Transport Design Manual Transport Design Manual

Roads and streets represent a large portion of public space in Auckland and cater for a wide variety of users undertaking many different activities.

The Auckland region is comprised of 70% rural area and 30% urban area, with the majority of people living and working in the urban area. The scale and pace of growth in Auckland combined with increasing intensification and the development of Auckland's urban areas and Greenfields are placing increased pressure on an already constrained road network and limited road space to deliver quality place and multi-modal transport objectives.

To address this pressure, AT and Auckland Council have been looking at better ways to plan and manage our roads and streets to better reflect the full range of modes, activities and functions that occur on them.

The Transport Design Manual (TDM) provides the design guidance and engineering requirements for the development and delivery of well-designed transport projects and their operation. The manual draws upon design approaches and practices, which have been successful in many cities and rural areas worldwide.

The TDM has 3 sections, design principles, engineering standards and specifications. Together, these sections allow end user outcomes, engineering design and construction requirements to be clearly identified and designed. The manual has been created to be a cascaded principle based approach that ensures consistency from strategic planning through to detailed design and construction of the outcomes.

The entire manual sets out:

1. The design principles and approaches to designing user outcomes.
2. How to apply safe design and safe speed requirements to achieve Vision Zero outcomes.
3. Design guidance and key transport catchment for designing liveable, connected neighbourhoods and town centres, particularly in Greenfields.
4. How to build a street from basic elements and how intersections should be designed to support this.
5. The detailed engineering requirements to design and construct the facilities necessary for the users identified by the Design Guides.
6. The construction specifications required to achieve consistent construction outcomes, including the opportunities to utilise recycled, synthetic and manmade products.

The Roads and Streets Framework and Transport Design Manual are complementary documents. Both documents when applied together will provide guidance to internal staff (such as Council family project teams), external parties (such as Government agencies, consultants and developers) about AT's requirements for the planning, design, construction and management of the road and street network, and the vesting of assets that will be managed by AT.

The TDM is a living document that is continually updated to ensure they are fit for purpose and reflect best practice.

The Transport Design Manual brings together the key players in the design, development and improvement of Auckland's road and street network so that the strategic and local place and movement functions are balanced and integrated to meet the multiple outcomes sought from them. The early involvement of the Council family of organisations, key partners such as Mana Whenua, Waka Kotahi NZTA and other stakeholders such as developers and utility companies is critical. The process is deliberately holistic and multi-disciplinary, recognising that no one profession or organisation has all the answers in how to achieve integrated and place-sensitive solutions for roads and streets.

The TDM is for everyone who plays a part in managing, designing, improving or determining the quality of roads and streets in Auckland, including engineers, planners, urban designers, project managers, developers, politicians and users.

• Download the Urban Street and Road Design Guide version 1.2: Business technology update (PDF, 15.4MB).
  
  Version history 
  • Version 1.2 May 2023: Updated to better align with integration of technology elements such as CCTV.
  • Version 1.1 June 2022: Updated to better align with new/updated strategic planning tools (Future Connect, Roads and Streets Framework 2.0)

  • Version 1.0 (original) of the Urban Street and Road Design Guide

• Download the Local Paths Design Guide (PDF, 18.7MB).
• Download the Signage and Wayfinding Design Guide version 2 (PDF, 6MB)
  
  Version history
  
  • Download the Signage and Wayfinding Design Guide version 1 (PDF, 19MB)
• Download the Waitakere Ranges Design Guide version 1 (PDF, 11.6MB).
• Download the Public transport interchange design guidelines (PDF, 2.4KB).
• Download the Infrastructure asset acceptance process and data requirements (PDF, 3.9MB)
• Download the Swale Planting Guide (PDF 1.2MB, 13 pages)
• Download the Bioretention Planting Guide, Version 2 (PDF 2.6MB, 17 pages). Replaces Bioretention Design Guide previous version (version 1), with immediate effect from February 2025.
• Download the Bioretention Planting Guide, Version 1 (PDF 1MB, 13 pages). Now replaced by Bioretention Design Guide Version 2 (PDF 2.6MB, 17 pages).
• Download the Bioretention Design Guide (PDF 1MB, 13 pages)

Engineering Design Code

Includes minimum standards, considerations and drawings required to undertake accurate and detailed designs based on a component approach for facilities.

• Download the Signage and Wayfinding Design Code version 2 (PDF, 6.5MB)
• Version history
  
  • Download the Signage and Wayfinding Design Guide version 1 (PDF, 19MB)
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Urban and Rural Roadway Design version 2 (PDF, 1.6MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Public Transport-Bus Infrastructure version 1 (PDF, 6.2MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Footpaths and the Public Realm version 2 (PDF, 2.6MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Cycling Infrastructure version 1 (PDF, 5.6MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Traffic Calming version 1 (PDF, 2.6MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Road Drainage and Surface Water Control version 1 (PDF, 6.5MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Street Lighting version 1 (PDF, 3.9MB).
  • See appendix documents for Street Lighting Engineering Design Code.
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Parking version 2 (PDF, 982KB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Public Transport - Rail Infrastructure version 2 (PDF, 3.8MB).
• Download the Engineering Design Code - Public Transport - Ferry Infrastructure version 2 (PDF, 1.2MB).

Design toolbox

Design Tools to support the various Engineering Design Codes. Coming soon.

Standard Engineering Details

Standard details for common elements such as kerbs, footpaths and drainage devices.

• Download the Geometric Design Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 381KB).
• Vehicle Tracking Envelope_Plotted-08082021 (PDF, 2MB).
• Download the Footpath Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 1.9MB).
• Download Cycling Infrastructure Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 2.7MB).
• Download the Kerbs and Channels Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 1.20MB).

• Download the Vehicle Crossings Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 2.9MB).
• Download the Parking Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 729KB).
• Download the Traffic Calming Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 658KB).
• Download the Fences Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 721KB).
• Download the Road Drainage Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 1.4MB).
• Download the Islands Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 462KB).
• Download the Signs & Markings Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 578KB).
• Download the Structures Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 474KB).
• Download the Street Lighting Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 153KB).
• Download the Traffic Signals Standard Engineering Details (PDF, 72KB).

• Download Series 0800 - Specification for the Supply of Aggregates (DOCX, 2.3MB).

Practice Notes have effect immediately on publication. They may override published TDM standards for urgent safety reasons. Necessary changes to affected TDM documents will be incorporated in future updates.

• • Download AT Raingarden Practice Note 03, edition 1 (March 2025) (PDF, 914KB)
  • Download Road Stormwater Catchpit - Spring Latch (Safety) Grates Practice Notes (PDF, 305KB).
  • Download Practice Note 04, edition 1 (July 2024) (PDF, 7.2MB), with immediate effect from 17 July 2024.
  • Download Practice Note 02, edition 2 (June 2024) - Use of raised devices on the AT Network (PDF, 582KB). Replaces Raised safety platforms (speed tables) - Practice Note 02, edition 1, with immediate effect from 1 July 2024.
  • Download Raised safety platforms (speed tables) Practice Note 2 (PDF, 500KB), now replaced by Practice Note 02, edition 2.