In 2017/18, 76.3 million tonnes of freight was transported around Auckland, a number projected to be 108 million tonnes by 2046. Over 90% of this freight relies on the region's increasingly constrained road network. Sharing this network with public transport, cyclists, pedestrians, and general traffic often results in valuable freight being held up in congestion. Acknowledging this, Auckland Transport (AT) has progressed initiatives to improve the safe and efficient movement of freight.

At a network-level, we completed in-depth analysis utilising purchased EROAD volume, O-D, and movement data along with existing traffic counts and forecasting. This analysis determined if the existing freight network was still fit-for-purpose, identified problematic corridors that require intervention, and surfaced new corridors that justify addition to the network. At a detailed level, AT is exploring a new pilot project to provide signal priority to freight vehicles through strategic corridors and at specific problem intersections. This will use a combination of detection through GPS tracking systems and camera technology, which promises to facilitate efficient freight movement where it's most needed. While the initiatives are Auckland-specific, the approach can be adapted to freight planning across Aotearoa, as all cities need to balance the movement of goods with the safe and efficient movement of people on limited road networks. This presentation outlines the methodology used and demonstrates how data-driven planning can deliver a smarter, more efficient freight network.