Podcast appearances and mentions of matt lowrie

There are hopes investment in rail is just the boost Auckland needs. The Government will tip more than $600 million of Government funding in Budget 2025 to fully fund the Rail Network Investment Programme until 2027. The freight network will get $461 million, and $143 million will be spent on Auckland and Wellington's metropolitan trains. Greater Auckland director Matt Lowrie told Kerre Woodham some maintenance hasn't been done for decades. He says that now that funding is coming through, they'll be able to get improvements done so they can actually maintain and continue to improve services. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March Madness is upon us – which means it’s the busiest time of year for anyone trying to get anywhere. It usually marks the end of the summer holiday period – school and university is back in session, and most people are back at work. So whether you’re biking, driving, or taking a train or bus – it's nightmarish. But it does lead back to that age old question – how do we solve our traffic problems? Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Matt Lowrie from Greater Auckland to look at some of the possible solutions. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsSound Engineer/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bus and train fares across New Zealand are set to rise with the transport agency asking councils to hit higher revenue targets. Public transport commentator Matt Lowrie spoke to Alexa Cook.

One commentator says enforcement is critical for road safety. The Government's announced it wants 3.3 million roadside alcohol breath tests a year, with a $1.3 billion budget over three years. $7 million is for incentives for police - for when they meet targets. Greater Auckland transport blog director Matt Lowrie says police haven't done enough breath tests for a long time. "It's only in the last year that they've actually started doing it - the numbers that they kind of need to do to be able to get that down. And what we've actually seen is that in the last 18 months, the number of deaths on the road has finally started coming down again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A transport commentator says the government's plan to scrap the region's fuel tax is ideologically motivated and Aucklanders will suffer. Transport Minister Simeon Brown says the government will explore alternative funding mechanisms such as tolls or time-of-use charges, but it's unclear when such tools would become available. Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowrie spoke to Corin Dann.

The government has fulfilled its election promise to cancel city's beleaguered Light Rail project. The plan had the potential to take up to 14-thousand-500 cars off the road, but the price soared to 14-point-6 billion dollars when it was decided to partly tunnel the rail line. Matt Lowrie is a transport commentator and editor of the Greater Auckland transport blog. He spoke to Ben Strang.

What's in store for the massive patch of land in Carrington Road's residential development. Over the next decade more than 4,000 homes are destined for the almost 40 hectares site which is seven kilometres, or approximately 15 minutes from the CBD. Three Tamaki Makaurau ropu of Marutuahu, Ngati Whatua and Waiohua-Tamaki are leading the project facilitated by the Crown. Two urban design advocates discuss the huge undertaking to create homes for tens of thousands of people in a coveted part of the city, next to the Unitec campus on the Mt Albert, Point Chevalier border. Matt Lowrie from Greater Auckland, and housing expert and urban strategist, Greer O'Donnell who is the managing director of the Urban Advisory talk to Kathryn.

Auckland light rail might not be off the table just yet, despite National saying it wanted to cancel plans for such a system within its first 100 days in office. Treasury estimates put the final budget for the project - which would connect parts of Auckland to the airport - at between $7.3 billion and $29.2 billion dollars. National leader, Christopher Luxon, said the money would be better spent elsewhere. But now Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has proposed a cheaper option, which the incoming Prime Minister says he's open to discussing once a government is formed. Matt Lowrie is a public transport commentator and editor of the Greater Auckland blog. Lowrie spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government's choice for a second Waitemata Harbour crossing is being called 'comical'. It includes two three-lane tunnels for vehicles and a 21 kilometre light rail tunnel between Albany and the CBD. It'll take decades to finish and cost tens of billions of dollars. Greater Auckland director Matt Lowrie disapproves of the high cost and projected emissions, and says there are better uses for $40 billion. "Proper public transport to the Northwest, out East, to the airport and Botany, round Upper Harbour- there are plenty of places where we could spend $40 billion to vastly improve transport all around Auckland." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A transport commentator says Labour's proposal to dig three tunnels under Auckland harbour is farcical. The roughly $45 billion project would include a pair of three-lane tunnels for traffic, and another for trains. The rail tunnel would connect the central city's Wynyard Quarter to six new train stations all the way to Albany. Matt Lowrie is the editor of the Greater Auckland blog. Lowrie spoke to Corin Dann.

