Meeting of the Regional Transport Committee

 

 

Date:                 Friday 9 June 2017

Time:                10.15am

Venue:

Council Chamber

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

159 Dalton Street

NAPIER

 

Agenda

 

Item       Subject                                                                                                                  Page

 

1.         Welcome/Notices/Apologies 

2.         Conflict of Interest Declarations

3.         Short Term Replacements for the 9 June 2017 Regional Transport Committee         3

4.         Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on 10 March 2017

Ø     Verbal Deputation by Mr and Mrs Crispin on behalf of Citizens’ Environmental Advocacy Centre

5.         Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings                           5

6.         Call for Items of Business Not on the Agenda                                                              9

Decision Items

7.         Review of Regional Land Transport Plan Strategic Direction- Problem Descriptions 11

Information or Performance Monitoring

8.         NZTA Central Region - Regional Director's Report June 2017                                  31

9.         RoadSafe Hawke's Bay Report                                                                                   37

10.       June 2017 Public Transport Update                                                                           41

11.       June 2017 Transport Manager's Report                                                                     45

12.       Advisory Representatives' Verbal Updates

13.       Discussion of Items Not on the Agenda                                                                      49

 


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 09 June 2017

SUBJECT: Short Term Replacements for the 9 June 2017 Regional Transport Committee

 

Reason for Report

1.      Council has made allowance in the Terms of Reference for the Committee for short term replacements of alternates to be appointed to the Committee where the usual member/s cannot attend.

Committee Membership

Committee Members (Voting)

Councillor Alan Dick

Member and Chairman

HBRC

Councillor Fenton Wilson

Member and Deputy Chairman

HBRC

Councillor Keith Price Alternate Mayor Bill Dalton

Member

NCC

Mayor Alex Walker
Alternate Cr David Tennent

Member

CHBDC

Mayor Craig Little

Alternate not appointed

Member

WDC

Councillor Tania Kerr
Alternate Cr Rod Heaps

Member

HDC

Ms Lisa Rossiter
Alternate Ms Julie Alexander

Member

NZTA

Advisory Members (Non voting)

Brian Gregory

Cultural Interests and Environment

HBRC Maori Committee

David Murray

Private motorists, Public Transport users, Walking and Cycling

Automobile Association

Matt Broderick

NZ Police

NZ Police

Steve Young

Port and Coastal Shipping

Port of Napier Limited

Ian Emmerson

Road Transport industry

Road Transport Association

Kim Santer

Rail

KiwiRail

Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

Anne Redgrave

Transport Manager

HBRC

Megan Welsby

Sustainable Transport Officer

HBRC

Robin Malley

Transportation Team Leader

NCC

Shawn McKinley

Roading Manager

CHBDC

Jamie Cox

Engineering Manager

WDC

Mark Clews

Strategic Planning Manager

HDC

Jag Pannu

Transportation Manager

HDC

Paul Murphy

Senior Investment Adviser

NZTA

Simon Barnett

Principal Transport Planner

NZTA

Oliver Postings

Journey Manager

NZTA

Wayne Wallace

Principal Investment Adviser

NZTA

 

 

Recommendation

That __________________________ be appointed as member/s of the Regional Transport Committee of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the meeting of Friday, 9 June 2017 as short term replacement(s) on the Committee for _______________________.

 

Authored by:

Anne Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager
External Relations

 

   


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 09 June 2017

SUBJECT: Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings

 

Introduction

1.      Attachment 1 is a list of items raised at previous Regional Transport Committee meetings that require action or follow-up. All follow-up items indicate who is responsible for each item, when it is expected to be completed and a brief status comment. Once the items have been completed and reported to the Committee they will be removed from the list.

Decision Making Process

2.      Council is required to make a decision in accordance with Part 6 Sub-Part 1, of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements contained within this section of the Act in relation to this item and have concluded that as this report is for information only and no decision is required in terms of the Local Government Act’s provisions, the decision making procedures set out in the Act do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings”.

