Agenda of Regional Transport Committee - Friday, 17 September 2021

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 17 September 2021

Subject: Roadsafe Annual Plan

Reason for Report

1. This report provides a brief review of the main activities carried out by Roadsafe Hawke’s Bay in the past year and outlines the programme for the next financial year for approval by the Regional Transport Committee.

Officers’ Recommendations

2. The annual Roadsafe Hawke's Bay work plan and performance measures are attached for feedback and approval by the Regional Transport Committee.

3. The disestablishment of the Driver License Programme Governance Group is also recommended for approval by the Regional Transport Committee as the programme is now a specific part of the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay programme.

Executive Summary

4. A wide range of Roadsafe programmes were delivered in the last financial year, albeit with some reduced staff capacity, and a brief overview of the highlights is provided with this report.

5. A new Roadsafe Hawke's Bay work programme has now been developed based on identified risks and road safety issues. We are seeking Committee input, any additional initiatives or focus areas and approval for this programme.

6. A separate agenda item discussing alternative models for the delivery of the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay work plan is also on the agenda for the Committee’s consideration. This will have minimal impact on the work plan described in this paper, however the Committee’s decisions may impact on how the work plan is delivered.

Discussion

Report on the last years programme

7. In the year to date (Jan – 5 September) there have been 7 road deaths. In the last 12 months there have been 16 road deaths.

8. The main road safe programme elements delivered during the 2020-2021 year included the following.

Regional

9. Ongoing development of social media message about road safety that align with programmes in the community.

10. Delivery of Driver License Programme (see following).

11. Delivery of successful Hawkes Bay Youth Roadsafe Expo targeted at Hawke's Bay colleges (see following).

12. Regular roadside support to police and emergency services that feature road safety messages (including fatigue and speed).

Wairoa

13. Establishment of a Road to Zero focus group with key stakeholders such as local Councils, Police, iwi, schools and ACC.

14. Established a collaborative approach to developing projects that target speeding drivers to support the WDC speed review and safety audit.

15. Installation of new billboard series on rural Wairoa roads targeted at high-risk local issues.

16. Supporting targeted truck driver, local and tourist drivers fatigue stops.

Hastings/Taupo

17. The ‘Stay Alive on 5’ road safety campaign that included road safety treatments as well as billboards and roadside education programmes. See here for the media coverage

Central Hawke’s Bay

18. Commenced new parent/student drivers’ license education nights with CHB College and Connecting Youth for Employment Trust.

19. Commenced Road to Zero discussions with newly established road safety focus group.

Road Safe Expo

20. This Expo has been operating for 12 years. Nearly all high schools are now sending their Year 11 students to the event held over a week at the Pettigrew Green Arena.

21. The Expo was cancelled in 2020 because of Covid, but the 2021 event was able to be held in May 2021, also enabling the Year 12 students who missed the 2020 event to attend. Students from 22 Hawke's Bay colleges attended.

22. A survey of stakeholders, teaching staff and attendees has been carried out. An assessment report will be available when completed.

23. A number of Expo resources require updating or replacing and this forms part of the Roadsafe Work Plan budget for the coming year.

Driver License Programme 2019-2020

24. This programme was established as a separately Waka Kotahi funded programme firstly in 2016 and then repeated in 2019 with the support of the Matariki 2.4D group. It was further supported by local contributions from Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and Ngati Kahungunu as well as contributions from the local councils.

25. A separate Governance Group was established to administer this funding with members appointed from the Road Transport Committee, the contributing iwi organisations, Ministry of Social Development, and the Police.

26. The funding was distributed to three separate providers who focused on high-risk areas and target drivers, including youth, Māori, and Pacifica drivers in both CHB and Wairoa.

27. Driver license training was provided by GOT Drive Community Trust, Connecting Youth and Employment Community Trust and Wairoa College.

28. Funding was also provided to GOT Drive for increasing the pool of driver training instructors. Six of the anticipated 9 new instructors have received i-endorsement training with some funding retained for training instructors in Wairoa later this year. It has been challenging to find appropriate people to train.

