Public Transport Committee Agenda

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the next meeting of the Public Transport Committee will be held in Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga on:

Thursday 27 May 2021 COMMENCING AT 9.30 am

 

 

 

 The Public section of this meeting will be recorded and available after the meeting on Council’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bopregionalcouncil

Further details on this can be found after the Terms of Reference within the Agenda.

Fiona McTavish

Chief Executive, Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana

19 May 2021

 


Public Transport Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Cr Andrew von Dadelszen

Deputy Chairperson

Cr Lyall Thurston

Members  

Cr Norm Bruning

Cr Jane Nees

Cr Stacey Rose

Cr Paula Thompson

External Members

Two Tauranga City Council representatives

 

 

One representative each:

Rotorua Lakes Council

 

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

 

Whakatāne District Council

 

All of whom are voting members.

 

One Waka Kotahi NZTA non-voting representative

 

Commissioner Stephen Selwood

Commissioner Bill Wasley (Alternate)

 

 

 

Mr Phill Thomass (Lakes Community Board)

Cr Tania Tapsell (Alternate)

 

 

 

Mayor Garry Webber

 

Mayor Judy Turner

Deputy Mayor Andrew Iles (Alternate)

 

 

 

Vacant

Ex Officio

Chairman Doug Leeder

Quorum

Six members, consisting of more than half the number of voting members of which four must be BOPRC members

Meeting frequency

Quarterly

Purpose

Set the strategic and operational direction for approved Regional Council public transport policy and strategy, and monitor how it is implemented.

Role

·                Prepare and review the Bay of Plenty Regional Public Transport Plan.

·                Implement, monitor and review operational public transport policy and plans.

·                Implement, monitor and review the Western Bay of Plenty Public Transport Implementation Plan.

·                Advocate for public transport with NZTA, territorial authorities and central government.

·                Set and monitor targets for public transport in the region.

·                Receive reporting on the performance of the Passenger Transport Activity.

·                In coordination with the work programme of the Regional Transport Committee, guide and review the public transport components of the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) and make recommendations to Regional Transport Committee for incorporation into the RLTP.

Power to Act

To make all decisions necessary to fulfil the role and scope of the committee subject to the limitations imposed.

Power to Recommend

To Council and/or any standing committee as it deems appropriate.

The Public Transport Committee reports to the Regional Council.

Recording of Meetings

Please note the Public section of this meeting is being recorded and will be uploaded Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s web site in accordance with Council's Live Streaming and Recording of Meetings Protocols which can be viewed on Council’s website. The recording will be archived and made publicly available on Council's website within two working days after the meeting on www.boprc.govt.nz for a period of three years (or as otherwise agreed to by Council).

All care is taken to maintain your privacy; however, as a visitor in the public gallery or as a participant at the meeting, your presence may be recorded. By remaining in the public gallery, it is understood your consent is given if your image is inadvertently broadcast.

Opinions expressed or statements made by individual persons during a meeting are not the opinions or statements of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Council accepts no liability for any opinions or statements made during a meeting.

 


Bay of Plenty Regional Council - Toi Moana

Governance Commitment

mō te taiao, mō ngā tāngata - our environment and our people go hand-in-hand.

 

 

We provide excellent governance when, individually and collectively, we:

·        Trust and respect each other

·        Stay strategic and focused

·        Are courageous and challenge the status quo in all we do

·        Listen to our stakeholders and value their input

·        Listen to each other to understand various perspectives

·        Act as a team who can challenge, change and add value

·        Continually evaluate what we do

 

 

TREAD LIGHTLY, THINK DEEPLY,
ACT WISELY, SPEAK KINDLY.


Public Transport Committee                                                                                              27 May 2021

Recommendations in reports are not to be construed as Council policy until adopted by Council.

Agenda

1.       Apologies

2.       Public Forum

2.1     Harry Perry and Lucas Daum - investigations of traffic problems in Tauranga and a public transport solution using the buses

3.       Items not on the Agenda

4.       Order of Business

5.       Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

6.       Public Excluded Business to be Transferred into the Open

7.       Minutes

Minutes to be Confirmed

7.1      Public Transport Committee Minutes - 18 March 2021                         1

8.       Reports

8.1      Chairperson's Report                                                                               1

Attachment 1 - Public Transport Operating Model Review At A Glance                      1

Decisions Required

8.2      Bay of Plenty Travel Demand Management and Behaviour Change Programme                                                                                               1

8.3      Accessibility Concession - Addition of a Plus 1 Concession               1

8.4      Rotorua Public Transport Review Consultation Feedback                  1

Attachment 1 - Rotorua PT Review - Consultation Summary (combined) - May 2021 1

8.5      Improving Our Network                                                                           1

Information Only

8.6      Updated Bus Non-User Survey                                                               1

Attachment 1 - BOPRC Bus Non-User Survey 2020 - Updated Report                        1

8.7      Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru - Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to March 2021                                                                          1

Attachment 1 - Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru 2020/21 Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to March 2021                                                                                         1

9.       Public Excluded Section

Resolution to exclude the public

Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting as set out below:

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:

Item No.

Subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Grounds under Section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution

When the item can be released into the public

9.1

The Living Wage for Bus Drivers in the Bay of Plenty

Withholding the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely to unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information; Withholding the information is necessary to enable any local authority holding the information to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.

48(1)(a)(i) Section 7 (2)(b)(ii); 48(1)(a)(i) Section 7 (2)(h).

To remain in public excluded.

 

Decisions Required

9.1      The Living Wage for Bus Drivers in the Bay of Plenty

10.     Public Excluded Business to be Transferred into the Open

11.     Readmit the Public

12.     Consideration of Items not on the Agenda


Public Transport Committee Minutes

18 March 2021

 

Public Transport Committee

Open Minutes

Commencing:             Thursday 18 March 2021, 9.30 am

Venue:                         Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga

Chairperson:               Cr Andrew von Dadelszen

Deputy Chairperson:  Cr Lyall Thurston

Members:                    Bay of Plenty Regional Council:

                                    Cr Norm Bruning

Cr Jane Nees

Cr Paula Thompson

Cr Stacey Rose

 

Lakes Community Board/ Rotorua Lakes Council

Phill Thomass

 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Cole O’Keefe – Waka Kotahi NZTA (non-voting member)

 

Tauranga City Council

Commissioner Stephen Selwood

In Attendance:            Cr David Love – Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Mat Taylor – General Manager, Corporate, Namouta Poutasi – General Manager, Strategy and Science, presenters – as listed in the minutes, Amanda Namana – Committee Advisor

Apologies:                  Mayor Garry Webber – Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Deputy Mayor Andrew Iles – Alternate, Whakatāne District Council, Chairman Doug Leeder – Bay of Plenty Regional Council

1.     Apologies

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Accepts the apologies from Mayor Garry Webber – Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Deputy Mayor Andrew Iles – Alternate, Whakatāne District Council, Chairman Doug Leeder – Bay of Plenty Regional Council  and Cr Jane Nees (for lateness) tendered at the meeting.

Rose/Thomass

CARRIED

2.     Public Forum

2.1    Jessica Arlund, supported by Louise Wittenzellner

Key Points

·       Students from Mount Maunganui College attended an informative day about safe driving and the dangers of driving under the influence

·       Extended bus service hours could assist with this issue and provide better options for people who could not afford taxi or ride share services

·       Potential benefits included providing more freedom for people with disabilities, elderly and youth, less traffic, fewer collisions, safer roads with fewer young drivers and improved patronage for restaurants and bars

·       Suggested bus hours be extended particularly over the weekend, preferably to a 24 hour service

·       Provided evidence from other countries where offences involving driving under the influence had significantly reduced after bus hours were extended to 3 am, as had roadside injuries and fatalities

·       Bus services ran until midnight in Christchurch and Auckland.

In Response to Questions

·       Not every route needed to be running the extended hours, but as many as possible would be beneficial and suggested that increased fees for later services would be acceptable.

3.     Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

None declared

4.     Minutes

Minutes to be Confirmed

4.1

Public Transport Committee Minutes - 27 November 2020

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

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

Thurston/Bruning

CARRIED

5.     Reports

5.1

Chairperson's Report

Legal and Commercial Manager Jessica Easton presented this item.

Key Points:

·        Waka Kotahi Covid-19 Public Transport Funding covered costs that included additional cleaning of buses, hand sanitiser for passengers and fare revenue shortfalls.  This funding would continue until 30 June 2021, after which time there was strong indication given that councils would need to fund these costs themselves

·        Staff were still actively looking for Māori representation on the Western Bay of Plenty Community Panel

·        Overall patronage decline around the region was consistent with what was occurring around the country

·        An additional three buses had been added to the school service network to address the increase in patronage

·        Additional security was being considered for the Farm Street interchange for the safety of drivers and passengers.