 

Authored by:

Anne  Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager
External Relations

 

 

Attachment/s

1

Follow-ups

 

 

  


Follow-ups

Attachment 1

 


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 09 June 2017

Subject: Call for Items of Business Not on the Agenda

 

Reason for Report

1.      Standing order 9.12 states:

A meeting may deal with an item of business that is not on the agenda where the meeting resolves to deal with that item and the Chairperson provides the following information during the public part of the meeting:

(a)   the reason the item is not on the agenda; and

(b)   the reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.

Items not on the agenda may be brought before the meeting through a report from either the Chief Executive or the Chairperson.

Please note that nothing in this standing order removes the requirement to meet the provisions of Part 6, LGA 2002 with regard to consultation and decision making.

2.      In addition, standing order 9.13 allows “A meeting may discuss an item that is not on the agenda only if it is a minor matter relating to the general business of the meeting and the Chairperson explains at the beginning of the public part of the meeting that the item will be discussed. However, the meeting may not make a resolution, decision or recommendation about the item, except to refer it to a subsequent meeting for further discussion.

Recommendations

1.     That the Regional Transport Committee accepts the following “Items of Business Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 13.

1.1.   Urgent items of Business

 

Item Name

Reason not on Agenda

Reason discussion cannot be delayed

1.           

 

 

 

 

2.           

 

 

 

 

 

1.2.   Minor items for discussion

Item

Topic

Councillor / Staff

1.   

 

 

2.   

 

 

3.   

 

 

 

Leeanne Hooper

GOVERNANCE & CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Liz Lambert

GROUP MANAGER
EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 09 June 2017

Subject: Review of Regional Land Transport Plan Strategic Direction- Problem Descriptions

 

Reason for Report

1.      To review the strategic direction of the Regional Land Transport Plan 2015-25 (RLTP).

Financial and Resource Implications

2.      The financial and resource implications of the RLTP review have been accounted for in Long Term Plan budgets.

Background

3.      The RLTP is a statutory document that must be prepared every six years, as required by the Land Transport Management Act (LTMA). The Regional Council adopted the current RLTP in April 2015.

4.      The RLTP comprises two key parts:

4.1.      The strategic policy section has a ten-year outlook and includes land transport issues, objectives, policies and measures required by the LTMA.

4.2.      The regional transport programme, which sets out a programme of proposed land transport activities over a six-year period, and a ten-year financial forecast.

5.      The LTMA requires that an interim review of the RLTP be completed by the end of April 2018, so that any updates to the programme of activities can feed into the three-year National Land Transport Programme that will be published in June 2018.

6.      The NZ Transport Agency has released some guidance on the mid-term review, which recommends that the committee checks that the strategic direction of the RLTP is still valid and that the principles of the business case approach have been followed.

Progress

7.      We have therefore reviewed the Investment Logic Mapping process undertaken in 2015 and at the March meeting, the committee discussed and agreed on three key problems statements, with some amendments. An Investment Logic Map, Attachment 1, sets out the problem statements and the benefits of addressing these.

8.      A revised draft of the scene setting and issues sections of the RLTP (Sections 4 and 5) is at Attachment 2. This follows the layout and key themes of the 2015 RLTP but, as reflected in the revised problem statements, outlines how the focus for the region has shifted away from the major safety and efficiency improvements on the Heretaunga Plains and leading to the Port of Napier, which are now well in train. Some of these have been planned for a considerable time and are now coming to fruition; others have been funded as a result of the Napier Port Access Study and Matariki: The Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy.

9.      It is expected that once all this construction is complete, the network in this area will function efficiently and should cater for the expected growth, although there are one or two pinch points that will need careful monitoring. The Heretaunga Plains transport model needs updating to capture higher population growth and other demographic trends. This will ensure that the region is able to predict effectively when triggers for any future improvements or management techniques are reached.


