A major new rapid bus transit route alongside State Highway 16 in Auckland has been granted fast-track approval, Infrastructure Minister, Chris Bishop, has announced.
The North-West Rapid Transit project is the 33rd project approved through the Government’s fast-track process.
The project includes a busway alongside State Highway 16 between Brigham Creek and Auckland City Centre, seven rapid transit stations and one Park and Ride facility at Brigham Creek Rarawaru. It will also include connections to the local bus and road network.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) lodged its application in December last year, with approval taking less than five months from the appointment of the independent expert panel.
“This project will provide faster, more frequent and reliable public transport for Aucklanders living in the north-west, one of the city’s fastest-growing areas,” Mr Bishop says.
“By 2051, roughly 100,000 more people are expected to call the north-west home. Once completed, the project will have the ability to move up to 9,000 passengers per hour in each direction and provide a reliable 25-minute journey from Brigham Creek to Auckland City Centre.
“The recently opened Westgate Station has been designed to build on the success of Auckland Transport’s Western Express (WX1) service, which has experienced high demand since its introduction – growing faster than the Northern Busway at launch.
“The strong demand for public transport in the north-west is already clear. The WX1 has recorded more than 1.1 million passenger trips in the 12 months to May 2026, exceeding forecasts by around 40 per cent.
“Once fully completed, the Northwest Busway will be a transformational piece of infrastructure for northwest Auckland and, combined with the opening of the City Rail Link, shows this Government’s commitment to improving transport infrastructure across the city.
“It will provide a reliable 25-minute journey time from Brigham Creek to Auckland city centre, supporting Auckland’s continued growth and economic productivity for decades to come, and I look forward to further stages being delivered in the years ahead.”
More information about the project is available here: North West Rapid Transit.
