While the cost of living and climate crises continue to bite and New Zealand’s transport infrastructure falls into disrepair, the left and right are both criticising Labour’s fourth extension to its inflationary fuel tax cut, calling it “dumb, election year populism” Introduced in March 2022 as a temporary three-month measure, the Government has once again extended its “cost of living support” until 30 June 2023 as the cost of living crisis continues. Continue →

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has announced the challenge topics for its second round of innovation funding after 24 projects were approved for round one Waka Kotahi received more than 110 applications for the initial round of funding for the $15 million innovation fund Hoe ki angitū, launched in June 2022 to help accelerate the development of solutions to challenges facing the land transport system. Continue →

A focus on the sustainable funding of any new passenger rail infrastructure, including its operation and ongoing maintenance, was discussed in Infrastructure New Zealand’s submission to an inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail Submissions closed recently for an inquiry opened by Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee. Continue →

Contactless debit or credit cards and digital payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay will be available on public transport throughout the country as part of the National Ticketing Solution (NTS), however it will not be fully rolled out until 2026 Whether it is on the bus, train or ferry, there will be a single payment system across New Zealand, with the signing of the National Ticketing Solution contract with American public transportation and defense corporation, Cubic. Continue →

The annual Bentley Systems Going Digital Awards honors the extraordinary work of software users advancing infrastructure design, construction, and operations Eleven independent jury panels selected 36 finalists from over 300 nominations submitted by more than 180 organizations from 47 countries encompassing 12 categories. Continue →

An Austroads research report aims to help transport agencies maintain their services and minimise disruptions in day-to-day journeys Multimodal Incident Management (MMIM) explores the ways transport agencies can manage unplanned incidents that disrupt the operations of more than one transport mode. Continue →

While the world moves to phase out fossil fuels and advance transport infrastructure, New Zealand is spending over a billion dollars just to maintain the status quo A 25-cent tax cut on every litre of fuel may seem like a welcome initiative given the spike in global oil prices, but it comes at the cost of over a billion dollars in lost tax revenue. Continue →

Infrastructure Decision Support (IDS), WSP and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Strategic Maintenance Investment Justification Project won big at the 2022 Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) Excellence Awards on Wednesday night in Adelaide It won the ‘IPWEA Australasia 2022 Excellence in Asset Management’ category and the prestigious ‘IPWEA Australasia 2022 Public Works Medal for Project of the Year.’ Continue →

Electrical energy can be transferred in an inductive process from a magnetic coil in or on the road pavement to a receiver coil in the vehicle, eliminating many of the issues currently holding back electric vehicles, Movemnt reports This allows for many short but high-speed charging processes – for example at shopping centres, in multi-storey car parks or even at home. Continue →

As traffic density continues to increase with population, keeping society from grinding to a halt often rests on our tunnel infrastructure, Mainmark Civil and Mining Operations Manager Matt McLean says Tunnels help to alleviate congestion, promote smoother traffic flow, and minimise disruption in built-up areas. Continue →

The starting point has to be Mayor Robbie’s Rapid Rail scheme in the 1970s – Tāmaki Makaurau would be unrecognisable had the plan gone ahead, says Transport Minister Michael Wood This was first posted on Greater Auckland pre-dating this week’s light rail announcement Its failure was one of the key junctures that set us on a path of congestion, urban sprawl, and car dependency in the ensuing decades. Continue →

Greg Miller has resigned as Group Chief Executive of KiwiRail after the Rail and Maritime Transport Union announced two planned strikes in the leadup to Christmas Strike action by rail workers is set to paralyse KiwiRail operations next month, affecting both rail and ferry transport. Continue →

KiwiRail has leased an additional freight ferry on the Cook Strait after New Zealand’s supply chain was suddenly left vulnerable following the failure of one of its three ferries, says Chief Executive Greg Miller The Valentine ferry is completing technical due diligence in England now, ahead of sailing to New Zealand. Continue →

After four years of uncertainty and $35 million of planning, rapid transit between Auckland CBD and the airport has finally been narrowed down to three options – Greater Auckland investigates The government has released the recommendations from the Auckland Light Rail team (ALR), ahead of this being considered by Cabinet later this year. Continue →

Talks are currently underway with New Zealand architects and construction leaders around the design of the new airport, which will support $240m of trade and a post-Covid tourism market The new development will allow Kiwi tourists to fly direct to Tonga’s main tourism hub Vava’u for the first time as well as expanding trade access for a wider range of goods and services. Continue →

KiwiRail has announced a new weekday rail service between Auckland and Christchurch to help New Zealand businesses grappling with disrupted ports and shipping lines The NZ Connect service will boost capacity and connections for moving domestic freight between the North and South Islands in time for peak season, says KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller. Continue →

The National Land Transport Programme 2021-24 finally gets road maintenance funding at the level it needs to be, but it will not be enough to catch up with years of deferred maintenance, says Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Silcock The three-year, $24.3b National Land Transport Programme 2021-24 announced this week by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, features a more than 24 per cent increase in State Highway and local road maintenance. Continue →

Singapore-Australia joint venture, Auckland One Rail, will take over Auckland’s passenger rail network after 18 years of operation by Transdev Auckland Transport has given a contract for the delivery of rail services in Auckland to Auckland One Rail (AOR), a joint venture between Singapore-based public transport operator ComfortDelGro and Australian rail operations and maintenance provider UGL.  Continue →

The Government has rejected Waka Kotahi’s proposal to toll the new extension of Auckland’s Northern Motorway after facing strong opposition from the local community The $877.5m project is expected to be completed next year and will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstone’s Hill tunnels to just north of Warkworth. Continue →

A 40-seat battery-driven drone bus will be in the air for cargo in 2022 and passengers in 2023 if the FAA approves Braeden Kelekona’s creation comes to life as an aircraft resembling a futuristic blimp capable of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). Continue →