Late Agenda of Regional Council Meeting

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Wednesday 26 May 2021

Subject: Report & Recommendations from the 14 May 2021 Regional Transport Committee Meeting

Reason for Report

1. This item provides the matters considered at the Regional Transport Committee meeting on 14 May 2021 for Council’s consideration alongside any additional commentary the Committee Chair wishes to add.

Agenda items

2. The Regional Land Transport Plan Deliberations item provided the Committee with the HB Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-31 as amended in response to submissions, for recommendation to Council for adoption and lodging with Waka Kotahi. Amendments arising from the submissions to the draft plan included:

2.1. Raise the visibility of climate change within the plan

2.2. Advocating for more rail investment, including to Gisborne

2.3. Investigating solutions for SH2 connectivity to Wairoa

2.4. Improvements to active transport connectivity.

3. Following consideration of the officers’ report on submissions and further deliberations, the RTC agreed some additional amendments in respect of:

3.1. Reference to a carbon neutral Hawke's Bay in the vision statement, and more direction in relation to decisions regarding climate change (adaptation and mitigation)

3.2. Recognition of the Wairoa-Napier SH2 connectivity issues

3.3. Further detail about the numbers of drivers not progressing with driver licensing and lack of facilities in parts of Hawke's Bay

3.4. The impact of forestry and freight on the transport network in Central Hawke’s Bay

3.5. The importance of the Napier-Taihape road link

3.6. Data about the numbers of cyclist and pedestrian DSIs

3.7. Referring to passenger rail transport as a transport choice solution

3.8. Amending the new parking policy

3.9. Including a DSI baseline based on DSIs in 2018

3.10. Identifying SH5 as a HPMV route.

3.11. Including a further prioritised significant activity being to develop a strategic case to investigate alternative road options for Wairoa to Napier.

4. The resolutions on 14 May were:

4.1. Approves the amendments made to the draft RLTP arising from the submissions process, being:

4.1.1. Amendments throughout the Plan to raise the visibility of the climate change issues

4.1.2. Reference to the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the community and transport network

4.1.3. The role of rail to reduce emissions from transport

4.1.4. The varied use of roads by primary industry

4.1.5. More detail about cyclist and pedestrian DSIs

4.1.6. Greater focus into the investment into active and improved public transport services

4.1.7. Direction for parking and traffic controls in urban areas

4.1.8. Need for improving connectivity provided by the expressway

4.1.9. Reference to the supporting Hawke's Bay Transport Business Case report

4.1.10. The impact of forestry on the transport network in Wairoa

4.1.11. Greater focus on the connectivity issues between Napier, Wairoa and Gisborne including:

4.1.11.1. In respect of increased rail, including re-establishment of the Gisborne Wairoa link

4.1.11.2. Safety and resilience of SH2

4.1.12. More detail about the safety rating of Hawke's Bay roads and the need for on-going investment in them

4.1.13. Impact of tourism on Wairoa roads, especially to Mahia

4.1.14. Amendments to policies and investment areas in respect of:

4.1.14.1. Investing in multi-modal transport

4.1.14.2. Advocating for more rail investment, including to Gisborne

4.1.14.3. Advocating for more national investment in local road maintenance

4.1.14.4. Investigating solutions for SH2 connectivity to Wairoa

4.1.14.5. Improvements to active transport connectivity

4.1.14.6. Council procurement processes

4.1.14.7. Leveraging parking and traffic management solutions for mode shift

4.1.14.8. Reviewing public transport services and approaches including ODPT

4.1.14.9. Supporting low carbon transport options

4.1.15. Including reference to Matariki 2.4 D in respect of road safety and collaboration with key stakeholders

4.1.16. New monitoring criteria for emissions

4.1.17. A new regionally significant activity to consider options for Wairoa connectivity

4.1.18. A new table showing non-prioritised activities

4.1.19. SH2 activities identified as of inter-regional significance

4.1.20. Correction to the ODPT bus service indicator.

4.2. Approves the Regional Land Transport Plan in principle, subject to the amendments agreed by the Committee today (following) being incorporated into the Plan, with final approval and recommendation to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to be given upon sighting the revised draft at the reconvened Committee meeting (via Zoom) as soon as possible.

