Agenda of Regional Transport Committee

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 10 March 2017

SUBJECT: Short Term Replacements for the 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, 10 March 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 10 March 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. 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 10 March 2017

Subject: Review of Regional Land Transport Plan Strategic Direction

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 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 process for the mid-term review is not prescribed by the LTMA but the main value in reviewing the Plan would appear to be in ensuring that the activities and projects in the second three-year period of the six-year programme are updated.

7. The NZ Transport Agency has released some guidance on the mid-term review, which notes that, while all that is required is that the RTC checks whether the plan remains valid and fit for purpose, the following checks are recommended:

7.1. Check that the problems/opportunities, benefits and objectives described in the current RLTP are still valid (its strategic direction).

7.2. Check whether the plan meets the principles of the business case approach, including all six key features.

7.3. Check that the programme of activities included in the plan is up to date and ideally prioritised in accordance with the region’s priority objectives.

8. This report discusses a review of the RLTP’s strategic direction (7.1 above). In reviewing this aspect of the RLTP, the NZ Transport Agency recommends that the Committee consider three key questions:

8.1. Has anything significantly changed in the last three years in terms of strategic context?

8.2. Are the problems identified still of relevance and importance?

8.3. Are objectives, policies and measures still valid and relevant? Do they align with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS)?

Review of Strategic Direction

9. A review of the RLTP strategic direction has commenced with a review of demographic and economic trends in the region, and their likely effects on the transport network. Key transport indicators have been also been reviewed to see whether they show emerging or accelerating issues.

10. In June 2014, the Government announced funding to accelerate a package of regionally important State highway projects, including for an investigation into access to the Napier Port. This study is now complete and a number of projects have been funded as part of Matariki: Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy. Most other major projects prioritised in the RLTP 2015 are now well advanced.

11. The TAG group has conducted a review (with the assistance of Auxilium Ltd) of the investment logic mapping process that was used in 2014 to develop the key problem statements for the RLTP.

12. After reviewing the problem statements, the TAG suggests that, as the region has made significant progress with many of the projects designed to address safety and efficiency issues on the network, the focus for the problem statements should now be a little different. Suggested minor alterations in the wording of the problem statements reflect this.

Suggested Changes to Problem Statements

13. A paper as Attachment 1 summarises discussion of the problem statements from the 2015 RLTP and sets out (in italics) what has changed in the region since then.

14. Based on this updated information, the following changes were suggested to the problem statements and weightings.

15. 2015 Problem Statement 1:

“Parts of the transport system lack capability, affecting economic productivity, safety and social development” (60%)

Suggested new wording:

“How people use the transport system is leading to deaths and serious injuries”(30%)

The region has identified and progressed projects to address the major crash blackspots. Most of the existing projects will be completed in the next 3 years. Whilst physical infrastructure will always have a place, the region considers that increased emphasis should be put on addressing driver behaviour and choice related crash causes.

Discussion and Next Steps

18. Overall, the review of the RLTP problem statements indicates that they generally still reflect the key issues of concern but some wording changes would better describe a change of focus in some areas. Some alteration to the weightings of the problem statements relative to one another also help to reflect this.

19. If the Committee agrees that these changes are necessary to better reflect the focus for the next three years, Section 6.0 of the RLTP “Issues and Challenges” will be re-drafted to reflect this, including evidence for each of the problems and statements illustrating the benefits of addressing these. Updated statistics and background demographic information will also help to illustrate the reasons for the changes. This updated strategic section will be brought back to the Committee for consideration.

Decision Making Process

20. 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:

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

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

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

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

20.5. Options that have been considered include no change.

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

20.7. 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. Agrees to proposed changes to the problem statements for the Regional Land Transport Plan 2018, with any alterations agreed at the meeting.

Authored by:

Anne Redgrave

Transport Manager

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager External Relations

Attachment/s

⇩1

Strategic Review Background Paper

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 10 March 2017

Subject: Discussion of Inter-Regional Transport Matters with Gisborne Regional Transport Committee

Reason for Report

1. To introduce topics for discussion with Gisborne’s Regional Transport Committee on transport matters of mutual interest.

Background

2. In preparation for the review of the Regional Land Transport Plan 2015, the Committee decided to meet with neighboring regions to discuss matters of inter-regional significance that, under the Land Transport Management Act 2003, must be identified in the Plan.

3. The Regional Transport Committee also has a key action to lead in “Matariki: Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy” in conjunction with Tairawhiti. It is therefore timely to discuss how the regions will progress this action.

