Street Talks: Transforming Public Transport with Auckland's New Network - with Anthony Cross

Auckland has made enormous strides in public transport in the last two decades – from pity mode for people with no better choice to a key structuring element of a fast-growing, dynamic city. Since its foundation in 2010, Auckland Transport has achieved major public transport transformation. Some highlights include, integrated ticketing and fares; electric trains; making real time information more real; much improved public transport interchanges and more reliable public transport services.

But the workhorse of the public transport system is the humble city bus – carrying over 70% of all public transport trips. Even with City Rail Link and Light Rail, bus will still be the dominant public transport mode into the future. But for City Rail Link and light rail to do their thing, they need a great bus network to support and feed them. And this is where the New Network comes in – as a first-principles review of the entire bus system that had been only incrementally changed since the late 1970s, so that it can perform its key role in the system. This is being implemented in stages with delivery to be complete in September this year.

Anthony Cross, the Manager Network Development under the new Auckland public transport brand AT Metro, and with the AT Metro Service Delivery team at AT has been the architect, champion and spearhead of the New Network. Anthony will share Auckland’s journey from public transport backwater to a bus system redesign widely regarded internationally as being best in class – with significant patronage increases testifying to its success.

This Street Talks event is brought to you by the Auckland Design Office at Auckland Council and MRCagney Ltd. Doors open 5:30pm with light refreshments and networking in the atrium area adjacent to the Whare Wānanga and the event itself kicks off at 6:00pm.

Location: Central City Library, Whare Wananga, Level 2, 44-46 Lorne Street