Latest news with #Willetts
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Eastern Busway: Construction begins on $1.4b transport corridor, to open in 2027
The traffic switch created space to build the busway from Pakūranga along the middle of Tī Rākau Drive to Tī Rākau Bridge, near Burswood. 'Drivers and people walking, cycling and scootering are already benefiting from the Eastern Busway construction, with new traffic lanes and a shared path now open between Gossamer Drive and Pakūranga Highway,' AT said. Willetts said this extension of the Eastern Busway will open in 2027 and will enable bus services to run more often and reliably between Pakūranga and Botany. He said a lot of work has gone into preparing for this stage of construction, so AT can build the busway along the middle of Tī Rākau Drive without affecting the flow of traffic. 'This is an exciting next step for the Eastern Busway project, which has already made millions of bus trips faster between Pakūranga and Panmure train station since that section of the busway opened in December 2021,' Willetts said. AT said the Eastern Busway is a key part of Auckland's rapid transit system. The City Rail Link will open in 2026, making it possible to get from Pakūranga to West Auckland without getting stuck in traffic. 'From 2027, when the Eastern Busway opens, the East Auckland area between Panmure, Pakūranga and towards Botany will be even better connected,' Willetts said. 'Tī Rākau Drive is now back to having two vehicle lanes in each direction, and pedestrians and cyclists have safer, more convenient travel options.'
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Construction On Eastern Busway Kicks Into Next Gear
Press Release – Auckland Transport Drivers and people walking, cycling and scootering are already benefiting from the Eastern Busway construction, with new traffic lanes and a shared path now open between Gossamer Drive and Pakranga Highway. Construction of New Zealand's first busway along the middle of a major urban road is moving ahead – which will mean faster and reliable buses for East Auckland. During the Easter weekend Auckland Transport's Eastern Busway project carried out a traffic switch on Tī Rākau Drive. It has created space to build the busway from Pakūranga along the middle of Tī Rākau Drive to Tī Rākau Bridge near Burswood. Drivers and people walking, cycling and scootering are already benefiting from the Eastern Busway construction, with new traffic lanes and a shared path now open between Gossamer Drive and Pakūranga Highway. Auckland Transport Eastern Busway Programme Director, Tom Willetts, says this part of the busway is the first of its kind in New Zealand. 'This is the first time we'll have a fully separated busway running along the middle of an urban road, with traffic lanes on either side. When this extension of the Eastern Busway opens in 2027, it'll enable bus services to run more often and reliably between Pakuranga and Botany, without getting stuck in traffic,' Mr Willetts says. 'A lot of work has gone into preparing for this stage of construction, so we can build the busway along the middle of Tī Rākau Drive without affecting the flow of traffic in this busy part of Auckland. 'This is an exciting next step for the Eastern Busway project, which has already made millions of bus trips faster between Pakūranga and Panmure train station since that section of the busway opened in December 2021. We're looking forward to bringing those benefits to more of East Auckland as we extend the busway towards Botany.' The Eastern Busway is a key part of Auckland's developing rapid transit system. City Rail Link will open in 2026, making it possible to get from Pakūranga to west Auckland without getting stuck in traffic. 'From 2027, when the Eastern Busway opens the East Auckland area between Panmure, Pakūranga and towards Botany will be even better connected. Tī Rākau Drive is now back to having two vehicle lanes in each direction, and pedestrians and cyclists have safer, more convenient travel options,' Mr Willetts says.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Construction On Eastern Busway Kicks Into Next Gear
Construction of New Zealand's first busway along the middle of a major urban road is moving ahead – which will mean faster and reliable buses for East Auckland. During the Easter weekend Auckland Transport's Eastern Busway project carried out a traffic switch on Tī Rākau Drive. It has created space to build the busway from Pakūranga along the middle of Tī Rākau Drive to Tī Rākau Bridge near Burswood. Drivers and people walking, cycling and scootering are already benefiting from the Eastern Busway construction, with new traffic lanes and a shared path now open between Gossamer Drive and Pakūranga Highway. Auckland Transport Eastern Busway Programme Director, Tom Willetts, says this part of the busway is the first of its kind in New Zealand. 'This is the first time we'll have a fully separated busway running along the middle of an urban road, with traffic lanes on either side. When this extension of the Eastern Busway opens in 2027, it'll enable bus services to run more often and reliably between Pakuranga and Botany, without getting stuck in traffic,' Mr Willetts says. 'A lot of work has gone into preparing for this stage of construction, so we can build the busway along the middle of Tī Rākau Drive without affecting the flow of traffic in this busy part of Auckland. 'This is an exciting next step for the Eastern Busway project, which has already made millions of bus trips faster between Pakūranga and Panmure train station since that section of the busway opened in December 2021. We're looking forward to bringing those benefits to more of East Auckland as we extend the busway towards Botany.' The Eastern Busway is a key part of Auckland's developing rapid transit system. City Rail Link will open in 2026, making it possible to get from Pakūranga to west Auckland without getting stuck in traffic. 'From 2027, when the Eastern Busway opens the East Auckland area between Panmure, Pakūranga and towards Botany will be even better connected. Tī Rākau Drive is now back to having two vehicle lanes in each direction, and pedestrians and cyclists have safer, more convenient travel options,' Mr Willetts says.