29. The programme highlights are as follows.

Service Provider	Total	Passed	Male	Female	Māori
Participants in Learner license programmes
Wairoa College	44	34	25	20	41
Drivers supported to Restricted driver license
Connect (CYE)	20	6	17	3	17
Wairoa	31	13	15	16	24
GOT Drive	30	20	15	15	11
Drivers supported to Full driver license
Connect (CYE)	11	4	11	0	11
Wairoa College	2	2			2
GOT Drive	25	18	12	12	18
Drivers attending defence driving course
Wairoa College	10	10	5	5	7

Driver License Programme 2020 - 2021

30. This year, the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) and associated funding application to Waka Kotahi (NZTA) incorporated the Driver License Programme into the regional Roadsafe Hawke's Bay programme to make the programme funding more secure and make it an ongoing part of the annual programme.

31. Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has advised that $90,000 has been allocated to the Hawke's Bay Roadsafe Driver Licensing Programme.

32. Because the driver license programme is part of the wider Roadsafe Hawke's Bay programme (and because of the reduced funding), staff recommend that the Driver Licensing Governance Group be dis-established.

33. We also recommend that we continue to work with the three service providers that were previously contracted to provide this service. While one-year contracts were agreed with these providers, they had been encouraged to consider a three-year programme pending available funding. This enables and supports continuity of service and investment into the necessary resources to provide such programmes.

34. The funding allocations suggested below are based on the continuation of service provision as follows (subject to new contracts). Retention of $10,000 is suggested to support other targeted driver licensing programmes and providers, including to provide the Police School Education programme and driver trainers targeting at risk groups with additional Roadsafe Hawke's Bay education resources, to complement the driver license training.

Provider	Amount
GOT Drive Community Trust	$40,000
Connecting Youth and Employment Community Trust	$10,000
Wairoa College	$30,000

35. There continue to be issues associated with the lack of driver licensing facilities in CHB and Wairoa. The solution to this problem does not lie with the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay team, however, we recommend ongoing engagement with relevant stakeholders such as the Matariki 2.4D group, which is aligned with the national Driving Change Network, Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and other agencies to find solutions.

Road Safety Action Plan for 2021-22

36. The RLTP recently adopted by the Regional Transport Committee includes a 3-year Roadsafe programme of work that has been adopted by the Committee. This outlines the broad nature of the road safe programme with a Roadsafe Work Plan to deliver the programme to be developed annually.

37. Final advice from Waka Kotahi about funding for the programme is expected on 7 September and we will report any updates at the Regional Transport Committee meeting on the 17 September 2021. While still to be confirmed, Waka Kotahi has indicated that continued maintenance and operational programmes will receive ongoing funding.

38. The Committee has previously noted the need to provide governance oversight and direction for the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay programme and annual work plan.

39. The Roadsafe work plans are provided in attachments 1- 5.

40. Each of the projects included in the work plan has been developed with reference to the Communities at Risk Register (maintained by Waka Kotahi) which identifies the road safety risks according to the incidence of crashes and reasons for them.

41. There is a greater focus on engagement with relevant stakeholders at a community level through focus groups and safer community networks including the Matariki 2.4D as well as with key stakeholders who are also part of delivering Road to Zero outcomes, such as the NZ Police, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), St John and ACC.

42. The Roadsafe Hawke's Bay work plan also looks to better align and coordinate with other elements of the Road to Zero strategy especially those related to road safety treatments and enforcement. These projects can be supported by Roadsafe Hawke's Bay interventions that will complement the road safety messaging and objectives.

43. For example, ensuring the current work in Central Hawke's Bay to address road safety issues through Waipawa is supported by Roadsafe messages and interventions alongside key stakeholders. Road to Zero projects include engineered solutions as well as social, education and enforcement initiatives.

44. CHB District Council is also developing a road safety strategy to assist in determining the impact of development on the safety of the road network. This is likely to generate a programme for infrastructure work, and alongside that they will also investigate all opportunities to lower deaths and serious injuries, which will include road safety interventions and enforcement.

45. The delivery of the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay’s work plan will complement and align with road infrastructure safety treatment works so that the combined effect of the treatments can be synergistic and reinforce the road to zero messages.

Performance measures

46. The government’s Road to Zero strategy, which is given effect to in and reflected in the RTC’s Regional Land Transport Plan, includes an ambitious target for reducing the harm caused by road crashes. A 40% reduction in Deaths and Serious Injuries (DSIs) by 2030 (from a 2018 baseline) is the target in both the national strategy as well as our local Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP).

