Auckland Light Rail Project Auckland Light Rail Project

Project Zone: Central
Status: Under Investigation


Background 

Rapid transit is a key transport priority for Auckland - a critical investment to develop a modern, connected, high capacity transport system in New Zealand’s largest city, supporting jobs, growth, and housing. 
 
17% of Auckland’s population growth and 33% of job growth will happen along with the City Centre to the Māngere corridor in the next 30 years. The corridor also serves centres of urban renewal, including the Kāinga Ora, which led by Housing Programmes for Mt Roskill and Māngere. 
 
As the backbone of Auckland’s light rail network, the City Centre to Māngere line will eventually connect to the North and Northwest to benefit the whole city. 
 
The line will connect two major employment hubs and deliver better access for communities along the route including suburbs that have limited public transport options. 

 

Auckland Light Rail

Auckland Light Rail Team

The Auckland Light Rail team is a collaboration between Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, the Ministry of Transport and Kāinga Ora. 
 
The team reports to a governance board with an independent chair and representatives of key agencies, local boards and Mana Whenua. 
 
The group are working on the tasks set by the Government which include:

  • Developing the business case 
  • Partnering with Mana Whenua 
  • Engaging with stakeholders and communities 

As part of the business case the project team will consider how best to achieve these outcomes: 

A light rail service that: 

  • Is attractive, reliable, frequent, safe and equitable 
  • Is integrated with the current and future public transport network 
  • Improves access to employment, education and other opportunities 
  • A transport solution that embeds sustainable practice and reduces Auckland’s carbon footprint 
  • Unlocking urban development potential, supporting a quality compact urban form and enabling integrated and healthy communities 

The Government will make decisions at the end of 2021 on how the project will be taken forward. 

For more information, visit the Light Rail website