Agenda of Regional Transport Committee

Meeting of the Regional Transport Committee

Date: Friday 14 May 2021

Time: 10.00am

Venue:

Council Chamber

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

159 Dalton Street

NAPIER

Agenda

Item Title Page

1. Welcome/Notices/Apologies

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

3. Short Term Replacements for the 14 May 2021 Regional Transport Committee Meeting 3

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on 12 March 2021

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

6. Call for Minor Items Not on the Agenda 9

Decision Items

7. Regional Land Transport Plan Deliberations 11

Information or Performance Monitoring

8. NZTA Central Region - Regional Relationships Director's May 2021 Report 15

9. May 2021 Public Transport Update 41

10. Verbal Updates by Advisory Representatives

11. Transport Manager’s May 2021 Report 45

12. Discussion of Minor Matters Not on the Agenda 49

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 May 2021

SUBJECT: Short Term Replacements for the 14 May 2021 Regional Transport Committee Meeting

Reason for Report

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

Committee Membership

Committee Members (Voting)
Councillor Martin Williams	Member and Chairman	HBRC
Councillor Charles Lambert	Member and Deputy Chairman	HBRC
Councillor Keith Price Alternate Mayor Kirsten Wise	Member	NCC
Mayor Alex Walker Alternate Cr Kate Taylor	Member	CHBDC
Mayor Craig Little Alternate Cr Jeremy Harker	Member	WDC
Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst Alternate Cr Tania Kerr	Member	HDC
Ms Emma Speight Alternate Oliver Postings	Member	NZ Transport Agency
Advisory Members (Non-voting)
Api Robin	Cultural Interests and Environment	HBRC Maori Committee
Paul Michaelsen	Private motorists, Public Transport users, Walking and Cycling	Automobile Association
Matt Broderick	NZ Police	NZ Police
Andrew Palareit	Port and Coastal Shipping	Port of Napier Limited
Ian Emmerson	Road Transport industry	Road Transport Association
Paul Ashton	Rail	KiwiRail
Farley Keenan	Health	HB District Health Board
Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
Mary-Anne Baker	Acting Transport Manager	HBRC
Megan Welsby	Sustainable Transport Officer	HBRC
Robin Malley	Transportation Team Leader	NCC
Shawn McKinley	Roading Manager	CHBDC
Michael Hardie	Transport Asset Manager	WDC
Mark Clews	Strategic Planning Manager	HDC
Jag Pannu	Transportation Manager	HDC
Paul Murphy	Senior Investment Adviser	NZ Transport Agency
Simon Barnett	Principal Transport Planner	NZ Transport Agency
Wayne Wallace	Principal Investment Adviser	NZ Transport Agency

Recommendation

That __________________________ be appointed as member/s of the Regional Transport Committee of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the meeting of Friday, 14 May 2021 as short term replacement(s) on the Committee for _______________________.

Authored by:

Mary-Anne Baker

Acting Transport Manager

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 May 2021

Subject: Regional Land Transport Plan Deliberations

Reason for Report

1. This report introduces the Officers’ Report which provides an assessment of submissions to the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) and provides recommendations for amendments to the draft RLTP.

Officers’ Recommendation

2. That this report be received, and decisions be made by the Committee on the recommendations for amendments to the Regional Land Transport Plan which are shown as underline/strikeout text in Attachment 1 and as otherwise directed by the Committee.

Executive Summary

3. The draft Regional Land Transport Plan (2021 -2031) was released for public consultation on 1 February for four weeks.

4. The RLTP contains the region’s proposed transport activities to be funded from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) by the NZ Transport Agency for the next ten years.

5. The RLTP is a statutory document that must be prepared by the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) as required by the Land Transport Management Act 2003 (LTMA). The current RLTP was last reviewed in 2018.

6. 67 written submissions were received on the draft RLTP and 25 submitters provided verbal submissions in support of their submissions.

7. The Officers’ Report which is provided in Attachment 1 provides and assessment of the submissions and includes a number of recommendations for amendments to the draft plan as a consequence. The draft RLTP with recommended amendments is provided in Attachment 2 to this report.

8. Also attached to this report is the Hawke's Bay Transport Programme Business Case. This document provides the detailed analysis to support the Regional Land Transport Plan. It provides the context of the Hawke's Bay community and the current state of the transport network, identifies the key issues facing the region, and outlines the next tranche of funding priorities and activities for the region to help achieve the vision agreed through the RLTP preparation process. Note that the Programme Business Case has not yet been endorsed by Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and may yet require amendments to satisfy their investment and financial requirements.

Background /Discussion

Regional Land Transport Plan

9. The attached report summarises points made in submissions to the 2021-2031 Draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP)and includes officers’ recommendations and responses to the points made.