Items for Discussion and Update

4. Items for discussion and update include the following:

4.1. SH2 safety and efficiency – Napier to Opotiki. Up-to-date information on freight volumes, traffic volumes, composition, crash rates, travel times etc. will be provided.

4.2. Regional economic development overlapping initiatives, in particular the action n “Matariki: Hawke’s Bay Economic Development Strategy” to “Support the combined approach with Tairawhiti to achieve significant upgrades to SH 2 between Napier and Opotiki.” Do the committees agree to collaborate on this? If so, what is the best way to proceed?

4.3. The process and timeframes for development of the Regional Land Transport Plan 2018 (RLTP). Discussion of the two committees’ review plans. What are the inter-regional issues and overlapping initiatives, and how should these be incorporated into the respective RLTPs?

4.4. Forestry harvests – an outline of estimated volumes and possible implications for the local roading network – an update by Gisborne and Wairoa District Councils.

4.5. NZTA State Highway Investment Plan 2018 – an update by the NZ Transport Agency.

4.6. Rocket Lab – update on progress and discussion of implications for transport – Wairoa District

4.7. Napier to Wairoa rail logging proposal – update by the Chairman, Hawke’s Bay RTC

4.8. Wairoa to Gisborne section of the rail line. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council resolution that the Council “Continues to offer its support for the preservation and preferably restoration of rail freight options for the Wairoa to Gisborne section of the Napier-Gisborne rail line”. Explanation and discussion of the resolution by HBRC members.

Decision Making Process

5. 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 “Discussion of Inter-Regional Transport Matters with Gisborne Regional Transport Committee” 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 10 March 2017

Subject: March 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) - NZTA, 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. Since the Committee’s last meeting in December, the focus for the TAG has been the review of the key problem statements of the Regional Land Transport Plan, which are discussed elsewhere in this agenda.

Government Policy Statement on Land Transport

4. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2018-2028 has been released for public consultation until 31 March.

5. The strategic direction of the GPS influences the levels of funding allocated to various funding activity lasses. These are ring-fenced buckets of money that, within a range, are allocated to certain types of transport activities

6. The draft GPS continues with largely the same three priorities of economic growth and productivity, road safety and value for money, but with an updated approach in respect of economic growth and productivity, as it focusses on

6.1. putting the right infrastructure in place to support high growth urban areas; and

6.2. supporting the regions by supporting regional freight and tourism movements, while increasing the resilience of critical regional routes; and

6.3. improving how freight moves on the network by focussing on high quality and resilient connections.

7. The GPS recognises that, while transport demand will grow as our population, tourism and freight task increases, technology will play an increasingly important role in helping to manage that demand. However, it is difficult to predict how quickly these technologies will become available and much will depend on cost, public willingness to adopt new technologies and central/local government creating an environment that supports change. It also emphasises the need to look at the whole transport system and across all modes.

8. The GPS forecasts that transport demand will continue to increase over the next three years, based on expected population growth, freight movements and tourism.

9. Under its strategic priorities, the GPS sets out key objectives and short-, medium- and long-term objectives that it hopes to achieve, along with funding ranges to achieve this.

10. The GPS significantly increases some funding ranges to achieve the Government’s objectives. These include the Regional Improvements class (which replaces the R Fund), State Highway Improvements and SH and local road maintenance activity classes. Walking and Cycling will also significantly increase to incorporate the continuation of funding for urban cycleways and the tourism Great Rides. The funding range for Local Improvements has been reduced in line with the expected demand.

11. A table showing the current and proposed new funding ranges for each activity class is Attachment 1, and a set of Questions and Answers about the GPS is at Attachment 2.

12. The proposed increase in regional funding directed outside of major metropolitan areas is good news for regions such as Hawke’s Bay and recognises the importance of routes which support regional economic development, including tourism. It is also positive to see the emphasis in this draft GPS on taking a system approach, which aims to seek solutions across all transport modes (including better use of rail for freight movement) and recognises the importance of making better use of existing infrastructure where possible, by employing intelligent management systems and increasing use of other transport modes.

Driver Licensing Programmes

13. Contracts have now been signed with four providers of driver licensing courses throughout the region.

14. We have held review meetings with three of these providers and written reports have been received from them. All groups are making good progress with the delivery of the programmes.

15. Some common themes emerging from these reports are :

15.1. The need for programme managers to ascertain carefully who needs additional assistance to pass their restricted licence and to juggle resources accordingly. One provider has commenced a mentor programme to provide additional assistance to those who need it, over and above the budgeted professional assistance.

