Minutes of Regional Transport Committee - Friday, 21 February 2025

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and Api Robin opened with a karakia.

RTC1/25

Resolution

That the apologies for absence from Mayor Alex Walker and councillors Tania Kerr and Jerf van Beek be accepted.

Price/Buddo

CARRIED

2. Conflict of interest declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on 6 December 2024

RTC2/25

Resolution

Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on Friday, 6 December 2024, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Buddo/Taylor

CARRIED

4.	Public Forum
	There were speakers in the public forum.

Angela Hallett arrived at 10.13am

Regional Public Transport Plan review

Russell Turnbull and Bryce Cullen spoke to the item and discussions covered:

· It is critical that the plan review has accurate information as the completed document will be the basis for public consultation.

· The My-Way service pilot in Napier not planned because the Hastings trial showed the cost per passenger is significantly higher than a fixed bus route service. The My-Way service is still going well in Timaru.

· The RTC Chair has written to the Minister of Education regarding recent changes to the school bus routes in HB. A vague response has been received and it was suggested that RTC now writes to the Minister of Regulation about the outdated rules used for how school bus services are funded.

RTC3/25

Resolutions

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Regional Public Transport Plan review staff report.

2. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Committee can exercise its discretion and make the relevant decisions without conferring directly with the community.

3. Endorses the draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-2035 for inclusion in the HBRC Annual Plan 2025-2026 public consultation, subject to the RTC Chair working alongside staff to approve the final version inclusive of changes discussed at this meeting.

Little/Buddo

CARRIED

Information on accepting cash fares

Russell Turnbull introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussions included:

· The introduction of the National Ticketing System provides an opportunity to consider the acceptance of cash bus fares and consultation will be included in the upcoming RPTP consultation.

· While cash provides accessibility benefits for some users, eliminating cash can improve security, reduce boarding times, and lower operational costs. On balance, removing cash fares off buses will have more positive impacts than negative.

· Auckland Transport has been cash-free since Covid.

RTC4/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and considers the Information on accepting cash payments on buses staff report.

Price/Buddo

CARRIED

Increase in public transport fares

Russell Turnbull spoke to the item, which was taken as read. Discussions included:

· Every year bus fares are reviewed and there will be a 5% increase from 4 May 2025, to generate another ~$35,000, with a further 5% expected next year.

· Experience elsewhere has shown a 30% decrease in patronage for every one dollar increase in fares however those impacts have not been experienced in HB.

RTC5/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and considers the Increase in Public Transport Fares staff report.

Williams/Little

CARRIED

Regional Transport Programme February 2025 update

Bryce Cullen introduced the item and discussions included:

· Current policies around multimodal integration for active transport have been retained and will be progressed later in the year, including the potential to have integrated transport hubs around bus stops.

· Communities along SH5 are currently holding hui on the submission process for the public consultation on reversing the 80km/h speed limit on SH5 to 100km/h. Emergency services including Police and FENZ will be making submissions against the reversion to 100km/h.

The meeting adjourned at 11.20am due to internet failure and reconvened at 11.50am, with Nick Flack having left during this period.

· RTC agreed that the RTC Chair will liaise with Tania Kerr on whether to lodge a submission in support of the ‘local voice’ on SH5 speed.

RTC6/25

Resolutions

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and notes the Regional Transport Programme February 2025 update staff report.

2. Notes that the RTC Chair will liaise with Councillor Tania Kerr on whether to lodge a submission in support of the ‘local voice’ on the SH5 speed limit consultation.

Williams/Little

CARRIED

RoadSafe Hawke's Bay update

Bryce Cullen introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussions included:

· Leading up to the Christmas period the team supported the Police with impairment prevention and restraint checkpoints.

· Currently working with police on ‘fatigue’ checkpoint at Nuhaka, supported by a local coffee business.

· High School Road Safety education days are being delivered on a smaller scale due to funding constraints, with 2 pencilled in for mid-late May 2025.

· Positive feedback on the car seat education demonstrations was shared with the meeting.

RTC7/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the RoadSafe Hawke's Bay update staff report.

Taylor/Buddo

CARRIED

10.

Public Transport February 2025 update

Russell Turnbull introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussions included:

· For bus driver safety purposes CCTV will be installed in buses by April 2025.

· The National ticketing system implementation has been delayed until early 2026.

· Real-time systems are now active on mobile devices, showing actual wait times for passengers. Physical real time signs are being investigated for 16 locations.

Daniel Headifen arrived at 12.11pm

· Rural communities remain very concerned about significant negative impacts of the cancellation of school bus services and a further letter, to be written by the RTC Chair and Councillor Tania Kerr, will be sent to the Minister of Regulation seeking an urgent review of the archaic criteria used as the basis for what school bus services are provided.

RTC8/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and notes the Public Transport February 2025 update staff report

2. Delegates councillors Martin Williams and Tania Kerr to write to the Minister of Regulation on behalf of the Regional Transport Committee, requesting an urgent review of the criteria for the provision of school bus services in light of the significant negative impacts of rural school bus service cuts.

Little/Buddo

CARRIED

11.

Waka Kotahi/NZTA Central Region Regional Relationships Director’s update

Linda Stewart spoke to the item. Discussions included:

· The Christchurch Motu Move pilot of the National ticketing system is going well.

· The Napier Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre on the corner of Prebensen Drive and SH2 is expected to be completed 2027.

· The government’s auto-reversal of speed limits will be completed by July 2025.

· The first set of works on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway are ahead of schedule and work near the Tūtaekurī bridge is expected to be completed by April 2025.

Linda Stewart introduced a strategic update on the National Safety Camera programme assisted by Graham Noble and Richard Stewart. A presentation covered:

· Fixed and mobile safety cameras have been transitioned from Police to NZTA

· Safety camera network to be expanded with another 51 cameras across the motu, with priority for average speed, point-to-point safety cameras.

· The 6 high level principles of NZTA’s approach are 1 whole of system, 2 partnership with NZ Police, 3 deterrence before detection, 4 fair and transparent, 5 reducing inequity and 6 intelligence led decision-making.

· Initial strategic modelling for safety camera locations includes local expert insights, patterns in crash data, collective risk, personal risk, crash types, evidence of high risk behaviour and how the road is used.

RTC9/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the Public Transport February 2025 update staff report.

Williams/Taylor

CARRIED

12.

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) update

Chris Mahoney spoke to the item, assisted by Daniel Headifen. Discussions included:

· Recovery work is 70% (of 96 projects) done and expected to be complete by mid-2025, except Devil’s Corner.

· TREC map is live for the public to see all the projects.

· Three of the 23 rail sites between Palmerston North and Napier completed and 3 more to be completed by mid-year.

· Work on the rail bridge over the Tūtaekurī River continues, with a decision expected soon on installing permanent spans.

RTC10/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) update.

Williams/Buddo

CARRIED

13.

Verbal Advisory Representative reports

· Nick Flack is the new CE and representative for the HB Airport.

· Police priorities are open road speed and breath screening. Oral Fluid drug testing is being rolled out and will include public education.

· Ian Emmerson advised there’s been a 10-15% reduction in truck fleet numbers due to economic conditions.

RTC11/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the Verbal Advisory Representative reports.

Williams/Little

CARRIED

14.

Follow-ups from previous Regional Transport Committee meetings

The item was taken as read.

RTC12/25

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the follow-up items from previous Regional Transport Committee meetings.

Williams/Buddo

CARRIED

Api Robin offered a closing karakia.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 1.23pm on Friday, 21 February 2025.

Signed as a true and correct record.

Date: ................................................ Chair: ...............................................