Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Accepts the apologies from Cr Heidi Hughes and Deputy Mayor Tina Salisbury for lateness, and Cr Stacey Rose tendered at the meeting.

Thurston/Thomass

CARRIED

3.1

Car or Bus?

Presented By: Deb Turner

Key Points:

·       Sought to increase regularity and quality of Pāpāmoa #36 bus service.

·       Concerned buses were leaving early and without notice.

·       Accessibility, convenience, and minimal transfers were key to a successful public transport system and moving users from private transport to public transport.

·       Concerned for safety and security of users and drivers.

Key Points - Members:

·       The councils were working together to continue to improve the bus service in the Bay of Plenty.

9:42am - Cr Hughes entered the meeting.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       A note of reply to Deb Turner’s points.

3.2

Public transport accessibility, blueprint and collaboration

Presented By: Max Lewis

Key Points:

·       Three key reasons buses were not accessible to everyone; mobility appliances could not get onto buses, steps to enter a bus were dangerous, distance to bus stops was inhibiting access.

·       Not all disabilities qualified for the Total Mobility service.

·       Sought funding for a business case to improve access and would be submitting in the Long Term Plan (LTP) process.

5.1

Public Transport Committee Minutes - 27 October 2020

Matters Arising

In relation to Minute Item 5, Members raised concern that all TLAs and organisations needed to remain committed to taking the Transport Spatial Plan (TSP) commitments through to their LTPs.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Confirms the Public Transport Committee Minutes - 27 October 2020 as a true and correct record.

Nees/Bruning

CARRIED

7.1

Active Whakatane Strategy

Presentation: Public transport in the Eastern Bay of Plenty: Objective ID A3683564 ⇨  

Presented by: Martin Taylor, Transportation/Roading Manager, WDC

Key Points:

·         Outlined current public transport services within the Eastern Bay of Plenty (Eastern BOP), along with opportunities for improvement.

·         WDC highlighted their intent of ongoing collaboration with BOPRC and the Public Transport Committee, and to be further involved in the future.

·         Disability access was an ongoing concern.

·         WDC and BOPRC staff were working together on trialling public transport options.

Key Points – Members:

·         Regional collaboration and an integrated and coordinated public transport network were essential for a successful outcome.

·         Waka Kotahi and WDC were working together on improving public transport in the Eastern BOP.

·         Utilising existing resources and infrastructure were key to better serving the community.

·         The strategic direction of the committee should be reviewed.

10:16am - Deputy Mayor Salisbury entered the meeting.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Undertakes to consult with the community when designing services and seek opportunities for continuous improvement.

Thompson/Hughes

CARRIED

8.1

Chairperson's Report

Presented by: Jessica Easton - Legal and Commercial Manager and James Llewellyn – Transport & Urban Planning Manager.

Key Points- Staff:

·       Regional councils were collaborating nationally on bus fleet decarbonisation and procurement.

·       BOP public transport services were compliant with the Employment Relations Act’s rest and meal break requirements.

·       Bee Card usage and bus patronage had increased.

·       Western BOP Public Transport Community Panel Terms of Reference had been finalised.

·       No ‘quick-win’ park-and-ride (transport hub) sites within Tauranga had been identified that met the critical success criteria.

·       Real Time live update boards had been successful and more would be installed.

·       The TSP was a joint initiative across the councils.

Key Points - Members:

·       Members were keen to be involved in the national collaboration towards decarbonisation and procurement.

·       Some rest and meal breaks were falling part-way through bus-routes leaving passengers on-board waiting 15 minutes.

·       Free fares had increased patronage.

·       Transport hub sites had been identified as necessary and discussed since 2004, with no progress and must be made available to ease congestion.

·       The site of the Ōmokoroa transport hub had been bought four years ago.

·       Tauranga needed a culture shift to move people out of private transport and into public transport, and communities would need to be empowered and engaged to make the shift through cohesive communication in conjunction with partners.

·       Extension of free parking within Tauranga CBD was counterproductive to increasing public transport patronage.

10:56am - The meeting  adjourned.

11:17am - The meeting  reconvened.

Key Points - Members (Continued):

·       The councils’ LTPs, Urban Form and Transport Initiative (UFTI), TSP, Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP), and Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) needed integrated planning, alignment, and cohesion to be successful.

·       The BOP public transport network and UFTI was playing catch up due to years of underinvestment and was not fit for purpose.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Western BOP Public Transport Community Panel Terms of Reference and membership to be circulated to members.

·       Provide an update of timelines on the Northern Link upgrade between Ōmokoroa and Tauranga.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Receives the report, Chairperson’s Report.

von Dadelszen/Thurston

CARRIED

9.1

Promoting Super Gold Patronage Initiative

Presentation: We are all connected: Objective ID A3683565 ⇨  

Presented by: Carole Gordon

Key Points:

·       Concern for the wellbeing of the 65+ population following the Covid-19 lockdown, including mental health, isolation, and accessibility concerns.

·       Commended the Bee Card/Gold Card link and free fare initiative.