10.    In view of this, the focus for the next three years will therefore be more on:

10.1.    SH2 north. Level of service, travel time and resilience issues on State Highway 2 continue to be of concern to the region, and while a proposed rail log service between Wairoa and Napier could reduce the number of truck movements on the route, these will still increase overall as a result of predicted forest harvests. Development of horticulture and other industry in the Wairoa District could be hindered by the journey time to Napier, and this has social consequences for the district also. As part of the Regional Economic Development Strategy for Tairawhiti, a Programme Business Case is to be prepared for State Highway 2 between Opotiki and Bay View. This will look at how economic and social development along the route can be facilitated by improving the quality of the journey between these two points, particularly for freight.

10.2.    Ensuring that our local road connections from areas of primary production function efficiently. For example, Hastings District has a significant number of bridges that need upgrading or replacing to ensure resilience and HPMV access to and from areas of primary production. Some local road connections to the state highways are also starting to experience a reduction in the level of service at peak times.

10.3.    Monitoring significant demographic changes taking place in the region and ensuring that we plan effectively for changes in travel demand and mode choice because of these.

10.4.    Ensuring that we focus on the whole journey and work together with neighbouring districts or regions to resolve problems and make the user experience consistent across boundaries.

10.5.    Continuing to focus on reducing the rate of deaths and serious injuries on Hawke’s Bay roads, using a Safe System approach,

11.    The revised problem statements reflect a more positive outlook overall, indicating that the transport system is not hindering growth, but could be limiting opportunities in some areas. As we finish constructing planned infrastructure, the aim is to move into smarter, more integrated use of the transport system as a whole, which will help to deliver benefits across the region and is consistent with the government’s strategic direction as set out in the draft GPS 2018.

Next Steps

12.    The RLTP objective statements and policies will be reviewed to ensure their fit with the key problem statements. These will be brought to the next meeting for discussion by the Committee.

13.    All approved organisations in the region will shortly commence review of their transport activities to ensure that the programme included in the plan is up to date and ideally prioritised in accordance with the region’s priority objectives.

14.    These activities will be submitted to the NZ Transport Agency (in draft) in August/September and collated into the draft regional programme. As this is a mid-term review, whether the RTC needs to undertake a public consultation process on the draft RLTP will depend on whether there are significant changes to the activities in the Plan. This will need to be decided at the next RTC meeting in September.

Decision Making Process

15.    Council is required to make every decision in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements in relation to this item and have concluded:

15.1.   The decision does not significantly alter the service provision or affect a strategic asset.

15.2.   The use of the special consultative procedure is not prescribed by legislation.

15.3.   The decision does not fall within the definition of Council’s policy on significance.

15.4.   The persons affected by this decision are all users of the transport system in the region.

15.5.   Options that have been considered include no change.

15.6.   The decision is not inconsistent with an existing policy or plan.

15.7.    Given the nature and significance of the issue to be considered and decided, and also the persons likely to be affected by, or have an interest in the decisions made, Council can exercise its discretion and make a decision without consulting directly with the community or others having an interest in the decision.

 

Recommendations

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1.     Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision.

2.     Receives the ‘Review of the Regional Land Transport Plan Strategic Direction - Problem Description’ report

3.     Approves the revised sections 4 and 5 of the Regional Land Transport Plan, with any changes agreed at the meeting.

 

Authored by:

Anne Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager
External Relations

 

 

Attachment/s

1

Investment Logic Map

 

 

2

Draft Sections 4 & 5 RLTP

 

 

  


Investment Logic Map

Attachment 1

 

PDF Creator


Draft Sections 4 & 5 RLTP

Attachment 2

 













   


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee  

Friday 09 June 2017

SUBJECT: NZTA Central Region - Regional Director's Report June 2017        

 

Reason for Report

1.      To introduce the NZTA Central Region Regional Director’s report as provided in Attachment 1.

Decision Making Process

2.      Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee receives the NZTA Central Region – Regional Director’s Report for June 2017’.