47. The RLTP contains the following indicators and measures.

Measure	Indicator	Specifications	Data Sources
1: Deaths and serious injuries	Percentage reduction in deaths and serious injuries	40% reduction in deaths and serious injuries (down from 122 to 73 DSIs by 2030)	Waka Kotahi crash statistics
2: Risky driver behaviour	Trends in risk behaviour as the cause of crashes	A decreasing trend in the number of crashes caused by risky driver behaviour	Waka Kotahi crash statistics

48. Clearly the Roadsafe Work Plan will not achieve this in isolation from road treatments, speed management, vehicle safety, and road user choices. There is however a challenge in making sure that each of the management interventions work alongside each other to deliver consistent and integrated progress on the Road to Zero.

49. We have considered the Committee’s previous challenges around development of suitable KPIs. All the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay’s work plans contribute towards the overall goal of reducing DSIs and are focussed on identified risk areas. A decreasing trend is the main evidence of success, and this is supported by the other Road to Zero interventions. The following measures are proposed for reporting this financial year, alongside any others determined appropriate by the Committee at the meeting of 17 September.

50. We propose to report on delivery of the work plans, including results of any evaluation of the projects, as well as providing data about DSI trends and causes of road crashes. In order to target resources effectively, it is recommended that four of the work plan activities be evaluated annually and be reported to the Committee.

51. For the Hawke's Bay Youth Roadsafe Expo in particular, we propose to report on the uptake of the road safety message. We suggest a goal of 90% of surveyed students will show an increased level of awareness.

Strategic Fit

52. A safe and accessible transport network is essential to deliver sustainable and climate resilient transport infrastructure.

Significance and Engagement Policy Assessment

53. This is not a significant issue as the work plan is signalled and provided for in the already adopted Regional Land Transport Plan, which has followed a robust engagement and submissions process.

Climate Change Considerations

54. The road safety programme does not have a direct effect on climate change mitigation but ensuring that people can use active transport modes (cycling and walking) safely will support mode shift and assist in reducing reliance on private vehicles.

Considerations of Tangata Whenua

55. Tangata whenua are over-represented in a range of road safety statistics, including driver licensing, crashes, and enforcement action by police. The Roadsafe work plan includes a number of initiatives working alongside tangata whenua organisations and communities to address these risks.

56. Roadsafe Hawke's Bay interventions are based on the te whare tapa whā model which is the Māori holistic model of health. Te whare tapa whā, reminds you to take care of all the different aspects of your life to support your wellbeing.

57. Te whare tapa whā’ – the four cornerstones (or sides) of Māori health are Taha tinana (physical health), Taha wairua (spiritual health), Taha whānau (family health), Taha hinengaro (mental health)

Financial and Resource Implications

58. The delivery of the Roadsafe programme is supported by Waka Kotahi funding and local contributions from the councils.

59. Development and delivery of the Roadsafe work plan is part of the Regional Council functions and duties and has been provided for in current budgets

Consultation

60. The Roadsafe work plan has been developed with input from the Technical Advisory Group members including Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and NZ Police and safer community/focus groups.

Decision Making Process

61. 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:

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

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

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

61.4. 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.

61.5. 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 the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and considers the “Roadsafe Annual Plan” 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. Adopts the Roadsafe Hawke's Bay Work Plan for 2021-22 as proposed.

4. Agrees to disestablish the Driver Licensing Programme Governance Group.

5. Agrees that the funding distribution for the driver licensing providers be as follows.

Provider	Amount
GOT Drive Community Trust	$40,000
Connecting Youth and Employment Community Trust	$10,000
Wairoa College	$30,000

6. Adopts the following reporting and performance measures for the Roadsafe Work Plan.

6.1. Quarterly reporting on the delivery of the Roadsafe Work Plan.

6.2. Evaluation of at least four activity areas in the Roadsafe Work Plan

6.3. Reporting on the amount and any trends in the number of Deaths and Serious Injuries

6.4. Survey attenders of the annual Expo with 90% of surveyed students showing an increased level of awareness of road safety messages.

Authored by:

Liz Schlierike

Roadsafe Coordinator

Mary-Anne Baker

Senior Policy Planner

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇩	RSHB Wairoa Work Plan 2021 - 2022
2 ⇩	RSHB Regional Child Restraints Work Plan 2021 - 2022
3 ⇩	RSHB Napier Work Plan 2021 - 2022
4 ⇩	RSHB Hastings Work Plan 2021 - 2022
5 ⇩	RSHB CHB Work Plan 2021 - 2022

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 17 September 2021

Subject: Roadsafe s17a Review Outcomes

Reason for Report

1. This report seeks approval from the Regional Transport Committee to commence a Service Delivery Review of HB Roadsafe functions subject to Section 17a of the Local Government Act 2002.