·       Requested further communications with the 65+ population on the Bee Card/Gold Card free fare initiative.

·       Bus routes were not suitable for the 65+ population due to accessibility (needed to avoid stairs between stops and destinations, improve timing between services, and increase mobility options).

·       Rather than forcing the public away from driving, alternatives needed to be available first.

10.1

Improving our Network

Presented by: Namouta Poutasi – General Manager, Strategy & Science, Jessica Easton - Legal and Commercial Manager, and James Llewellyn – Transport & Urban Planning Manager

Key Points- Staff:

·       Although the community of Mamaku had requested the trial bus service, it had not been used in four months and staff recommended the service be cancelled once the contract on the trial lapsed.

·       Staff were investigating to understand why the requested trial had been unsuccessful.

·       Super Gold usage had increased and free fares had been extended to 30 June 2021 and funded in conjunction with Waka Kotahi.

·       The trial of free fares for students in Tauranga had been successful.

Key Points - Members:

·       The Mamaku trial might be more successful in the future.

·       Parents were grateful for the free fares for students, and it provided benefits across the four well-beings.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Staff to create a short video for the public explaining the process of using the bus, in order to increase understanding and patronage and minimise any fears of new users.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Receives the report, Improving our Network.

2          Agrees to terminate the Mamaku Village connector trial at the conclusion of the contract on 31 December 2020.

Thurston/Thomass

CARRIED

10.2

Bus User and Non-User Surveys

Presented by: Jessica Easton - Legal and Commercial Manager, James Llewellyn – Transport & Urban Planning Manager, and Jen Proctor – Transport Operations Team Lead

Key Points:

·       Summarised the methodologies and findings of the bus user and non-user surveys.

·       70% of non-users avoided public transport due to the convenience and speed of private transport.

·       64% of users valued the reduced costs in using public transport by avoiding parking and vehicle servicing.

·       Surveys were not representative of the population and further work was underway to rectify this (disproportionate number of 65+ surveyed).

Key Points - Members:

·       Regional Integrated Ticketing System (RITS) data would be a valuable addition to survey results and assist with filling in gaps and good decision making.

·       User starter point and destination data would be helpful for cost apportioning across the districts.

·       Declining patronage needed investigation.

·       Ask users and non-users what other causes/impacts inhibit/prohibit public transport usage.

·       LTPs must robustly consider the costs of public transport.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Receives the report, Bus User and Non-User Surveys.

Thurston/Nees

CARRIED

10.3

Transport and Urban Planning Update

Presentation: Transport and urban planning update: Objective ID A3683563 ⇨  

Presented by: Namouta Poutasi – General Manager, Strategy & Science, James Llewellyn – Transport & Urban Planning Manager, and Brendan Bisley, Director of Transport (TCC)

Key Points:

·       BOPRC and TCC staff were working together to identify solutions to the Links Avenue issues.

·       Various alternatives were being considered in discussion with the community, such as introducing cul-de-sacs, widening footpaths, changing routes, and separating cyclists from pedestrians and traffic.

·       Staff were conscious of the ramifications of any changes.

Key Points - Members:

·       Simple solutions like removing islands from intersections may increase bus access routes.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Receives the report, Transport and Urban Planning Update.

Thurston/Webber

CARRIED

10.4

Rotorua Public Transport Review Update

Presentation: Rotorua public transport review: Objective ID A3683562 ⇨  

Presented by: Namouta Poutasi – General Manager, Strategy & Science, James Llewellyn – Transport & Urban Planning Manager, and Joe Metcalfe – Transport Contractor

Key Points:

·       Staff summarised the various options and costs to be considered in public consultation for fleet decarbonisation and on-demand services.

Key Points - Members:

·       On-demand services would not apply to the entire network.

·       Consultation should be earlier than 2022.

·       Staff resourcing would need considering in moving consultation forward.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Staff would investigate opportunities to advance consultation and further consideration would be given at the 17 December Council meeting.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Receives the report, Rotorua Public Transport Review Update.

2          Advances public consultation on the Rotorua public transport review.

Thurston/Webber

CARRIED

10.5

Public Transport Arotake Tuatahi - Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to September 2020.

Presented by: Jessica Easton - Legal and Commercial Manager, James Llewellyn – Transport & Urban Planning Manager, and Jen Proctor – Transport Operations Team Lead

Key Points:

·       Patronage in Tauranga was up, however Rotorua and Eastern Bay of Plenty had experienced a decline.

·       The number of Total Mobility providers had increased.

·       Cash usage on buses was reducing.

Key Points - Members:

·       Increased bike rack usage may be one way trips for users who did not have the financial means to use the bus previously.

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Provide Rotorua bike rack usage statistics to Members.

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Receives the report, Public Transport Arotake Tuatahi - Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to September 2020.

von Dadelszen/Thomass

CARRIED

11.1

Public Excluded Public Transport Committee Minutes - 27 October 2020

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1          Confirms the Public Excluded Public Transport Committee Minutes - 27 October 2020 as a true and correct record, noting that no other business was transacted in public excluded.

Nees/Thomass

CARRIED