving it. Auckland Transport is grossly over staffed by at least 200. Sack them and replace them with 20 people who can make quality decisions quickly and save $20 million per year in operating costs. Add that to $50 million savings if SUPERMAXX is introduced and for $70 million a year I will have Auckland as the most free flowing city city in New Zealand, if not the world, within 3 years!!
EVERY AUCKLANDER SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED!
Paul Mees of the Melbourne Institute of Technology is regarded around the world as one of the guru's of public transport development. The New Zealand Herald on 22nd August, 2011 stated
"Paul Mees, who for 10 years has portrayed Auckland to his students at Melbourne Universities as having worst-practice transport systems would rank top of a world league for motorways. But if you compare its public transport with the best in the world it's right down at the bottom, even with the improvements that have already happened"........
"Asked why he was so fascinated by Auckland, Dr Mees said it was because the city was "such an extreme case" in its low public transport use, which accounted for about 6% of trips at the 2006 census compared with more than 20% in Sydney."
TAKE A BREAK - GREAT VALUE SMALL GROUP ESCORTED TOURS.
CANTERBURY CALLS - A Christchurch recovery tour
Support the businesses and people of Christchurch as they recover from the earthquakes. 4 nights in Christchurch plus 2 day tour to Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura. Depart 19th February, 25th March, 13th May, 2012.
ISRAEL AND JORDAN Depart 2nd April, 2012. Features Easter in Jerusalem. Optional extension to Turkey and Gallipoli for ANZAC Day
SRI LANKA - Depart 1st July, 2012
8 days touring this beautiful island plus 3 days beach.
Tour supports St Vincents orphanage and school
NORTH KOREA AND BEIJING. 14 days. depart 29 September, 2012.
DISCOVER CHINA - 20 to 24 days. Depart 10th October.
Features Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou and 6 day luxury Yangtse cruise from Chongqing to Shanghai. Guilin and Yangshuo extension.
Click www.connoisseurholidays.co.nz below for details
WINTER BREAKAWAY - RAROTONGA AND AITUTAKI
Two of the most beautiful islands on earth
Hosted ex Auckland. Depart September 1
For details click here