 

Authored by:

Anne  Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager External Relations

 

 

Attachment/s

1

Director's Report

 

 

  


Director's Report

Attachment 1

 





HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee  

Friday 09 June 2017

Subject: RoadSafe Hawke's Bay Report        

 

Reason for Report

1.      This is a regular report that provides the Committee with a snapshot of road safety activities that are being undertaken under the Road Safety Action Plans and, as necessary, will brief the Committee on any current or upcoming issues relevant to road safety.

Background

2.      There are a number of strategic documents that provide the direction for the road safety activities. These include:

2.1.      Government Policy Statement for Land Transport 2015 (GPS)

2.2.      Safer Journeys 2020

2.3.      Communities at Risk Register

2.4.      NZ Transport Agency - Briefing Notes

2.5.      NZ Police Strategies

3.      The current GPS expands on the strategic direction set out in the Safer Journeys 2020 strategy and continues the government’s strong focus on encouraging economic growth and productivity and improving road safety.

4.      Road safety incorporates a range of elements including network improvement, road policing, and education and awareness. RoadSafe HB and the road safety action plans focus on education and awareness programmes in collaboration with road policing activities and proposed network improvements.

5.      Traffic incidents are reported in a number of different ways and a number of indicators are needed to understand whether the road safety programmes are effective.

Regional Road Safety Priority Issues

5.1.      Central Hawke’s Bay

5.1.1.     Alcohol & Drugs

5.2.      Hastings District

5.2.1.     Alcohol & Drugs

5.2.2.     Intersections

5.2.3.     Motorcycles

5.2.4.     Loss of Control Rural Roads – Head on

5.2.5.     Speed

5.2.6.     Young Drivers

5.2.7.     Cyclists

5.3.      Wairoa

5.3.1.     Alcohol and Drugs

5.3.2.     Loss of Control Rural Roads – Head on

5.3.3.     Speed

5.3.4.     Young Drivers

Funding

6.      The road safety programme is funded from three sources:

6.1.      The NZ Transport Agency

6.2.      Territorial Authorities contribution (Wairoa District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council)

6.3.      HBRC rates

Report for June 2017

7.      Recent activities include:

7.1.      School Resource Development (HB Youth Alcohol Expo): This year we cancelled the Hawke’s Bay Youth Expo so that we had the funding to be able to develop the Road Safety Education School Resource. NZ Transport Agency commissioned a report around youth road safety education that was based on international studies. The evidence shows that road safety education should be delivered across the school curriculum (and supported by other road safety education opportunities). The resource is going to be trialled by seven schools across the region. We anticipate that this will be ready for use by all schools early next year.

7.2.      Hawke’s Bay Youth Alcohol Expo: The Expo committee met recently and has decided (due to the excellent progress we have made with the resource development) that we will proceed with the Expo in 2018. We will now go out to the schools and canvas their interest to return to the Expo, but we expect this to be very positive due to the support we have had in the past.

7.3.      Joint project with Department of Corrections (Community Probation Service/HB Regional Prison, Road Safe HB/NZ Police): This programme has been running for some time, and it was our intention to get this operating well and then look at what we needed to do to better support and evaluate the programme. We are therefore developing a programme framework, evaluation tool, data collection, analysis and a take-home resource. A study will be undertaken on short to medium term results. A specialist programme is also being developed for the Recidivist Drink Drivers A&D Rehabilitation Unit at HB Regional Prison.

7.4.      “Tamariki in the Car” resource development. A complete restraint education resource kit has been developed for use in early childhood centres and kohanga. This is being rolled out across Hawke’s Bay.

8.      Activities coming up include

8.1.      regular Department of Corrections sessions – prison and probation services

8.2.      region-wide fatigue stops

8.3.      holiday and weekend alcohol checkpoints –education opportunities

8.4.      review and modification of a series of project plans

8.5.      Full evaluation of a number of projects

Road Safety Statistics

9.      The following links provide detail on road crashes in our region.

9.1.      nzta.govt.nz/resources/crash-analysis-reports/statistical-statements

9.2.      nzta.govt.nz/resources/crash-analysis-reports/briefing-notes

9.3.      nzta.govt.nz/resources/crash-analysis-reports

10.    The table below sets out the year-to-date road deaths by region. Unfortunately, a number of regions, including Hawke’s Bay/Gisborne, have had a recent spike in road deaths when compared with previous years.  The NZ-wide total continues on an upward trend.

