Decision Digest – March 2024 Auckland Transport Board meeting Decision Digest – March 2024 Auckland Transport Board meeting
Date: 28 March 2024
The Auckland Transport (AT) Board held its March meeting on Tuesday where it heard a public submission from Extinction Rebellion, highlighting the climate emergency and advocating for more people to use public transport to reduce transport emissions. The Board thanked them for their submission and commitment to environmental outcomes.
The open session concluded with a farewell and acknowledgement of the service of former director and acting board chair Wayne Donnelly.
Standing items
Chief Executive Open Business Report: The Board heard from Chief Executive Dean Kimpton on AT’s progress to achieve annual public transport patronage of 100 million by the end of the performance year. He reiterated AT’s commitment to using evidence-based advice to support decision-making.
Mr Kimpton acknowledged the current policy and funding changes before AT in the form of the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport and removal of the Regional Fuel Tax, and the effort undertaken to understand then quantify these impacts in order to support the formal submission process.
He also spoke about the growing success of AT’s Fareshare scheme, which gives employers the opportunity to subsidise their staff’s public transport costs. He also mentioned progress on the Eastern Busway, the opening of the Auckland Rail Operations Centre, and AT’s success in getting people to and from the recent Pink concert.
Items for decision
Statement of Intent 2024: The Board heard from Scott Campbell, Acting Director Strategy and Governance, on the draft Statement of Intent 2024 – 2027. It was acknowledged that it is a working draft, with some sections and details still to be confirmed following developments with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport, Long Term Plan and Regional Land Transport Plan.
Decision: The Board approved the draft Statement of Intent 2024 – 2027 to be forwarded to Auckland Council on 28 March 2024 for comment and noted that the SOI will be updated to reflect developments including the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport, Long Term Plan and Regional Land Transport Plan before being finalised in July 2024.
Board Charter Review: The Board reviewed its updated Charter.
Decision: The Board approved the updated Charter and noted that the Charter is subject to review by the Board at 18-month intervals.
Tier 1 Delegations Policy: The Board were updated on changes to AT’s Delegations Policy.
Decision: The Board approved the Delegations Policy for adoption at AT and the signing of the Board Delegation to the Chief Executive at pages 12-14 of the Delegations Register.
Public Transport Growth Programme Update: Stacey Van Der Putten, Director Public Transport and Active Modes, gave the Board an update on AT’s Public Transport Growth Programme. She said AT has so far completed 14 of the plan’s initiatives with a further 42 in progress, but the draft Government Policy Statement does present funding challenges to both services provision and enabling infrastructure.
Ms Van der Putten mentioned the importance of contactless payments coming for public transport later this year. She highlighted that parts of the Public Transport Growth Programme focus on improving safety onboard and introducing better bus prioritisation to improve journey times.
Decision: The Board noted the progress made on the delivery of the Public Transport Growth Programme. It also noted the increase in patronage levels, public transport users and their frequency of travel.
Safety Business Report: The Board heard from Karen Duffy, Director of People and Performance, on the progress of AT’s Safety, Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Decision: The Board received the report.
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You can find the agenda with all the details on each item here: Meetings & minutes.
The next meeting of the AT Board will take place on 28 May 2024.