Agenda of Regional Transport Committee

Regional Transport Committee

27 September 2022

Page No.

Karakia and Mihi Timatanga

1. Apologies

Nil

2. Confirmation of Order of Business

3. Interests

3.1 Updates to the Interests Register

3.2 Identify any conflicts of interest in the agenda

4. Public Forum

5. Confirmation of Minutes

5.1 21 June 2022 5 - 9

Document number M19575

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held on 21 June 2022, as a true and correct record.

6. Chairperson's report 10 - 14

Document number R27273

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Chairperson's report (R27273).

7. Public Transport Update 15 - 18

Document number R27099

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Public Transport Update (R27099).

8. Waka Kotahi Update 19 - 34

Document number R27200

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Waka Kotahi Update (R27200) and its attachment (768709890-25).

Karakia Whakamutanga

Regional Transport Committee Minutes - 21 June 2022

Minutes of a meeting of the

Regional Transport Committee

Te Kōmiti Waka-ā-Rohe

Held via Zoom on Tuesday 21 June 2022, commencing at 1.34p.m.

Present: Councillor B McGurk (Chairperson), Councillors J Edgar (Deputy Chairperson), R O'Neill-Stevens and Waka Kotahi Representative Ms E Speight

In Attendance: Group Manager Infrastructure (A Louverdis), Governance Adviser (A Fon) and Assistant Governance Adviser (A Bryce-Neumann)

Leave of Absence: Her Worship the Mayor R Reese

Karakia and Mihi Timatanga

1. Apologies

There were no apologies, however Mayor Reese’s leave of absence was noted.

2. Confirmation of Order of Business

There was no change to the order of business.

3. Interests

There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.

4. Public Forum

4.1. Henry Hudson - The dangers of rockfall on Rocks Road

Document number R26914

Henry Hudson, from the Nelson Citizens Alliance, spoke about the dangers of rockfall on Rocks Road.

Mr Hudson presented key points from the tabled document including the resilience of Rocks Road as a major corridor, noting safety concerns due to slope failures. Mr Hudson also raised concerns about the sea wall and loss of views and access to the beach and swimming. The group acknowledged work below Moncrieff Avenue and encouraged further similar work to be completed in conjunction with Waka Kotahi. Other ideas included discouraging large trucks using Rocks Road by reducing the speed limit to 30km per hour, thereby reducing noise and vibrations along this stretch of road.

Attachments

1 A2910169 Tabled Document - Rocks Road Hudson - NCA

5. Confirmation of Minutes

5.1 29 March 2022

Document number M19371, agenda pages 6 - 10 refer.

Resolved RTC/2022/007

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held on 29 March 2022, as a true and correct record.

Speight/O'Neill-Stevens Carried

6. Chairpersons Report

Document number R26961, agenda pages 11 - 20 refer.

The Chairperson presented his report, and highlighted the submission on behalf of the South Island Regional Transport Committee Chairs on freight and supply chain issues.

Resolved RTC/2022/008

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Chairpersons Report (R26961) and its attachment A2905287.

McGurk/Edgar Carried

7. Public Transport Update

Document number R26874, agenda pages 21 - 32 refer.

Marg Parfitt, Manager Transport and Solid Waste, presented the report and tabled two additional maps showing the route from Motueka to Nelson and Richmond to Nelson. It was noted that these were express routes that would stop at Tahunanui and Nelson Hospital.

Ms Parfitt answered questions about the stops on the express routes, public awareness of the planned changes, timeline for the fares policy, patronage of public transport as a result of half price fares and public transport branding.

Resolved RTC/2022/009
	*That the Regional Transport Committee* 1. Receives the report Public Transport Update (R26874) and its attachments (A2895047 and A2895020).
Edgar/O'Neill-Stevens Carried
	Attachments 1 A2909022 Route 5 2 A2909027 Route 6

8. Waka Kotahi Update

Document number R26873, agenda pages 33 - 46 refer.

Ms Emma Speight, Waka Kotahi Representative, presented the report. Ms Speight, Mr Mike Creamer and Andrew James, Waka Kotahi, answered questions on the speed limit review, speed limit on Rocks Road, Tahunanui southbound lane reinstatement timeline and consultation with the Tahunanui businesses, the proposed signalisation of Parkers Road/Annesbrook Drive, pedestrian improvements at intersections and vegetation control.

Ms Speight lost connection to the online meeting at 2.13pm and re-join at 2.22p.m.

Resolved RTC/2022/010

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Waka Kotahi Update (R26873) and its attachment (A2905181).

McGurk/Speight Carried

9. Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees

Document number R26876, agenda pages 47 - 76 refer.