10. Submissions were received by the Hawkes Bay Regional Council from 1 February 2021 to 28 February 2021. A full list of submitters is provided in Attachment 3 to this report.

11. Submitters are thanked for their submissions and their helpful suggestions and comments made on the draft RLTP.

12. The officers’ report addresses the following key issues:

12.1. Climate change

12.2. Active transport (cycling and walking) and public transport

12.3. Road safety

12.4. Wairoa connectivity

12.5. Rail services – freight and passenger

12.6. State highway investments

12.7. Miscellaneous submissions

12.8. New projects.

Options Assessment

13. The Committee must make decisions on the submissions received in order to recommend a final Regional Land Transport Plan to the Regional Council for adoption as required by the Land Transport Management Act.

Strategic Fit

14. The preparation of the RLTP is a statutory requirement and provided for within the work programme. The Plan will enable the Council to carry out its functions and duties under the Land Transport Act

15. The Plan also enables the Council and partner Councils and Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to deliver a transport system that is sustainable and climate resilient as directed within the Council’s strategic plan.

Significance and Engagement Policy Assessment

16. The RLTP has followed the required consultation pathway and the deliberation and consideration of the submissions received is part of that process. The consultation has included extensive workshops and meetings with partner councils, iwi and other stakeholders as well as public consultation on a draft Plan.

Climate Change Considerations

17. The preparation and deliberations on this draft RLTP were guided by and took into account the climate change emergency and the RLTP contains provisions including objectives and policies in relation to both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Considerations of Tangata Whenua

18. Tangata whenua were involved in the development of the RLTP through workshops and meetings including directly with the Māori Committee to identify issues and solutions for tangata whenua. The RTC is also assisted in deliberations on the draft RLTP by a representative from the HBRC Maori Committee.

Next Steps

19. The Committee is being asked to make decisions on submissions as recommended in the officers’ report or as otherwise decided by the Committee.

20. Once these decisions have been made, the Committee is to recommend that the Plan be adopted by the Regional Council at their next meeting on the 26 May 2021. Following adoption by the Council the RLTP is submitted to the NZTA and is used to inform the National Land Transport Plan.

21. For Waka Kotahi, the RLTP lists the activities and projects that funding is being sought for – and also tells the regional story about what matters locally, how investment in different activities will achieve the community’s outcomes and where change is most needed.

22. The RLTP applies the Business Case Approach (BCA) principles to inform and drive investment across all funding sources. It presents a compelling case for land transport investment for local, regional and national investors.

Financial and Resource Implications

23. The development of the RLTP is part of the Council functions and duties and has been provided for in current budgets.

24. Budget implications for proposals and programmes contained in the RLTP are subject to separate decision-making processes including Council Long Term Plans and decisions by Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Decision Making Process

25. Council and its committees are 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:

25.1. The decision does not significantly alter the service provision or affect a strategic asset, nor is it inconsistent with an existing policy or plan.

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

25.3. The decision is not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy.

25.4. The persons affected by this decision are all those who use the transport network, that is, virtually all people who live in Hawke’s Bay and those with an interest in the built environment.

25.5. 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 Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

1. Receives and considers the “Regional Land Transport Deliberations” staff report.

2. 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 and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in the decision.

3. Agrees to make amendments to the draft RLTP as shown in the RLTP in Attachment 2 and as further amended by the Committee

4. Recommends to the Regional Council that the Regional Land Transport Plan as amended under item 2 be adopted and submitted to the NZTA.

Authored by: Approved by:

Mary-Anne Baker

Acting Transport Manager

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇨	Officers report on submissions	Under Separate Cover
2 ⇨	Draft RLTP 2021 Deliberation Version May 2021	Under Separate Cover
3 ⇨	Submitters list on the RLTP	Under Separate Cover
4 ⇨	Hawke's Bay Transport Programme Business Case	Under Separate Cover

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 May 2021

Subject: May 2021 Public Transport Update

Reason for Report

1. This item provides the Committee with an update on HBRC’s public transport operations.

Background

2. The responsibility for contracting public transport services is assigned to regional councils under the Land Transport Management Act 2003. Under Section 35, the council must consider the needs of the “transport disadvantaged” when preparing its Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP), which sets out the services that the council will provide.

3. “Transport disadvantaged” means people who the regional council has reasonable grounds to believe are the least able to travel to basic community activities and services (for example work, education, healthcare, welfare and shopping). As part of the responsibility to the transport disadvantaged, councils also provide Total Mobility services where suitable transport operators exist to deliver the service.

On-demand Public Transport (ODPT) Trial

4. Consultation on the Long Term Plan proposal for the ODPT trial is underway. Comms and Transport staff have been out and about at Hastings supermarkets introducing the concept to people and chatting to people about the benefits of an on-call shared ride service and the ease of booking trips. Reactions were mixed with a few interested in an on-demand service, with others happy with existing bus services. Some stated they would continue to drive their own vehicles.

