Rail commuters will have a much shorter walk to their office and new business will emerge as a result if the City Rail Link (CRL) is built, says Auckland Transport.
Like Britomart, areas surrounding the three new stations may be redeveloped. Photo: Rob MacGregor
Auckland Transport communications manager Carol Greensmith says the CRL will provide a number of important economic benefits which will help shape a growing Auckland.
She says the areas surrounding the three new stations are likely to experience economic growth because the accessibility they provide will encourage businesses to set up around them.
“An example of that is Britomart. Not that long ago Britomart was a pretty grotty part of Auckland, you wouldn’t really want to be there.
“Now it’s a focal point. Companies like Ernst & Young and Westpac have decided to locate their business at Britomart because transport infrastructure is the catalyst for development.”
Ms Greensmith thinks the CRL’s ability to speed up the entire Auckland transport network will greatly improve the country’s economic productivity.
This will be achieved through creating easier access to the dense areas where productivity is highest, she says.
“Jobs tend to become more productive once they concentrate, which is why you get such concentrations of activity in the city centres.
“The firms that undertake the activities that benefit from concentration want to be in those areas because, although it costs them more to be there, the increased productivity is worth paying more [for].”
The editor of the Auckland Transport Blog, Patrick Reynolds, says the CRL will aid economic development by opening up the capacity of the transport network which is currently “dormant”.
Companies like Ernst & Young and Westpac have set up their offices near efficient transport access. Photo: Rob MacGregor
However, he thinks the people who are designing the project do not realise how successful it will eventually be.
“I am very concerned that Aotea station in particular will be under-designed and under-built”, he says.
Mr Reynolds says the station, which will have a main exit at Wellesley St, needs to be bigger and contain more exits as the location is surrounded by the highest population density in the entire country.
The Auckland Council will make a recommendation on the CRL design plan at a hearing later in the year.
