CITY TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 234, 3 October 1932, Page 3

CITY TRAFFIC.

SURVEY FOR PAST YEAR. POPULARITY OF TAMAKI DRIVE. In a report to the City Council, the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, stated that there had been a decline in the use of public passenger vehicles and a substantial increase in the use of all private means of transport. The survey was undertaken with a view to ascertaining the extent to which the opening of the waterfront road has affected the distribution of traffic, the general trend of traffic and the cffect of the depression on its growth. The census, commenced early last February, included two independent counts at each of the intersections from S a.m. to 6 p.m. on ordinary week days under normal conditions. The figures taken at the 17 intersections showed a total of 132,300 vehicles, as compared with 122,440 last year, an increase of 9563. Exclusive of trams, the vehicles increased by 10,696 from 114,020 last year to 124,716 this year, j There was a general increase in the movement of traffic in the city, in spite of the retarding influences of the depression, and at only three points was a decrease recorded. The most notable increases were on the Tarnaki Drive-Strand-Gladstone Road section, 67 per cent; Hobson Street, at the baths, 43 per cent; King's Drive and French Street, 33 per cent; and Hobson Street and Welleslcy Street, 29 per cent. The only substantial decline, one of 14 per cent, was recorded at the intersection of Lower Symonds Street and Grafton Road.

A total of 48,592 vehicles entered and left the business area on an ordinary week day this year, as against 44,625 last year, the increase being 3967 vehicles, representing an expansion of traffic of nearly 9 per cent in 12 months. There was a small increase, both numerically and of quota percentage, in the traffic to the north across the harbour. The engineer stated that the large increases of traffic during the year along Tamaki Drive, and to some extent along King's Drive, were due to the opening of the waterfront road. Increases were shown in Belgium and France Streets on account of the popularising of taxi services. The total registration of motor vehicles for the past year, 20,886, represented a decrease of 340, or 1.13 per cent, on the previous year's registrations. The statistics, according to Mr. Tyler, disclosed the wisdom of obtaining survey data each year before making final decisions in respect to traffic outlets.