Officers’ Recommendation

2. Council officers recommend that the committee approves the engagement of Morrison Low to undertake a Service Delivery Review of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Road Safety function.

Executive Summary

3. At its meeting of 11 December 2020, the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) sought advice in relation to their oversight and governance of the Road Safety Programme (RSP).

4. The Committee also sought further advice about the effective delivery of their governance obligations for Road Safety.

5. In response to the request for oversight and governance of the Road Safety Programme, a workshop was held on 12 March 2021. The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss the options and preferred approach for the involvement of the Committee in the Road Safety Programme.

6. The outcome from that workshop was agreement that direction setting, oversight and accountability for the RoadSafe programme should sit with the RTC at the Governance level.

7. Following that decision, this report recommends a service delivery review subject to Section 17a of the Local Government Act 2002.

Background /Discussion

8. At its meeting of 11 December 2020, the Regional Transport Committee sought advice in relation to their oversight and governance of the Roadsafe Programme.

9. This advice was sought, following the preparation of the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP), in which the Regional Land Transport Committee set objectives to targets and investment priorities, including those for Road Safety.

10. At that meeting, the Committee also sought further advice about the effective delivery of their governance obligations for Road Safety.

11. A workshop was held on 12 March 2021 that provided an opportunity to discuss the options and preferred approach for the involvement of the Committee in the Road Safety Programme. Agreement was reached at that workshop that direction setting, oversight and accountability for the RoadSafe programme should sit with the RTC at the Governance level.

12. In response to the question of effective delivery of governance obligations, this report recommends a service delivery review subject to Section 17a of the Local Government Act 2002.

Options Assessment

13. The service delivery review will seek to address the following:

13.1. The level of understanding and clarity of what the Roadsafe Programme should be achieving in terms of outcomes,

13.2. Improvements that could be made in services and or activities being delivered through the Roadsafe Programme,

13.3. Adequacy of the current funding for Roadsafe HB to deliver the programme and desired outcomes,

13.4. The effectiveness of relationships between the providers of Roadsafe HB and the four other local authorities, community groups and any other service providers,

13.5. Any alternative means for service delivery that might exist already or could be developed,

13.6. Any efficiency gains that might be available by utilising (or adding to) existing resources within the territorial authorities to deliver the regional road safety programme and

13.7. Any refinements that can be made even if no changes to the service delivery model is proposed.

14. Morrison Low have been approached and asked to submit a proposal for this review. Morrison Low have proposed Gareth Chaplin, Associate Director Central Government.

15. The methodology proposed by Morrison Low will ensure the report delivers practical outcomes whilst meeting the statutory requirements for a S17a review and will include:

15.1. Project management throughout the project with regular liaison the Group Manager Policy and Regulation.

15.2. A review will be undertaken of all relevant information relating to the current service delivery arrangements and will include such things as:

15.2.1 The Regional Land Transport Plan, the Road Safety Programme, Communication Plans,

15.2.2 the current structure – governance and delivery,

15.2.3 budgets and actuals for the last three years and any other relevant financial information or reports (e.g., monthly, or quarterly reports),

15.2.4 Operational processes/procedures which set out how the Road Safety team functions and operates including the engagement of volunteer and other suppliers/providers,

15.2.5 Details of existing contract/s, scope and performance requirements.

15.3. Interview key staff individually to understand what currently works well, any issues and areas for improvements, including representatives of the Territorial Local Authorities.

15.4. Develop and agree with the HBRC Group Manager Policy and Regulatory potential service delivery options and assessment criteria, taking into account agreed objectives and identified opportunities for efficiencies and improvements.

15.5. Undertake a high‐level assessment of alternative service delivery options against the agreed criteria using Morrison Low’s Section 17a templates to ensure consistency with the legislative requirements.

15.6. Facilitate a ‘challenge workshop’ with key stakeholders (to be agreed but likely to include members of HBRC and the TLAs, Waka Kotahi, NZ Police and ACC) to agree the preferred way forward using the high-level assessment as the basis for discission.

15.7. Document the review and a recommended way forward in a draft report to be submitted to the Group Manager Policy and Regulation for review and feedback.

15.8. Following feedback on the draft report, the final report with a presentation of that report will be provided to the Regional Transport Committee and Council.