A suggestion the economics in ACT's latest transport policy won't stack up. The Party says it would fund roading infrastructure with toll roads and more public-private partnerships. Greater Auckland Director Matt Lowrie says today's cost of construction means there's no way tolls could pay it off. "Look at something like Transmission Gully- you'd probably be looking at a toll of around $20 per car, per trip to cover the cost of construction. That was before the cost increased by 50 percent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is about to make a major announcement on the second Auckland harbour crossing. The PM is  expected to announce the scenarios being considered and the timetable at 9 o'clock. Matt Lowrie writes the transport blog "Greater Auckland". He spoke to Corin Dann.  

An Auckland public transport group says the situation with the city's transport network has tipped into a full-blown crisis and should be treated like one. Thousands of buses are being cancelled each week, ferry and train services have been reduced and there's traffic gridlock. Auckland Transport says it's been the busiest two weeks on public transport since Covid and progress is being made on the bus driver shortage. But the group Greater Auckland says with AT facing a Council cost-saving drive, and the lack of a clear strategy, it's unlikely frustrated commuters will see improvement any time soon. Kathryn speaks to Greater Auckland's Matt Lowrie and AT's Metro Services Group Manager Darek Koper.

A seven percent bump in public transport use is not enough for the government to keep universal half price fares. They go in March next year along with the fuel tax discount. Instead the discounted public transport fares will be targetted at comumnity service card users, including uni students . A Waka Kotahi survey found the half price fares generated 7% trips on public transport - but almost half of those came from people who previously walked or cycled .Greater Auckland's Matt Lowrie talks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6317199145112

Situation vacant, again. The man chosen as Auckland Transport's new chief executive has pulled the handbrake, before even getting in the driver's seat. In a surprise media statement, AT said with the arrival of a new Auckland Council and changes to the board, the environment has changed and the preferred candidate does not want the job anymore. Checkpoint understands he was a high calibre candidate based in the UK and wanted to have a conversation with the mayor before he moved to Auckland, but never got one. Mayor Wayne Brown has been highly critical of the transport agency's performance and called for the entire board to resign - so far only a few have obliged. Transport expert Matt Lowrie from Greater Auckland talks to Lisa Owen.  

There's more disruption for the beleaguered Auckland public transport network after Auckland Transport posted last minute warnings of train delays today. Scheduled services on the Western, Southern and Onehunga lines were out due to problems with overhead power lines. It is an infrastrucure issue that Auckland Tansport says is Kiwrail's problem. But commuters told our reporter Louise Ternouth it ends up being their problem. AT data from the first two days of October shows it cancelled on average about 1100 bus trips a day. It declined to come on the programme but says it is working on adjustments to its timetables. Transport expert Matt Lowrie from the Greater Auckland website says it's a shambles

A call for an open mind on housing density rules as Auckland Council and the Government clash. Newstalk ZB understands the Government is concerned about the council's moves to protect character villas. Ministers think it's being overzealous in its use of character protection in the inner suburbs.  Greater Auckland transport spokesperson Matt Lowrie told Mike Hosking there's not enough talk about the good more housing can do for an area. He says it allows for more business, parks, schools and public transport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's expected that next week the government is going to unveil plans for a congestion charge in the country's largest city, Auckland. Jesse speaks to Matt Lowrie, the editor of transport and urban design blog, Greater Auckland.