Weekly road deaths update by Local Government Region as at midnight Monday, 22 May 2017 *

Local Government Region

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Northland

7

6

9

14

14

Auckland

23

16

20

15

23

Waikato

15

25

27

30

24

Bay of Plenty

8

13

17

9

9

Gisborne & Hawkes Bay

6

8

7

7

12

Taranaki

1

6

6

7

1

Manawatu / Wanganui

6

14

15

11

12

Wellington

6

2

2

8

3

Nelson / Marlborough

3

3

1

5

5

West Coast

2

4

2

2

2

Canterbury

16

10

17

11

21

Otago

3

6

7

7

9

Southland

1

6

2

7

9

Total

97 

119 

132 

133 

144  

Decision Making Process

11.    Council is required to make every decision in accordance with Part 6 Sub-Part 1, of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act).  Staff have assessed the requirements in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only and no decision is to be made, the decision making provisions of the Local Government Act 2002 do not apply.

 

Recommendation

1.    That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “RoadSafe Hawke’s Bay” report.

 

 

Authored by:

Linda Anderson

Regional Manager RoadSafe Hawke's Bay

 

Approved by:

Anne  Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

 

Attachment/s

.


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee  

Friday 09 June 2017

Subject: June 2017 Public Transport Update        

 

Reason for Report

1.      To provide the Committee with an update on Council’s public transport operations.

General Information

2.      Bus service changes introduced in late September 2016 are bedding in well. Routes with improved services are growing in patronage, with the new Route 10 now carrying 85% more passengers than in its first month of operation. However, this is countered by a decline on some other routes. Overall, we are hopeful that the recent trend for patronage decline is slowing, with passenger numbers for the year to date only 10,000 fewer than last year.

3.      Patronage in regional centres around the country continues to decline, with decreases consistent with those seen in Hawke’s Bay. For example, Otago Regional Council recently reported a 4% year on year decline in patronage of the Dunedin bus service. Most regional councils consider that lower petrol prices and improved economic conditions are the major reason for this, particularly in areas where there is little or no traffic congestion and easily available, cheap or free parking.

4.      We continue to work closely with the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (DHB) on the implementation of their travel plan. The DHB has approved extension of free bus fares to hospital or outpatient clinic appointments for all patients travelling on any goBay service. Previously, only patients travelling from Napier to the Hawke’s Bay Hospital were eligible for this. Extension of the free bus service for patients commenced on 1 January 2017 and 1842 passengers have been carried in the first four months, an increase of 193% when compared with the same period last year.

5.      Route 12 services are having difficulty keeping to the timetable at afternoon peak times, due to traffic congestion on the route into and out of Hastings. Selected use of overload services is being investigated to help with journey times in the short term, but a longer-term solution could be to reroute some services.

Bus Passenger Trips

6.      Diagram 1 shows monthly bus passenger trips during 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 for the year to date.

 

Diagram 1 – Monthly Passenger Trips – 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17

 

 

 

 

 

7.      Diagram 2 shows the breakdown of patronage by user groups.

 

Diagram 2 – GoBay bus patronage by user group (2016-17)

User Group

% of Passengers

Adults

17.5

Children (including high school students)

25.1

Community Service Card

16.8

SuperGold

18.5

Tertiary Students

12.2

Other (DHB travel, promotions etc)

9.9

 

Bus Service Costs

8.      The following diagram shows the annual net cost (after fares and excluding GST) of operating the goBay bus service for the year to 30 April between 2012-13 and 2016-17.