Strategic Fit

16. The Roadsafe functions contribute to a sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure. To achieve this strategic vision, it is essential that HBRC, the TLAs, Waka Kotahi, NZ Police and ACC have good working relationships to enable the successful achievement of this goal.

17. There are a range of possible delivery methods available to the Council to achieve the Roadsafe functions. The Service Delivery review will enable the RTC and Councils to decide on the best option to achieve the objectives and targets in a desired timeframe.

Significance and Engagement Policy Assessment

18. The Significance of this proposed review has been determined to be of medium significance. The significance of this review is reflected in the proposed methodology and the intent to undertake wide engagement with all Roadsafe partners and key stakeholders.

Considerations of Tangata Whenua

19. There are no social, cultural, or economic effects on Tangata Whenua as a result of this proposed review, but as discussed above, consultation will be undertaken with key stakeholders, some of which have a primary focus on the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Tangata Whenua in regard to road safety.

Financial and Resource Implications

20. Subject to availability of information and key stakeholders, it is estimated that the Section 17a review will take four to six weeks to complete.

21. A cost estimate has been provided by Morrison Low to complete the Section 17a review in the order of $20,000‐$25,000 excluding GST and disbursements.

22. The cost of completing the review has not been specifically identified or budgeted for in the HBRC Annual Plan 2021/22, however the cost is not significant and is anticipated to be met from existing operational budgets.

Consultation

23. As discussed above, consultation will be undertaken with key staff, including representatives of the Territorial Local Authorities, key stakeholders (to be agreed but likely to include members of HBRC and the TLAs, Waka Kotahi, NZ Police and ACC)

Decision Making Process

24. 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:

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

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

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

24.4. The persons affected by this decision are all partners and key relationships of Roadsafe HB.

24.5. 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 the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and considers the “Roadsafe s17a Review Outcomes” staff report.

3. Approves the engagement of Morrison Low to undertake a Service Delivery Review of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Road Safety function.

Authored by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Approved by:

James Palmer

Chief Executive

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 17 September 2021

Subject: September 2021 Public Transport Update

Reason for Report

1. This item provides the Committee with an update on Council’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. With Long Term Plan and Waka Kotahi funding now approved, a project management team, including a representative of Hastings District Council has been established and is working towards a trial start date of mid-2022.

5. An engagement plan is currently being developed. This will outline how we will undertake consultation with users of the existing Routes 16A, 16B and 17, as these are the routes that will be replaced by the on-demand service, as well as ensuring we are engaging with the wider community to understand their passenger transport needs, barriers and what incentives we can use to entice them to use the on-demand service.

6. Details such as vehicle specifications, fares and payment provisions, wait times, walking distances and the service area are currently being worked through between the service providers and the project team.

COVID-19

7. Patronage has been extremely low during Level 4 lockdown with Go Bus advising that they carried a maximum of 7 passengers on any one trip, while operating the Saturday timetable plus Routes 10, 11, 16A, 16B and 17 for essential workers.

8. Face coverings have continued to be mandatory in the new Level 2 at the bus stops ad onboard the buses unless the passenger (or driver) has a medical condition which prevents them from wearing a mask safely. Go Bus have advised that compliance has been very good, however drivers do not have the authority to refuse to carry passengers who are not wearing face coverings.

9. Additional Level 2 rules require passengers o scan the QR code onboard or to register their trip at https://www.gobay.co.nz/information/covid-19-trip-register/ or keep a manual record of their trip. Once onboard passengers should avoid sitting next to someone they don’t know, and standing is not permitted. If passengers are unwell, they should stay at home and not travel on public transport services. Students on designated school bus services are not required to wear face masks

10. Students can stand on designated school services.

11. All buses have COVID tracer app QR posters displayed at the doors and onboard the bus in several places. Our online trip register is also available for passengers who don’t have smartphones.

Public Transport Service Trips

12. Diagram 1 (attached) shows public transport trips made from July to July 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

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

14. 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, the cost of paid breaks added to the driver hours as required by the Employment Relations Amendment Act and payment of the living wage to bus drivers.

Total Mobility Scheme

15. 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

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

Total Mobility Scheme Trips

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

Decision Making Process

18. 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 “September 2021 Public Transport Update” report.

Authored by:

Megan Welsby

Sustainable Transport Coordinator

Approved by:

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

RTC September 2021 Public Transport Update Statistics

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 17 September 2021

Subject: Transport Manager’s September 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. This report provides a summary of national and local transport issues.