Auckland commuters could be paying to drive on inner-city roads in future, with the government expected to announce congestion pricing next week as part of its final Emissions Reduction Plan. If it goes through, the charge could help reduce vehicle emissions by removing 12 per cent of traffic off the city's roads. A 2020 report called the Congestion Question recommended higher charges for peak time periods, starting at $1.50 for off-peak, $2.50 during shoulder times, and $3.50 for peak periods, with the charges only applied once within a two-hour window regardless of distance travelled, and no charge between 7pm and 6am. Kathryn discusses the issue with Auckland mayor Phil Goff, Michael Barnett of the Chamber of Commerce and Editor of urban advocacy group, Greater Auckland, Matt Lowrie.

With Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi, Matt Lowrie, and Andrea Grimes.

Is housing intensification going to destroy the Kiwi way of life? A new Remuera townhouse project planning to put up 13 new homes is causing issues within the community. The plan, however, is fully legal under Auckland's intensification plan.  Matt Lowrie, greaterauckland.org.nz editor, joined Si and James. LISTEN ABOVE 

Auckland Transport is being criticised for a cycleway plan costing $8m per kilometre. More than $144 million out of a billion-dollar city Council climate package will go on 18 kilometres of cycle infrastructure. It's much pricier than Wellington's bike cycle plans at 1.5 million dollars a kilometre. Greater Auckland advocacy website's editor, Matt Lowrie joined Kerre McIvor. “This 18 kilometres which is also on top of other things that they're rolling out is really just a drop in the bucket of what's needed to make a safe cycling city.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Transport is being criticised for a cycleway plan costing $8m per kilometre. More than $144 million out of a billion-dollar city Council climate package will go on 18 kilometres of cycle infrastructure. It's much pricier than Wellington's bike cycle plans at 1.5 million dollars a kilometre. Greater Auckland advocacy website's editor, Matt Lowrie joined Kerre McIvor. “This 18 kilometres which is also on top of other things that they're rolling out is really just a drop in the bucket of what's needed to make a safe cycling city.” LISTEN ABOVE 

It's understood Auckland's light rail project will cost about $10 billion. The Newstalk ZB newsroom understands the Government will unveil details of this tomorrow. Greater Auckland Transport commentator Matt Lowrie told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's hoping for clear answers. “What we don't know yet, is what that cost is for, there are a couple of options that are on the table. Is that cost for the most expensive option or is that the cheapest option?” LISTEN ABOVE  

A transport advocate says public consultation on Auckland's light rail project is an empty gesture.The proposed rail line would run from central Auckland to Mangere, but it is unclear exactly where the stops would be.Public consultation on the proposed line will last until September.Greater Auckland spokesperson Matt Lowrie told Heather du Plessis-Allan they aren't asking the right questions."Consultation is asking questions such  as 'where do you travel to on Dominion Road' or 'how important is climate change to you?'. Consultation is not dealing with the issue or how do the public view tradeoffs or how to deal with tradeoffs."LISTEN ABOVE

Delays, cancellations, widespread understaffing, frequent overtime and pay disuptes - the list of woes within the bus transport sector are many. None have been more in the spotlight of late, than the long-running stoush between Wellington bus drivers and their employer NZ Bus. The Tramways Union has now struck a new deal with the company, after negotiations broke down last month. The Greater Wellington Regional Council helped the two groups reach an agreement, with drivers due to vote on 23 June. Its chair Daran Ponter says it's a great result, but now it's time to look to the future - he wants buses and infrastructure returned to public ownership, and says the current Public Transport Operating Model doesn't work. The Government is reviewing that model and the Transport Minister Michael Wood is open minded to this idea. Should bus operations be returned to public hands? Transport commentator and the editor of the Greater Auckland blog Matt Lowrie spoke to Corin Dann.