 

Diagram 3 – Annual net cost for the year to date (ex GST)

(52% of this cost is met by the New Zealand Transport Agency).

Fare Recovery

9.      Fare recovery is the portion of the total cost of the service that is covered by fares (including SuperGold payments from central government). Diagram 4 shows fare recovery in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.

 

Diagram 4– Fare Recovery – 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16

2012-13

34.26%

2013-14

38.24%

2014-15

38.69%

2015-16

37.77%

2016-17

38.04%

 

SuperGold Card Scheme Update

10.    Changes have been made to the funding of the SuperGold scheme that provides free off-peak bus travel for people with a SuperGold card. The Minister of Transport announced that from 2016-17, funding for this scheme would be capped. Regional allocations were to be adjusted annually by the Consumer Price Index but there was to be no funding for growth in the number of users of the scheme or in the number of trips taken.

11.    Regional Councils from the areas where SuperGold card use is growing significantly had some significant concerns about the possibility that this capped bulk funding approach would transfer the cost to ratepayers.

12.    Therefore, the Ministry of Transport and the Transport Agency set up a collaborative approach with Local Government New Zealand to ensure an equitable implementation of the planned changes. Key to this was the continuation of access to the service for SuperGold cardholders and avoiding the transfer of risk and cost to ratepayers.

13.    Methods for the future distribution of the capped SuperGold fund are still under discussion among the stakeholder groups set up to advise on this issue. An interim agreement was signed for the 2016-17 year and a further interim agreement is being developed for 2017-18, before this issue is finally resolved for future years.

Total Mobility

14.    The following tables compare the number of Total Mobility(TM) trips made for the year to date over the last five years, and the corresponding costs (excl GST).

15.    The number of TM trips and the cost of the service has increased for the year to date after two static years. As the population of Hawke’s Bay is not only increasing but also ageing at a faster rate than previously predicted, this growth is to be expected.

 

Diagram 5 – Total Mobility Trips – YTD 2012-13 to 2016-17

 

 

Diagram 6 – Total Mobility Cost ($ excl GST) YTD 2012-13 to 2016-17

(60% of this cost is met by the New Zealand Transport Agency)

 

Decision Making Process

16.    Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

 

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the “March 2017 Public Transport Update” report.

 

Authored by:

Anne  Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager External Relations

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.  


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee  

Friday 09 June 2017

Subject: June 2017 Transport Manager's Report         

 

Reason for Report

1.         This regular report provides the Committee with a snapshot of relevant transport matters, provides updates from the Transport Advisory Group (TAG) on issues raised at their regular meetings and outlines what is coming up within the transport sector.

Background

2.         The Transport Advisory Group (TAG) is made up of road asset managers, planners and staff from Approved Organisations (AOs) – the NZ Transport Agency, Wairoa District Council, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and co-ordinated by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Transport Manager. TAG meets at least quarterly and its main purpose is to support the operation of the RTC and provide co-ordinated and timely advice backed up by technical knowledge.

Transport Advisory Group meetings

3.         The TAG group has met to review the problem and benefit statements for the strategy section of the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP), which is discussed elsewhere in the agenda.

4.         We have arranged to meet with the Gisborne TAG group in August to discuss inter-regional issues, as both RLTPs must describe these. A similar meeting is to be arranged with the Horizons region.

Electric Vehicles

5.         Hawke’s Bay Regional Council recently organised a second seminar on electric vehicles, with the aim of developing a broad strategy for the promotion and uptake of EVs in the region.

6.         Presentations from the NZ Transport Agency and local and national experts revealed how quickly the uptake of electric vehicles and the development of facilities is proceeding, with the country’s state highway network increasingly well serviced with fast charging stations and many other chargers now installed by a variety of providers.

7.         The number of registered electric vehicles in the country has tripled between January 2016 and April 2017. There are now 3,300 vehicles registered and the government has a target of 64,000 vehicles registered by 2021.

