Speed limits will change on 1540 roads in Auckland before July 1, at an estimated cost of $8.8m not budgeted in the region’s transport spend. So why is this happening?
What is happening?
Auckland Transport will increase speed limits on 1540 roads where limits were dropped since January 2020.
Why are the speed limits increasing?
The changes stem back to the last election and are part of the coalition agreement between National and Act.
The government’s rule change requires local roading authorities to reverse speed limit changes that were put in place in recent years on local roads because of a school in the area, or on main roads.
Where and when will speed limits change?
Drivers will see the first speed limit rises on main roads, mostly in south-east Auckland, from Monday March 17.
There will be 34 speed limit changes on 26 main roads before March 30, most of those (18) will be on roads in the Howick Local Board area. Six are in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board area.
Most of those changes will return speeds to 60kph, although Te Irirangi Drive will change to 80kph from 175m south of Ti Rakau Dr to 100m north of Belinda Ave.
AT’s map shows speed limits will increase on 1530 stretches of local roads from May to June. Manurewa is the suburb where the most changes will happen, with 121 in Manurewa, 80 in Weymouth, 18 in Manurewa East and 46 in Clendon Park.
What about around schools?
Variable speed limits will be installed in a 300m stretch of road at 153 schools, but the surrounding streets will return to 50kph.
Schools on busier roads will get electronic variable speed signs, while quieter local streets will have static signs.
How much will it cost?
Auckland Transport estimates it will cost $8.8m to reverse the speed limits, of which Auckland Council is expected to fund 49%. NZTA Waka Kotahi has indicated it will provide 51% of funding.
Auckland Council’s portion of costs is not budgeted in its regional land transport plan.
According to AT, the electronic variable speed limit signs for schools cost approximately $12,500 each, and each section of road outside a school gate uses two signs. AT doesn’t know yet how many of these signs will be needed.
Is there agreement on raising speed limits?
No. Several Auckland Councillors have been vocal in their opposition to the blanket reversals.
North Shore councillor Richard Hills told Stuff it would be preferable to work with those communities that weren’t happy with the slower speeds, rather than impose the changes on all communities and divert money from other roading projects.
On a national level, Movement, an alliance of national organisations that support safe and accessible active transport, is seeking a High Court injunction to stop the speed limit reversal process before a judicial review of the rules is considered.
Movement has invited roading authorities to join its court action. Auckland Transport has not responded to Stuff’s questions about whether it would join those proceedings.
On Wednesday, several transport safety and community groups (Bike Auckland, Living Streets Aotearoa, All Aboard Aotearoa and Brake) called for AT and Auckland Council not to rush into the speed changes.