Key Points - Members:

·        Suggested a survey to understand how much of the increased school service patronage was driven by the free fare initiative

·        Recruiting suitable members for the Western Bay of Plenty Community Panel may need to involve getting out into the community

·        The key question was whether safety and security measures were an operational or infrastructure expense and how this fits within Council priorities.

In Response to Questions:

·        Recognised that there were some gaps on the Western Bay of Plenty Community Panel and would add a rural bus user as a representative

·        Although Rotorua had not experienced a similar spike of security incidents, in the case of a significant increase the situation would be addressed

·        Security requirements were reviewed on a weekly basis and were considered by the amount, type and location of incidents.

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Chairperson's Report.

von Dadelszen/Rose

CARRIED

Decisions Required

5.2

Strategic Direction in 2021

Presentation - Strategic Direction: Objective ID A3759144   

Legal and Commercial Manager Jessica Easton and Transport and Urban Planning Manager James Llewellyn presented this item.

Key Points:

·        Urban planning was focused on people as opposed to solely infrastructure or vehicles

·        Safety of the public when using public transport services was a key concern

·        Supplying and managing parking was crucial for mode shift

·        Travel demand management and behaviour change were important elements of work to progress throughout 2021 and into the future

·        The definition of mobility impairment had been extended further and existing members of the Total Mobility scheme were automatically eligible for accessibility free fares.

Key Points - Members:

·        The collaborative relationship between Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council staff, along with wider stakeholders had been ongoing and consistent, however a conversation at a higher governance level would be beneficial to discuss how to drive better services and value for money

·        Changing the culture of Tauranga as the most car dependent city in the Southern Hemisphere was a challenging task and had to involve the vision of the entire community

·        It was important to consider both inter-generational and cultural perspectives in changing mindsets around mode shift

·        A strong communications strategy and using new data available through the Bee Card system was key for decision making and providing updates to the community

·        The work programme needed to provide a clear understanding of the scope of the projects and incorporate the inter-dependency of how they related to one another

·        In relation to business cases and other processes, being nimble and responsive was critical in being able to act at the right time to achieve the best outcomes.

 

In Response to Questions:

 

·        Clarified the twofold governance level structure within the Transport spatial plan (TSP)

·        The free fare trial for tertiary students was approved to run until the end of 2021 and staff were working together with Toi Ohomai and the University of Waikato around the potential of the jointly funded initiative becoming a permanent service

·        The potential for including carers for people with disabilities into the accessibility free fares had been considered; and once the scheme was underway there would be further investigation into introducing this

·        All buses in urban areas adhered to accessibility standards set by Waka  Kotahi, which were currently under review due to feedback received from the community that these could be improved

·        The Arataki report had now been updated to include other regions.

 

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·       Resend the newsletter sent at the end of 2020 which provided information about bike racks on buses and ensure the distribution list was relevant and updated. 

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Strategic Direction in 2021.

2        Adopts the Public Transport Committee Work Programme 2021 as appended to the report.

3        Notes the public transport fares integration process, which will be progressed through the review of the Regional Public Transport Plan, and the development of a Public Transport Services and Infrastructure Business Case.

4        Notes the implementation of a region-wide Accessibility Free Fare for people with a permanent mobility impairment.

Rose/Thomass

CARRIED

 

10.48 am – The meeting adjourned.

 

11.05 am – the meeting reconvened.

 

5.3

Regional Public Transport Plan Review

Transport and Urban Planning Manager James Llewellyn and Principal Advisor, Regional Development Bron Healey presented this item.

Key Points:

·        Two key purposes of a Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) were to encourage councils and operators to work together on the design of the public transport network, and to provide an instrument to engage with the public on the public transport networks

·        Timing met the requirement of legislation stating that the RPTP should be reviewed at the same time, or as soon as practical following the public transport components of the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) having been approved

·        The scope of the RPTP was determined by legislative requirements to some extent, but there was the ability to include discretionary matters in the plan

·        Reinforced that the RPTP was a policy document and not a detailed implementation or delivery plan

·        A multi-agency project team had been established and would ensure that the outcomes of the different processes were factored into the policy strands of the RPTP, as well as developing a comprehensive engagement plan.

Key Points - Members:

·        Suggested that the Western Bay of Plenty Community Panel be involved with the multi-agency project team so that the community was included from the start, and that the Ministry of Transport should also have a representative

·        The review needed to be targeted to fundamental issues:

Reasons driving those who do not currently use public transport services and what could be done to bridge the gap

Targeting each dollar spent to maximum advantage

Using data to understand bus occupancy related to times of day and the subsidy costs per user on each route daily

·        Park and ride services required a strong policy and were an important factor for many who did not currently use public transport

·        Larger focus was needed on people commuting between Tauranga City and rural areas

·        Whilst mode shift was a major aspiration, further evidence was required on how to genuinely achieve this in practical terms

·        Cautioned against getting ahead of technology and remaining aware of where costs lay.

