Aucklanders are urged to be patient and plan ahead as the city's roads and public transport services are expected to get busier as the region heads into what is known as 'March Madness'.
It’s driven by school and university students returning to normal routines for the year, and workers returning from summer breaks.
The transport provider has asked those who can travel off-peak to do so but has faced fierce criticism on social media by those who are unable and are stuck travelling on Auckland Transport (AT)'s cut-back schedule due to the ongoing driver and ferry staff shortage.
Rachel Smalley spoke to Richard Harrison from Auckland Transport who defended the transport operator's request.
"I think we've got to appreciate that we are heading into the busiest month that we will have seen on the roads and public transport network since before COVID," Harrison said.
"We're just not used to it, we've forgotten what it's like, we're not used to standing on a bus anymore or having to wait for the next one to come through."
While the city may face a short-term struggle as March progresses, Smalley asked Harrison what Auckland Transport needs to do to get Aucklanders moving.
"We're focused on getting drivers and ferry skippers onto the network so we're able to get people travelling around.
"Beyond that, it's just figuring out what are the priorities of when, where and how Aucklanders want to move around the city.
"We're responsible for all modes of transport, so [we are] making sure we're providing the appropriate things in the right place."
AT manages rail, ferries and buses and roads across the super-city, Smalley enquired what the biggest roading bottleneck is.
"All of us who drive around the city have seen the traffic a lot busier and we appreciate a lot of people are choosing to use their cars rather than getting onto public transport or using other modes.
"We're focused on getting [staff] out there so that we can restore [public transport] services, it's starting to happen, we are starting to put more service back on, this is going to keep happening through 2023.
"We've got a few months yet before we fully resolve it. We appreciate people's patience and support while we get there, but we are starting to put service back slowly now."
AT has revealed the progress that has been made in recruiting drivers.
- Howick and Eastern added 34 new drivers in the last two weeks and are now at full capacity.
- Waiheke Bus Company added three new drivers last week.
- Go Bus has been able to reduce the number of drivers required to run services.
The shortfall in ferry crew remains at 36, with the challenge facing Fullers being deckhands and skippers as it takes some time to recruit skippers because of the substantial training requirements.
Listen to the full interview between Richard Harrison and Rachel Smalley filling in for Tova above.
You can also download the full interview on the Tova podcast, and listen on the go.