4.2.1. Reference to a carbon neutral Hawke's Bay in the vision statement, and more direction in relation to decisions regarding climate change (adaptation and mitigation)

4.2.2. Recognition of the Wairoa-Napier SH2 connectivity issues

4.2.3. Further detail about the numbers of drivers not progressing with driver licensing and lack of facilities in parts of Hawke's Bay

4.2.4. The impact of forestry and freight on the transport network in Central Hawke’s Bay

4.2.5. The importance of the Napier-Taihape road link

4.2.6. Data about the numbers of cyclist and pedestrian DSIs

4.2.7. Referring to passenger rail transport as a transport choice solution

4.2.8. Amending the new parking policy

4.2.9. Including a DSI baseline based on DSIs in 2018

4.2.10. Identifying SH5 as a HPMV route.

5. Following the 14 May meeting, staff further amended the Plan to incorporate amendments agreed at that meeting (as above).

6. The RTC was reconvened on 21 May 2021 to sight the amendments agreed to at the 14 May 2021 meeting and then resolved:

6.1. That the Regional Transport Committee approves the Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031 as amended to incorporate:

6.1.1. Reference to a carbon neutral Hawke's Bay in the vision statement, and more direction in relation to decisions regarding climate change (adaptation and mitigation)

6.1.2. Recognition of the Wairoa-Napier SH2 connectivity issues

6.1.3. Further detail about the numbers of drivers not progressing with driver licensing and lack of facilities in parts of Hawke's Bay

6.1.4. The impact of forestry and freight on the transport network in Central Hawke’s Bay

6.1.5. The importance of the Napier-Taihape road link

6.1.6. Data about the numbers of cyclist and pedestrian DSIs

6.1.7. Referring to passenger rail transport as a transport choice solution

6.1.8. Amending the new parking policy

6.1.9. Including a DSI baseline based on DSIs in 2018

6.1.10. Identifying SH5 as a HPMV route.

6.1.11. A further prioritised significant activity being the development of a strategic case to investigate alternative road network options for SH2 Napier to Wairoa.

6.2. Recommends that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council adopts the Regional Land Transport Plan and submits it to Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

7. The Transport Manager’s Update traversed:

7.1. The Road Safe HB annual week-long expo targeting school age drivers was delivered 10 – 14 May

7.2. Proposal to reduce speed limit on SH5 has received a lot of public attention

7.3. The issue of minimum and living wages for bus drivers is being addressed by the Government

7.4. Speed management planning changes are being proposed by the Government which would see RTCs throughout the country being required to co-ordinate and produce Regional Speed Management Plans.

8. The Public Transport Update item provided the Committee with an update on bus patronage and highlighted the falling number of bus passengers wearing face coverings as required by COVID-19 at level one.

9. The Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Central Region – Regional Relationships Director’s Report provided an update on NZTA projects and activities including:

9.1. Seeking feedback on proposal to introduce new speed management process

9.2. Road Safety week will be taking place 17 -23 May

9.3. Appointment of new Director Regional Relationships (Linda Stewart) based in Palmerston North.

Decision Making Process

10. These items were specifically considered by the Committee and are now the subject of the following recommendations to Council.

Recommendation

1. That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives and notes the “Report and Recommendations from the 14 May 2021 Regional Transport Committee Meeting”

2. Adopts the Hawke’s Bay Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031, and lodges the Plan with Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Authored by:

Mary-Anne Baker

Acting Transport Manager

Annelie Roets

Governance Advisor

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

Hawke's Bay Regional Land Transport Plan 2021 - 2031

Under Separate Cover

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