5. Written submissions on the LTP for this proposal will be reported separately to the Regional Council, but feedback is divided between support and preference for the existing service.

6. We are currently investigating how the Bee card ticketing system could be adapted for the ODPT service.

7. The fare for the ODPT service and whether or not the service will be cashless have yet to be finalised. These aspects will be addressed as apart of the review of the Regional Public Transport Plan which is due for completion following adoption of the Regional Land Transport Plan.

COVID-19

8. At level one face coverings are mandatory. With reports from Go Bus Transport that many passengers are no longer wearing face coverings, reminder notices have been displayed on the buses and reminders have been posted on our FB page. The non-compliance (which is happening everywhere except for Auckland) has been raised with Waka Kotahi. We have also asked the regional medical officer of health, Dr Nick Jones for advice and/or assistance with promoting the message, especially as drivers have reported that even DHB staff members are not wearing masks (it should be noted that some passengers and drivers may be exempt from wearing a face covering due to medical reasons). Policing of face coverings is not the responsibility of bus drivers.

9. All buses have COVID tracer app QR posters displayed at the door and onboard the bus in several places. Our on-line trip register is also available for passengers who don’t have smartphones.

Public Transport Service Trips

10. Diagram 1 (attached) shows public transport trips made from July to March 2012-21.

(It should be noted that there were no trip statistics for July and August 2020 as the crossover in ticketing systems saw the buses operating without ticketing equipment).

Public Transport Service Costs

11. Diagram 2 (attached) shows the year to date net cost (after fares and excluding GST) of operating the goBay bus service from July to March 2012-21.

12. Recent cost increases are largely due to inflationary pressure (as our bus contract is adjusted by an NZTA index reflecting fuel, labour and infrastructure prices), lower fare revenue due to a new low flat fare schedule, and the cost of paid breaks added to the driver hours as required by the Employment Relations Amendment Act.

Total Mobility Scheme

13. The Total Mobility Scheme provides subsidised taxi travel for Hawke’s Bay residents who are unable to use public transport due to a significant, permanent impairment. People assessed for and registered to the scheme receive taxi vouchers entitling them to a 50% fare discount (some restrictions apply). The scheme is administered by the regional council and funded by both the Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Total Mobility Scheme Trips

14. Diagram 3 (attached) shows the number of Total Mobility trips made from July to March 2012-21.

Total Mobility Scheme Trips

15. Diagram 4 (attached) shows the cost of the Total Mobility Scheme (excluding GST) from July to March 2012-21.

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 “May 2021 Public Transport Update” report.

Authored by:

Megan Welsby

Sustainable Transport Coordinator

Mary-Anne Baker

Acting Transport Manager

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

Public Transport Statistics for May 2021

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 May 2021

Subject: Transport Manager’s May 2021 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.

Executive Summary

2. The Transport TAG has been engaged in hearing submitters and assessing submissions received on the Regional Land Transport Plan.

3. The Waka Kotahi has released a proposal to reduce speed limits on SH5 and between Napier and Hastings on SH51.

4. The government has released a proposal for preparation of regional speed management plans by Regional Transport Committees.

5. The issue of minimum and living wages for bus drivers is also being addressed by the government, with initial discussion, including direction from the Transport Minister indicating that bus drivers should be on the living wage as a minimum by the end of this year.

6. The Ministry of Transport has launched a review of the Public Transport Operating Model for public feedback.

7. The Road Safe Hawkes Bay annual week long expo targeting young school age drivers was delivered during the week 10 – 14 May.

Discussion

8. A separate report to this meeting provides the officer recommendations in respect of the draft Regional Land Transport Plan. There was a relatively high number of submissions compared to previous years showing an encouraging increase in community awareness and interest in transport issues.

9. The Waka Kotahi proposal to reduce speed limits for parts of SH5 (Napier to Taupō) has received a lot of public attention. The RTC member councils have jointly written to the Waka Kotahi Board to express their concerns about the speed limit reduction in the wider context of safer roads. Individual councils are also submitting to Waka Kotahi on the proposal.

Speed Management Plans

10. Waka Kotahi is consulting on a proposed new rule aimed at enabling an improved approach to speed management planning. Feedback on the proposal is being received until 25 June 2021. More detail about the proposal can be found in the consultation document here: Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2021 consultation | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

11. Previously the power to manage and set speed limits is given mainly to RCAs (including local councils and Waka Kotahi). While RTCs manage the RLTP process they have no involvement in the current speed limit setting process.