3. Separate reports to this meeting cover road safe programme delivery and the road safe annual programme and the public transport service delivery.

4. We are happy to be welcoming Katie Nimon as the new Transport Manager at the end of this month

Discussion

5. Funding Decisions NLTP: The NLTP was released on the 7^th September (the full NLTP and supporting information can be read here). A media statement from Waka Kotahi (which can be read here) notes that the $376 million investment planned for Hawke’s Bay over the next three years marks a 16 per cent increase compared to the previous three-yearly NLTP.

6. A summary of the application amounts and approved budget for the main RLTP programme items is in the attachment document.

7. Not all funding bids were successful, including for maintenance and operations of local roads in Hastings and Wairoa, with Wairoa also getting less for their Walking and Cycling budgets. Hastings also receives less funding for their Road to Zero programme bid. Napier and Central Hawkes Bay Councils receive funding close to what was expected, and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council will receive was sought for the Public Transport and Road Safety programmes.

8. Regional speed management plans: Submissions on NZTA proposals closed end of June. The Regional Transport Special Interest Group (TSIG) has submitted on behalf of all regional council and has set up a working group to support development of regional speed management plans.

9. Waka Kotahi will provide a verbal summary of the feedback on the proposed changes to the speed limits on SHs 5 and 51.

10. Decarbonisation of the bus network. A national approach to the decarbonisation of the bus fleet to get underway with Waka Kotahi and the TSIG to Understand the commercial and management requirements that councils will need to adopt to meet government expectations and assess scenarios for potential capital and operating costs for a decarbonised bus fleet in New Zealand, and outline options for how these costs may be financed.

11. This national approach enables cost savings for councils and provides credibility in the sector’s engagement with the Ministry of Transport (MoT).

12. Emissions Reduction Plan: MfE will soon be consulting on NZ’s first Emissions Reduction Plan as required under the Climate Change Response Act 2002. This will enable iwi, councils, businesses, and the general public an opportunity to influence policies setting out how we will meet emissions budgets, which will act as stepping stones (or interim targets) towards 2050 emissions reduction targets.

13. Upon completion, the Emissions Reduction Plan is expected to include policies and strategies to target the transport sector and will likely lead to an update to the Government Policy Statement to expand on government priority on climate change.

14. There are existing and likely new roles for the RTC, including in terms of understanding interaction between new growth and how that will support or exacerbate transport emissions. For example, carbon assessments for new growth areas.

15. The Regional Land Transport Plan recently adopted by the Committee already contains a vision and objectives aimed at reducing transport emissions through increased use of public and active transport, increased use of rail for freight and integrated land use planning that reduces reliance on private vehicles.

16. A number of national and RLTP policies direct the council partners investment and management towards meeting these objectives.

17. There is an opportunity to adopt new transport network and land development policies and rules that enable reduced transport emissions as district plans are reviewed.

18. Travel Demand Management and Public Transport. Mode shift describes the process of making a shift from one means of transport to another. This is partly addressed by ensuring the active and public travel infrastructure is available, safe, and well connected. The Regional Council is also about to embark on a review of the PT service and explore how improvements can be made to public transport, including through the On Demand Public Transport service model, fares, service areas and timetables. We expect this PT review to also consider alternative shared transport services with key sports, business, and education providers. (Note that work on the PT review is not yet underway given the staffing constraints of the transport team).

19. It is important to both understand how current barriers to walking and cycling can be addressed by infrastructure investment and ensure that usage of new facilities is supported by policy, regulatory and marketing interventions. MoT is developing capacity in this area and is looking to be much more active in partnership with local councils, WK and key stakeholders. Staff expect to be fully involved in this initiative.

20. Rail. A meeting was organised on 17 August by Graeme Carroll, Managing Director, Global Reach Associates, Nikki Searancke (Gisborne resident) and Fraser Geologics with Waka Kotahi to discuss the Gisborne-Wairoa rail repair reinstatement. The meeting was advised by Waka Kotahi that this is not currently a project identified in the NLTP. There was currently no possibility of adding this project in. It was suggested that the only avenue to continue to take this project forward would be to commence a conversation with relevant Central Government ministers.

Decision Making Process

21. 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 September 2021 Report” staff report.

Authored by: Approved by:

Mary-Anne Baker

Senior Policy Planner

Katrina Brunton

Group Manager Policy & Regulation

Attachment/s

1 ⇩

NLTP 2021-24 Bid vs Actual TLA data