Delays, cancellations, widespread understaffing, frequent overtime and pay disuptes - the list of woes within the bus transport sector are many. None have been more in the spotlight of late, than the long-running stoush between Wellington bus drivers and their employer NZ Bus. The Tramways Union has now struck a new deal with the company, after negotiations broke down last month. The Greater Wellington Regional Council helped the two groups reach an agreement, with drivers due to vote on 23 June. Its chair Daran Ponter says it's a great result, but now it's time to look to the future - he wants buses and infrastructure returned to public ownership, and says the current Public Transport Operating Model doesn't work. The Government is reviewing that model and the Transport Minister Michael Wood is open minded to this idea. Should bus operations be returned to public hands? Transport commentator and the editor of the Greater Auckland blog Matt Lowrie spoke to Corin Dann.

Waka Kotahi is purposely slowing traffic.Chief executive Nicole Rosie told a parliamentary select committee yesterday they're testing slowing traffic through queues instead of traditional measures like speed signs.It's part of the Innovating Streets programme, and the intention is to expand it around the country.Greater Auckland director Matt Lowrie says told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's about making it easier for people to get around."A lot of international research is showing is that if you make it easier to drive, ultimately more people do that and therefore you get more congestion and more emissions and it makes it harder for people to walk and cycle in their communities." LISTEN ABOVE

Transport Minister Michael Wood yesterday announced the establishment of a unit tasked with getting Auckland light rail back on track. Greater Auckland editor Matt Lowry talks to Jesse about the option.

Transport officials have warned the government the Auckland Light Rail project is too big and too complex for any public agency to deliver. RNZ has reported this morning that cabinet ministers want the transport link to be overseen by a government organisation. But officials say that for that to happen, a brand new organisation might need to be established. Matt Lowrie is a public transport advocate and editor of Greater Auckland.

By RNZA congestion charge of $3.50 to drive through Auckland's central city at peak hours is one option being considered to handle the city's traffic problems.Details of the scheme have been revealed in a just-released report.According to the report, there could be a peak period travel charge of $3.50 with a lower charge of $1.50 at other times.A levy would apply Monday to Friday but not at weekends.The report from July 2020 has been completed by a joint government and Auckland City group called The Congestion Question, set up to see if congestion pricing would work in Auckland.Congestion charges have been introduced in other cities like London, Singapore and Stockholm. Users pay to enter some parts of a city - and often pay more at rush hour.The report says that with the right design - and improvements to public transport - Auckland could see improvements in traffic flows.It does suggest helping people who face "unreasonable and unavoidable" increases in transport costs because of charges.The joint government-Auckland City working group has also identified where congestion charges could be introduced.It suggests the best zones would be a city centre cordon and along some "strategic corridor" routes - main roads.The report says setting up charging along some strategic routes would be simple to develop and manage; it could also improve local air quality.- RNZ  

Matt Lowrie from the Greater Auckland Transport blog shares his thoughts with The Panel.

The Panel is joined by Matt Lowrie from the Greater Auckland Transport Blog as part of its Transport Special.

This encouraging episode looks at how the car-dependent metropolis of Auckland in New Zealand has been changing course since 2003 or so. It's part of my December 2018 discussion with Matt Lowrie and Patrick Reynolds of the Greater Auckland blog. Learn more and read the full show notes here. Support Reinventing Transport on Patreon. Follow Paul Barter on Twitter.

Episode 8 is a chat with Matt Lowrie of the Greater Auckland blog about Auckland, New Zealand, and its bold with parking reforms. These include abolishing most of its parking minimums and success with demand-based on-street parking pricing. Find out more here. Support Reinventing Parking on Patreon. Follow Paul Barter on Twitter.

I interviewed Patrick Reynolds and Matt Lowrie, two of the bloggers on the Greater Auckland blog in New Zealand’s largest city. It was a wide ranging conversation which will eventually become two Reinventing Transport episodes and one Reinventing Parking episode.  Auckland is a striking example of a rather car dependent city that has actually been changing some of its key trends and taking some remarkable steps towards becoming a different kind of city in which other transport options are steadily improving. This episode focuses on the Greater Auckland blog itself and its role in Auckland’s transport (and planning) policy conversations and debates. It has been amazingly effective and influential. There are lessons for transport activists anywhere.