15.2. Providers need to actively follow up on learner licence holders to ensure that they progress to the next stage, rather than waiting for contact from the learner.

16. We are in regular contact with programme providers, who have been encouraged to advise us early if they encounter difficulties which would prevent them achieving their target numbers.

Transport Monitoring Indicators Report

17. Since the adoption of the Regional Land Transport Plan 2015 a range of transport monitoring indicators have been reported to the Committee annually, to provide a broad picture of how well the transport system is performing and to identify trends which may affect its performance in the future.

18. The attached report (Attachment 3) therefore sets out a range of transport system indicators in Hawke’s Bay, updated where possible to 2015 (the latest data available in most cases), drawing on some of the indicators developed by the Ministry of Transport to monitor the transport system at a national level.

19. This data will also be used to inform the review of the Regional Land Transport Plan, discussed elsewhere in the agenda.

Regional Cycling Governance Group

20. The Regional Cycling Governance Group (RGCC) held a workshop in January with staff from New Zealand Cycle Trails Inc. (NZCT) and the NZ Transport Agency‘s cycling team, to discuss proposed funding applications for future developments on the Hawke’s Bay cycling network. A ten-year plan for detailed improvements on the HB Trails was developed, based on the Regional Cycle Plan 2015. This was discussed in detail at the workshop and has now been formally submitted to NZCT.

21. The highest priority project in the application is to construct a walking and cycling bridge across the Tukituki River near Havelock North, at the end of River Road (off Te Mata-Mangaterere Road) as a new link for the Landscapes Ride. The Landscapes Ride is part of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s “Great Ride”^{^[1]}cycle trails and is in danger of losing that status due to the very dangerous, out-of-context on-road section of the route on Waimarama Road between Craggy Range and the intersection with Te Mata Road, known as “The Mad Mile”. Various roading solutions for this problem have been previously been investigated and discounted, due to their cost and environmental factors

22. The bridge proposal has gained strong support because it not only resolves the Mad Mile issue, but also shortens the Landscapes loop and removes the hilly Tuki Tuki Road section out to Red Bridge. This section is poorly used, as it is out of context with the rest of the largely Grade 1 trails. The RCGG has given the project top priority and wishes to progress further investigation and construction as soon as possible. A feasibility study into the project is underway.

23. Other items in the plan that received positive feedback from the NZCT/NZ Transport Agency team include the extension of the Water Ride to Whirinaki to link with the mountain bike park and the Pan Pac mill, improvements to underpasses on some of the existing rides and further signage.

Approved Organisations – Significant issues

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

24. All local authorities are working on the preparing business cases and communication plans for the ONRC so they will be ready for the next round of funding. Each Council may be at a different stage in their preparation but through common workshops are helping each other and also have resources available from the Road Efficiency Group and NZTA as required. As part of the ONRC, the Safer Speeds Management Guide has just been released and will be progressed as time and resources allow.

Highway Network and Operations

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

Hastings District Council

26. Construction of the Whakatu Arterial Link commenced mid-January. Earthworks at the new State Highway 2/Napier Road roundabout and the Karamu Stream bridge realignment are progressing as planned. Fill material for all roading work is being won from the Pakowhai area which will eventually form a stream realignment for a future HB Regional Council park. Off-site manufacture of precast concrete beams is underway and on-site work will commence early April 2017 after the completion of the stream realignment. Enabling works are 55 % complete and are being carried out in a timely manner to ensure that there are no time delays to the contractors.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

27. Bus passenger numbers are still lower than previous financial year overall, but have improved significantly since service improvements were introduced in October. The Hawke’s Bay DHB free patient travel initiative and high secondary school demand is also having an effect. It is looking increasingly likely that the year-end passenger numbers will equal or surpass 2015-16.

28. RoadSafe Hawke’s Bay has decided not to hold the Alcohol Expo this year. This was a difficult decision for them but was influenced by the need to adopt NZ Transport Agency recommendations about developing curriculum resources to support the event. Best practice is not to hold one-off events but to embed these in a teaching resource that prepares the student and then follows up after the Expo. The team is therefore directing its resources this year at getting the teaching resource developed and trialled.

Decision Making Process

29. 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 Transport Manager's report”.

Authored by:

Anne Redgrave

Transport Manager

Approved by:

Liz Lambert

Group Manager External Relations

Attachment/s