Alec Louverdis, Group Manager Infrastructure, presented the report and there were no questions asked.

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees (R26876) and its attachments (A2887399 and A2883508); and

2. Approves retrospectively the submission (A2883508) to Waka Kotahi on the Regulatory Funding and Fees Consultation.

McGurk/O'Neill-Stevens

10. Exclusion of the Public

Resolved RTC/2022/011

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting.

2. The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

Edgar/O'Neill-Stevens Carried

Item	General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Particular interests protected (where applicable)
1	Regional Transport Committee Meeting - Confidential Minutes - 29 March 2022	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7.	The withholding of the information is necessary: • Section 7(2)(i) To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

Item

General subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Particular interests protected (where applicable)

Regional Transport Committee Meeting - Confidential Minutes - 29 March 2022

Section 48(1)(a)

The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7.

The withholding of the information is necessary:

• Section 7(2)(i)

To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

The only business transacted in confidential session was to confirm the minutes. In accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, no reason for withholding this information from the public exists, therefore this business has been recorded in the open minutes.

Resolved RTC/2022/012

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Confirms the minutes of part of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held with the public excluded on 29 March 2022, as a true and correct record.

O'Neill-Stevens/McGurk Carried

The meeting went into confidential session at 2.56pm and resumed in public session at 2.58p.m.

Karakia Whakamutanga

There being no further business the meeting ended at 2.59p.m.

Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings by resolution on (date)

Resolved

Item 6: Chairperson's report

Regional Transport Committee

27 September 2022

REPORT R27273

Chairperson's report

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To provide a summary of key achievements of the Regional Transport Committee over the past triennium.

2. Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Chairperson's report (R27273).

3. Discussion

3.1 A deliberate strategy over the past three years has been to enhance and maintain constructive relationships with our neighbouring regions and Waka Kotahi to achieve common goals and objectives and support our partners with their specific initiatives as well being supported with our specific projects.

Consequently, several long-standing projects have been able to come to fruition with additional funding obtained for new projects that will deliver real improvements to the transport and provide real transport choices for people.

Nelson Future Access Study (NFA)

3.2 The NFA Business Case was endorsed by Council on 28 October 2021 for submission to the Waka Kotahi Board for approval on 16 December 2021.

3.3 The Business case is a continuation of many years work, and is an extension of the 2017 work, but acknowledges that were some key changes since 2017 including a change in direction of the government Policy Statement on Transport, Future Development strategy updates and the declaration of a climate emergency by NCC.

3.4 The decision confirms the direction for investment and ends a long period of uncertainty which merely served to delay investment in the transport network across the wider region

3.5 The Business Case reflects a recommended optimal revised 10-year programme of $85M for the local road network (excluding Rocks Road walking and cycling) and this represents a shortfall of $55M from the figures in the RLTP/LTP.

Rocks Road Shared Pathway

3.6 While this project has been included in the RLTP through the NFA placeholder activity, Waka Kotahi requested that NCC vary the RLTP to include SH6 Rocks Road Pre-Implementation to facilitate inclusion in the NLTP and for a funding application to advance to be considered. This variation was approved by Council on 8 December 2021.

3.7 The next critical step is securing the sufficient funding to enable the detailed business case to proceed.

Joint Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP)

3.8 The most recent RLTP 2021-2024 was a jointly prepared with both the Tasman and Marlborough Districts. This was the first time that the three regions in Te Tau Ihu have prepared a fully joint RLTP.

3.9 Producing a joint RLTP enabled the three regions to tell a compelling narrative about the pivotal role the Te Tau Ihu has in the transport network and contribution to the New Zealand economy.

3.10 Given the tight fiscal environment for both Council and Waka Kotahi, the proposal has been to develop activities for the 2021-24 period in line with Councils existing allocations to the NFA with a programme review when the time comes to update the RLTP (and LTP) in 2024 for 2024-2034.

3.11 For Nelson, the final RLTP and LTP includes a place holder amount of $30M over the next 10 years (inflated and including Waka Kotahi’s share at the Funding Assistance Rate of 51%), set aside to implement near to short term measures on the local road network.

3.12 Waka Kotahi Board approved the 2021-24 NLTP and announced additional funding for the region.

3.13 Nelson received $11.7M for city wide Low Cost Low Risk (LCLR) projects and $5.985M for operating and improving the public transport service as outlined in the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP).

Joint Regional Public Transport Plan

3.14 In early 2019 a review was commenced into the public transport system across the wider Nelson and Tasman regions. There were clear benefits in working with Tasman District Council to develop a plan to provide the wider community with an aligned, improved public transport service integrated across the district.