12. The proposal is that the RTC will be required to coordinate and produce Regional Speed Management Plans that include details of all speed limit and speed management infrastructure proposed by a Road Controlling Authority. The coordination component relates to ensuring that proposals are consistent across RCA boundaries and between regions. Speed Management Plans are likely to take similar timeframes to produce as the current Regional Land Transport Plans. Both Plans will be for a six-year period with a mid-term or three yearly review.

13. The proposed new Rule is expected to contribute to road safety by supporting the Road to Zero road safety strategy for managing speeds. It requires RCAs to participate in a coordinated whole-of-network approach to speed management.

14. The intent is to align the speed management planning and RLTP processes to bring together speed management and infrastructure investment decisions. Waka Kotahi, in its role as regulator, will be responsible for determining specific deadlines for each planning cycle. The expectation is Waka Kotahi would work with RTCs in setting the deadlines to align consultation with the RLTP process.

15. There are cost and resourcing implications for the Regional Council and the territorial authorities in Hawke's Bay. Under the proposed Rule, the Agency states that Plan development will be relatively resource intensive. However, it anticipates that once Plans have been finalised, it will be much simpler for RCAs to make changes to individual speed limits during the life of a Plan.

16. As part of their consultation, Waka Kotahi is presenting more detailed information to the RTC at a workshop following this meeting to understand impacts on the RTC members and to answer questions.

17. In view of the timeframe and closing date for submissions, the RTC may wish to delegate committee members to oversee the preparation of a submission following the workshop presentation.

Living Wage for Bus Drivers

18. All Public Transport purchasing authorities have received advice from Waka Kotahi about their support for increasing bus driver base pay rates.

19. Bus driver pay has been a significant issue in Hawke's Bay and in other regions with low pay rates causing pay equity issues and resulting in difficulties in recruiting and retaining bus drivers.

20. The RTC has previously discussed this issue with support generally being expressed for better wages for bus drivers. Resolution of the issue at a national level was expected.

21. Waka Kotahi now state that they strongly encourage all PTAs to support bus operators in their region who are currently paying drivers base rates that are lower than the Living Wage to increase these rates to the level of the Living Wage. The current Living Wage hourly rate is $22.10, and from 1 September 2021 it increases to $22.75.

22. Waka Kotahi will support the Government’s expectation by providing additional funding to help meet the direct additional costs of increasing the base pay rate of bus drivers to a minimum base rate equivalent to the 2021 level of the Living Wage. The additional funding required is to be met by normal Council and WK funding processes for public transport and will be provided at the normal funding assistance rate (FAR).

23. The Regional Council would need to make provision for the additional funding through its planning process. The agency acknowledges that the Council is close to completing the Long Term Plan, however it asks that the Council work with the bus operator to implement this change as soon as possible.

24. We have not carried out an in-depth assessment of the costs involved in increasing the bus driver wages to the living wage, but the approximate costs of an increase to $22.10 has been calculated to be in the region of $150,000, with a further $45,000 for the increase to $22.75.

25. The Committee may wish to recommend to the Regional Council that provision for a living wage for bus drivers be made within the LTP or as soon as possible.

Public Transport Operating Model review

26. The Ministry of Transport is conducting a review of the Public Transport Operating Model. This governs the way regional councils plan public transport services and purchase them from bus operators. A discussion paper on the review is available here: https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Paper/PTOMDiscussionSummarydocument.pdf.

27. Consultation on the review is open for a six week period from 5 May 2021 until 18 June 2021.

28. The scope of this review includes:

28.1. developing new objectives

28.2. considering whether roles and responsibilities need to be refined

28.3. decarbonizing the bus fleet

28.4. considering the impact of the Public Transport Operating Model on the bus labour market

28.5. how on-demand services are treated.

29. The previous Public Transport Operating Model was prepared at a time when there were concerns about the commercial aspects of bus services, including fare recovery and efficient pricing.

30. The Government now wants to introduce new objectives for the Public Transport Operating Model that are more in line with its objectives for the transport system. Its proposed objectives are:

30.1. Competitors have access to public transport markets

30.2. Public transport is an attractive transport option

30.3. Public transport services are sustainable, including a sustainable workforce

30.4. Public transport services reduce the environmental and health impacts of land transport.

31. Staff have not yet fully considered the PTOM review and the content of the discussion paper or what implications there are for the RTC and Regional Council. We are however, liaising with the Regional Council Transport Special Interest Group (TSIG) in respect of identifying issues relevant to the sector. TSIG is in the process of commissioning work to address some of the issues and risks associated with decarbonisation of the bus fleet (especially in respect of contracting, funding and financing and procurement).

Decision Making Process

32. 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.

Recommendations

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and considers the “HBRC Transport Manager’s May 2021 Report” staff report.

Authored by: Approved by:

Mary-Anne Baker

Acting Transport Manager

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.

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