Auckland’s northwest is racing ahead in population—and now, infrastructure is catching up. The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has backed a multi-stage rapid transit project to build the Northwest Busway, a long-anticipated development announced by Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Mayor Wayne Brown on Wednesday.
Aligning Infrastructure Investment with Projected Growth
“Delivering faster, more frequent, and reliable public transport is essential and will ensure the transport network can accommodate this growth and ensure people can get where they need to go quickly and safely.” “By 2051, an additional 100,000 people are expected to be living in the area, with 40,000 new homes, and 40,000 new jobs based there,” Bishop said.
Leveraging Existing Services to Accelerate Rollout
The Western Express (WX1) launched in 2023 along the Northwestern Motorway and has quickly become a popular option for West Auckland commuters. “The staged construction programme in the investment case prioritises benefits to West Aucklanders sooner and focuses on more people benefiting from faster and more reliable journeys, as quickly as possible, while building on the hugely popular WX1 service,” Bishop said.
Phased Construction to Maximise Early Returns
The Northwest Busway will be constructed in three major stages. The first, running from 2024 to 2026, includes new stations and upgrades to the WX1 and carries an investment of up to $380 million. Its high benefit-cost ratio has helped fast-track the rollout.
“The benefit-cost ratio of the first stage was 6.3, meaning the project promised to deliver $6.3 of benefits for every $1 invested,” Bishop said.
A separately funded Westgate station is being developed in parallel and is expected to open in 2026. Stage two involves building the main two-way busway alongside SH16, while stage three will complete the corridor to the city centre via Waterview.
Funding Strategy and Delivery Mechanisms Under Review
The NZTA’s endorsement brings the Northwest Busway a step closer, but full construction is not yet guaranteed. A government commitment of $116 million will support planning and land acquisition through 2024, while future phases await further funding.
“Incremental delivery is expected over multiple National Land Transport Programme [NLTP] periods, spreading the investment to enhance affordability and provide a strong pipeline of work for the construction sector into the future,” said Bishop.
Funding alternatives being assessed include public-private partnerships and infrastructure value capture. The National Infrastructure Funding and Financing agency could play a supporting role, but no final decisions have been made. “Depending on further funding availability, construction of the Northwest Busway could begin from 2027,” Bishop noted.
Cross-Government Alignment Signals Strong Policy Support
The project has received rare bipartisan backing at both local and central government levels, signalling broad recognition of the transport pressures facing the northwest.
“It’s what Aucklanders have been asking for, it’s what I’ve been advocating for on their behalf, and it’s a signal that Wellington is listening to Aucklanders’ needs,” Mayor Wayne Brown said.
Conclusion
The busway project now moves toward implementation, with early infrastructure, planning, and funding decisions underway. While the full route won’t be completed for several years, the staged approach is designed to meet immediate needs in West Auckland.
“Delivering faster, more frequent, and reliable public transport is essential,” Bishop noted, pointing to the scale of change ahead.