3.15 The focus was on extending and expanding routes, increasing frequency and adopting new technologies to reduce carbon emissions and providing cheaper and simpler fare structures.

3.16 The results of the review formed the basis of a joint Nelson Tasman Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP). The RPTP was approved in mid 2021

Public Transport Improvements

3.17 On 1 July 2023 Nelson/Tasman will have a leading public transport system with a fleet of electric zero emission buses, flat cheaper fares and more routes including an airport connection and greater frequency.

Speed Limit Reduction SH6

3.18 On 18 December 2020 the speed limits were reduced on the sections of SH6 between Nelson to Blenheim.

3.19 The speed limit is now 80 km/h for most of the route to Havelock and down to 60kmh for parts of SH6 at Atawhai.

3.20 The significant reduction of serious and fatal crashes is directly related to the speed reductions.

South Island Regional Transport Chairs Forum

3.21 The RTC Chairs group was established in 2016 with the purpose of significantly improving transport outcomes in the South Island through collaboration and integration.

3.22 The Chairs have had a long-standing interest in both freight and visitor journeys across the South Island. In 2019 the Chairs commissioned a study into opportunities for a freight-mode shift and in March 2022 hosted a South Island Freight Summit with the industry.

3.23 It is well recognised that the Nelson region has some unique challenges, its lower population base, relative isolation, challenging geography and and almost complete reliance on road freight. An alpine fault earthquake could render the Nelson and Tasman regions inaccessible by road for months. The shift toward just-in-time supply chains, combined with the effects of climate change, is exacerbating the impact of disruptions

3.24 The forum met twice in May to finalise a submission on the freight and supply chain issues paper. Waka Kotahi has announced the commitment of $30M in funding from the 2021-24 NLTP to support new coastal shipping services, including a service between Nelson and New Plymouth

Innovative Streets

3.25 Nelson City was one of the first Councils out of the blocks to trial and test new road layouts as part of the national Innovating Streets initiative. Nelson South was an area that had struggled for some years with high volumes of non-residential through traffic due to high levels of congestion on the surrounding network during peak travel times.

3.26 Using innovative technics driven by community co-design the result is that these local roads have 20% lower speeds, 30% less traffic and residents that are reclaiming this area as a place for people first and cars second. This project won a number of transport awards including the 3M Road Safety and Innovation Award and the TAFINZ leadership Award

3.27 The importance of this work should not be undervalued. If societies are to achieve a modal shift and progress toward carbon reduction targets, then robust conversations around the reallocation of road space need to be held. This project and those outlined below and the lessons learned throughout have been useful to others around the country attempting to make the needs of people primary in their neighbourhoods and cities.

Streets for People

3.28 Council built on the success of the Innovative streets project by applying for funding to extend it toward the city and improve the connection from the railway reserve to Waimea Road – serving the hospital and the schools in the area.

3.29 Last month Waka Kotahi approved over $1.1M of funding to support this project and it will see interim trial layout changes on the ground by mid-2024 prior to permanent works signalled in the RLTP for 2024-27.

Transport Choices

3.30 Recently Waka Kotahi invited Expressions of interest for a Transport Choices package funded through the Climate Emergency Response Fund focusing on reducing people’s reliance on private cars.

3.31 Council has applied for funding to support the implementation of our Active Travel Strategy which includes future speed management.

4. Acknowledge

4.1 This is the last meeting of the Nelson Regional Transport Committee of the current triennium and will be my last meeting as Chair of the Regional Transport Committee.

4.2 Thank you to the committee members for your ongoing commitment and support for the bold actions that have been undertaken to address emissions, modal shift and safety.

4.3 Thank you to the staff and consultants who have progressed important work of this committee and for creating the opportunities to levereage real change.

Author: Brian McGurk, Chairperson

Attachments

Nil

Item 7: Public Transport Update

Regional Transport Committee

27 September 2022

REPORT R27099

Public Transport Update

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To update the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) on several public transport matters.

2. Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Public Transport Update (R27099).

3. Background

3.1 This report provides an update on the status of the new bus tender and supporting matters.

3.2 COVID-19 has impacted on public transport globally. This report provides updated patronage data, including the effect of additional subsidy offered by central government to reduce fares by half since 1 April 2022 which has been continued until 31 January 2023.

3.3 In May 2022 as part of the Central Government Budget it was announced that Community Service Card holders would continue to receive a subsidy to make public transport fares half price on a permanent basis. This report outlines Council’s response and actions.

4. Discussion

Bus Patronage 2021-22

4.1 Bus patronage continues to suffer from a COVID-19 presence in the community. Waka Kotahi continues to “top up” some patronage income with subsidy at the standard Financial Assistance Rate (FAR) of 51%.