8.         The group agreed to focus its efforts on two areas initially:

8.1.   Developing a communications and events strategy

8.1.1.  To make use of existing publicity channels for general promotion and information –sharing about electric vehicles.

8.1.2.  Including a calendar of community events for demonstrations/information sessions.

8.2.   The adoption of “electric first” vehicle fleet purchasing policies, initially by public bodies, but later adopting an advocacy role with private sector organisations.

Driver Licensing Programmes

9.         The driver licensing programmes contracted by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are progressing well. These are funded by the NZ Transport Agency and all councils in the region. Annual reports for some of these programmes are due at the end of June and subject to satisfactory progress, programmes will continue into the next financial year.

10.       Matariki, the region’s economic development strategy contains an action to:

11.       “Increase the number of youth with driver’s licences (especially in areas outside the main urban centres where access is restricted) to ensure more youth are eligible for employment.” (Action 2.4)

12.       The programme manager is compiling a stocktake of the programmes and funding available across the region for driver licensing, so that any gaps may be identified and strategies developed to close them.

Regional Cycling Governance Group

13.       At the March meeting, we reported on progress by the Regional Cycling Governance Group to resolve issues with the Mad Mile section of the Hawke’s Bay Landscapes ride. At that time, the regional coordinator Vicki Butterworth was putting together an application to the New Zealand Cycle Trails fund for a range of improvements in Hawke’s Bay, including a possible pedestrian/cycle bridge across the Tukituki River.

14.       Progress with this has been slower than hoped; more detailed engineering investigation revealed that the span of the bridge would need to be considerably longer than first thought and the cost therefore much higher. A range of options is now being reviewed, including early options for overland paths, which had previously been discounted.

Approved Organisations – Significant issues

One Network Road Classification (ONRC)- all road controlling authorities

15.       Work continues on the One Network Road Classification processes with all road controlling authorities. All local authorities are working on the preparing programme business cases for the ONRC so they will be ready for the next round of funding.

Highway Network and Operations

16.       An update on significant issues for the NZTA Highway Network and Operations Group forms part of the Regional Director’s report.

Hastings District Council

17.       Hastings District Council’s major project, Whakatu Arterial Link (in conjunction with the NZ Transport Agency), is now well underway.

17.1.    The State Highway 2 roundabout is approximately 50 % complete and sealing is well underway.  Pilcher and Napier Road realignments form part of this roundabout work with earthworks complete and pavement construction progressing well. 

17.2.    Earthworks are well-advanced at the Karamu Stream realignment and greenfields sites, at various locations, are now underway.

17.3.    The wet autumn weather has not been kind to the earthworks sub-contractor but the main contractor believes this will not affect the completion date of November 2018

17.4.    The earth wall and pile sleeves for the two bridge abutments are complete and the bridging contactor is now on site.  Work has begun with driving the bridge piles.

17.5.    The relocation of the Farmlands Fuel Stop is 99 % complete.  This will allow construction of the Whakatu Road “peanut” roundabout to start shortly.

17.6.    The Pakowhai roundabout will start early 2018.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

18.       Reports on the public transport operations and road safety outputs managed by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council are the subjects of separate items in this agenda.

Decision Making Process

19.       Staff have assessed the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only, the decision making provisions do not apply.

 

 

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the “June 2017 Transport Manager's report”.

 

Authored by:

Anne  Redgrave

Transport Manager

 

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager External Relations

 

 

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.  


HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee  

Friday 09 June 2017

Subject: Discussion of Items Not on the Agenda        

 

Reason for Report

1.     This document has been prepared to assist Committee Members to note the Items of Business Not on the Agenda to be discussed as determined earlier in Agenda Item 6.

1.1.   Urgent items of Business (supported by tabled CE or Chairman’s report)

 

Item Name

Reason not on Agenda

Reason discussion cannot be delayed

1.           

 

 

 

 

2.           

 

 

 

 

 

1.2.   Minor items (for discussion only)

Item

Topic

Councillor / Staff

1.   

 

 

2.   

 

 

3.