The runt of the Auckland Railway Station litter is set to transform into a shining asset in 2020, with a $60 million upgrade, to be carried out by McConnell Dowell-Built Environs Joint Venture.
Puhinui will be a landmark station upgrade in the relentless uphill battle that is the improvement programme for Auckland Transport. Because it represents a general determination about the long debated Auckland Airport public transport options, and an offering to long suffering commuters of Manukau.
Though nearby Middlemore is a functional station, especially for the purposes of the Hospital, and MiT Manukau Interchange (2012) is already demonstrating it's value with the addition of a bus station, the transport wasteland of Papatoetoe and Puhinui has long been due for a helping hand.
Puhinui could have always been the key transfer point between Southern and Manukau rail lines, but due to the absence of prior planning, the area is essentially a blockage in the road transport across Manukau. This is where the advantage of the new Puhinui plan should come into it's own, with the inclusion of a dedicated busway between Botany, Puhuinui, and the Airport. This means a combined Britomart-Puhuinui rail trip and 10 minute bus ride would equal a 46 minute trip from the city to the Airport. Some discussion centres on the Airport leg later becoming light rail. There are also hints that cycleway and walking access will be included, another large step forward in the Auckland context.
The NZTA have outlined plans for how people, and freight, travel around the south and east Auckland, including to and from the airport.
NZPlaces is calling this a virtual attraction, because, for now, Puhinui still retains her ugly duckling status. Your impressions and photos are welcomed.
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