4.2 July had almost 30,000 patronage, but it dropped significantly in August due to Level 4 restrictions. After that, the patronage gradually recovered, exceeding the 2020-21 patronage in November, although under Level 2 restrictions. However, the Omicron outbreak dropped the patronage in January, and this situation continued until March. The half-price fare was then introduced and successfully increased the patronage to the 2021 level for the remaining months. Overall, the total patronage in 2021-22 was 321,244, which is 12% lower than in 2020-21.

Service Disruptions

4.3 Unlike most other councils operating public transport Nelson City Council has not had to cancel or alter any bus services due to COVID 19 and associated driver shortages.

4.4 Some service disruption did occur as a result of the August rain event. Severe flooding made some roads impassable, and services were cancelled. The closure of Rocks Road from August 18- 26 disrupted Route 2 and a shuttle service was provided to link homes and businesses in Tahunanui with the main Richmond- Nelson service that had been detoured over Bishopdale. This was done in consultation with Waka Kotahi. Prolonged closure of Rocks Road caused some congestion on the network and in an effort to relieve this the buses operating on Routes 1 and 2 between Nelson and Richmond operated with free fares for a 2 week period August 24 – Sept 7. Data on patronage during this time did not show a huge uptake but the messaging to the community was to stay off the roads and work from home if possible. In that context it is difficult to gauge the incentive effect of free fares. Waka Kotahi subsidy was unaffected by the period of free fares.

Bus Contract

4.5 The existing bus contract expires in June 2023 and award of the new contract is pending. It will take effect in July 2023. The new contract is a joint Principal’s Contract arrangement where NCC and TDC share risk and costs. TDC actively participated in the tender preparation and evaluation. The tender submissions were evaluated in late June 2022 and the contract awarded in early September allowing any the operator a 10-month lead in time.

4.6 The award comes after years of planning were Nelson and Tasman Councils have been working together to determine the best services for our community into the future. This work was included in the Nelson/Tasman Regional Public Transport Plan 2021 (RPTP) which was approved by the Councils on 30 June 2021. The new service will include new bus routes to Motueka, Wakefield and Nelson Airport, along with many improvements to existing services in Nelson and Richmond. Improvements will also see consolidating bus fares, new bus stops, and new branding. These plans were in line with the outcomes of the Nelson Future Access Project and the Richmond Transport Programme Business Case.

4.7 In addition, the tender has proposed an almost entirely electric fleet of buses, making the Nelson/Tasman services a leader in the country for low emissions public transport.

4.8 Although an exact location for the central city bus interchange has yet to be determined, the proposed bus routes through the city have been considered in light of the approved Te Ara ō Whakatū – Nelson’s City Centre Spatial Plan, and the physical limitations on some bus turning movements. At the time of report writing a number of options are still being considered and plans for an interim hub are being made.

Future management and governance

4.9 The new contract is a three-party contract with joint Principals (Council and NCC) and a contractor. The contract sets the relationship between the Principals and the requirements of the Contractor.

4.10 This is a much larger scale of investment in public transport than has been previously the case. A new staff member will be recruited to manage the contract. This position has been advertised and is jointly funded by both councils.

4.11 New governance arrangements will need to be established in the next triennium and given the interregional aspect of the service exploring a joint public transport committee may be a consideration.

Branding and other support

4.12 Work continues on developing a brand for the new regional bus service. This brand is likely to be a subset of a larger sustainable transport branding package being jointly developed by TDC and NCC that encompasses walking cycling, ride sharing and public transport. Once further developed the brand will be socialised at a future RTC committee.

4.13 In August central government invited Expressions of Interest from councils to uplift transport funding from the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Known as The Transport Choices Package there is up to $350 Million provided for climate change response actions nationally. One of the four main investment areas is making public transport more reliable and easier to use. Nelson City and Tasman District Councils are applying for funding through this package (which will have an enhanced Financial Assistance Rate) for new bus stops, improved real time information to users, and safer connections to bus stop locations.

Fares

4.14 On 1 April 2022 the government introduced a subsidy to enable half price bus fares for all until 30 June 2022. This has since been extended through to 31 January 2023.

4.15 Following 31 January 2023 all community service card holders continuing to receive the benefit of half price bus fares at all times. Waka Kotahi will reimburse Councils for foregone revenue. Officers are working with Waka Kotahi on implementation and resource was secured to assist with manual loading of CSC concessions onto BEE cards.

Author: Margaret Parfitt, Manager - Transport and Solid Waste

Attachments

Nil

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