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Drones could deliver NHS supplies under UK regulation changes
Drones could be used for NHS-related missions in remote areas, inspecting offshore wind turbines and supplying oil rigs by 2026 as part of a new regulatory regime in the UK. David Willetts, the head of a new government unit helping to deploy new technologies in Britain, said there were obvious situations where drones could be used if the changes go ahead next year. Ministers announced plans this month to allow drones to fly long distances without their operators seeing them. Drones cannot be flown 'beyond visual line of sight' under current regulations, making their use for lengthy journeys impossible. In an interview with the Guardian, Lord Willetts, chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), said the changes could come as soon as 2026, but that they would apply in 'atypical' aviation environments at first, which would mean remote areas and over open water. Referring to the NHS, Willetts said there was potentially a huge market for drone operators. 'It's great for drone operators commercially, but it's also great for services like the NHS,' he said. Drones could be used to deliver drugs to GPs and patients in remote locations, and to take blood samples to hospitals for testing, he said. The Scottish Highlands and islands could be one area of the UK to benefit, as could farming as a sector, he added. Regulatory changes could enable the use of drones under the government's safer streets fund, which supports measures against neighbourhood crime and antisocial behaviour. 'You could imagine that, for the safer streets initiative, they might be used by the police in circumstances where they might be trying to ensure public safety,' he said. Willetts also indicated that the definition of an 'atypical' air environment could be broadened, which could enable greater use of drones over long distances. The definition could 'cover a lot of airspace', he said. For drones to operate in busier airspace, however, there would need to be progress on technology and standards that alert aircraft to their presence. Citing deliveries to oil rigs and the maintenance of offshore wind turbines as another example of potential use by 2026, Willetts said that 'strictly speaking' using a drone to check on a turbine involved a line-of-sight requirement. Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives after newsletter promotion As part of last month's announcement, the government revealed it was giving £16.5m to the Civil Aviation Authority to deliver a regulatory framework that would allow beyond-line-of-sight drone use. Willetts said regulations had become disproportionate. The NHS already delivers urgent pathology items such as blood samples via drones as part of a trial in central London. It involves moving samples between Guy's hospital and a lab at St Thomas' hospital in partnership with the drone companies Apian – a UK startup co-founded by NHS doctors – and Wing, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet. A similar trial has also taken place in Northumberland. The UK technology secretary, Peter Kyle, said the regulatory changes would help the UK 'lead the world in new technologies'. 'These are exactly the kinds of barriers we're determined to break down through the Regulatory Innovation Office,' he said. 'Cutting red tape so drones can safely deliver supplies or inspect offshore wind turbines without costly workarounds like putting someone in a boat.'
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tech Secretary to cut red tape to make new technology available more quickly
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has said he will cut red tape so that technology like medical delivery drones can be made available more quickly. He told a tech conference that the Government would prioritise pro-innovation regulation in a dedicated plan for the sector, saying there is 'no route to long-term growth and no solution to our productivity problem, without innovation'. A trial of medical drones to deliver blood samples in London could be derailed by a single noise complaint, and this is the kind of red tape that will be peeled away so technologies can be brought to market quickly, he said. It comes as former Conservative minister Lord David Willetts was confirmed as the first head of the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), a role in which he will be tasked with shaping regulatory approaches for new technologies. The Technology Secretary told the techUK conference: 'Everywhere you see, there is an imbalance of power in this country which has – for too long – made it impossible to imagine a better future for Britain. 'To deliver our Plan for Change we have to shift the balance of power, away from stagnation and old ideas, towards innovation and opportunity, and the bold people building a new future for Britain. 'In doing so, by 2035 we could see a whole new Britain emerge, harnessing the power of technological development, from engineering biology to AI, semiconductors and cyber security, or quantum and future telecoms for a stronger economy and better lives for all in the UK.' Mr Kyle also announced the 10 winners of Innovate UK's Quantum Missions Pilot, who will receive £12 million between them to help develop quantum computing and networking technologies. The RIO was launched in October and is intended to reduce the burdens for businesses looking to bring new products and services to the market. Lord Willetts said he is 'honoured' to take on the role and hailed the 'exciting opportunity to shape regulatory approaches that empower new technologies'. Among the technologies the body could help make available are delivery drones for medicines and AI training software for surgeons, officials at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said. Drones could also be looked at in relation to other industries such as faster delivery of packages or groceries. Lord Willetts served as the MP for Havant from 1992 to 2015, and was paymaster general for a time under Sir John Major, before returning to the government as universities and science minister in Lord David Cameron's administration. Mr Kyle said Lord Willetts' experience 'will be key to streamlining innovation and unapologetically unleash the innovation that we know can improve lives'.