In Response to Questions:

·        The multi-agency project team consisted of internal staff, a representative from Waka Kotahi NZTA and a staff member from Tauranga City Council currently representing Territorial Local Authorities (TLAs).  Other TLAs from across the region were invited to be involved and there were alternative avenues for engagement, such as through the Regional Transport Committee

·        The RPTP had to be clear on the boundary between public transport and shared services.

 

 

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Regional Public Transport Plan Review;

2        Approves the high level scope and timeframes for the review process, as outlined in items 2 and 3  of the report.

Nees/Thurston

CARRIED

 

5.4

Pāpāmoa - Bayfair - Mount Maunganui - Tauranga CDB - Hospital: Optimisation Project

Presentation - Pāpāmoa - Bayfair - Mount Maunganui - Tauranga Optimisation: Objective ID A3759140

Transport and Urban Planning Manager James Llewellyn presented this item.

Key Points:

·       The key challenge was trying to understand the optimum length and directness the bus routes should be

·       The further away from the CBD, the more important a faster journey became for users

·       Transport choice fundamentally came down to how one’s transport mode fit their lifestyle

·       Transfer times were a critical challenge with the connective service option

·       Branding,  legibility of signage, protection from the weather and personal    safety were all important factors in an interchange

·       Introduced a Transit Planning Tool, Remix, which was under consideration for purchase and would provide data to make decisions and test alternatives to develop the best transport options, and could also be used by the public

·       Partnership, engagement, collaboration and a no blame culture were all key to the optimisation project.

Key Points - Members:

·        The presentation clearly underlined how to apply principles in a case study approach and was a practical demonstration of the inter-dependencies between street knowledge and wider strategic thinking

·        The objective was good, robust, data driven decision making

·        If the Transit Planning Tool proved successful, it could be rolled out to the rest of the region.

In Response to Questions:

·        Understanding social demographics and land use change was crucial in considering options for optimisation

·        Needed to be cognizant of both the long term and short term challenges.

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report: Pāpāmoa - Bayfair - Mount Maunganui - Tauranga CDB - Hospital: Optimisation Project;

2        Notes the proposed scope of work and timescales;

3        Approves the proposed high level scope of work contained in item 2 of the report.

Thurston/Thomass

CARRIED

 

5.5

Bus Fleet Decarbonisation

Presentation - Bus Fleet Decarbonisation: Objective ID A3759137

General Manager Strategy and Science Namouta Poutasi and Transport and Urban Planning Manager James Llewellyn presented this item.

Key Points:

·       The bus decarbonisation work was driven by Government direction received in early 2021 relating to decarbonisation of all New Zealand buses by 2035.  By 2025 no new diesel buses should be purchased or introduced into urban/ inter-urban fleets

·        Although capital prices were currently high, the differential would improve over time as more buses were manufactured

·        There was a high capital cost upfront but this was offset by significantly lower operating costs.

Key Points - Members:

·       Many different streams of work were involved and it was important to not duplicate any of this

·        Expressed concern over the unproven nature of using hydrogen buses - awaiting national direction or guidance and collaborating across the country would be prudent.

In Response to Questions:

·        The feasibility study was not a joint venture with Waikato Regional Council, but as collaboration with the Waikato region was high on the agenda there may be potential opportunity for cost savings or to undertake further work

·        The Transport Special Interest Group (TSIG) was undertaking high level work to produce its own roadmap of what decarbonisation across New Zealand would look like

·        There was a significant unanswered question of who was going to pay for all of the electricity supply and related infrastructure.

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report: Bus Fleet Decarbonisation.

2        Approves the feasibility study outline project scope included in item 5.2 of the report.

3        Recommends to Council the inclusion of $300,000 for the feasibility study within the deliberations of the Long Term Plan

4        Extends an invitation to the Minister of Transport to attend the next meeting of the Public Transport Committee in person, or via Zoom.

Nees/Thomass

CARRIED

Information Only

5.6

Improving our network

General Manager Strategy and Science Namouta Poutasi,  Transport and Urban Planning Manager James Llewellyn and Team Leader Urban presented this item.

In Response to Questions:

·        The figures on page 81 applied only to the Tertiary Free Trial patronage and the bottom total referred only to Tauranga – Rotorua.

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Improving our network.

Thurston/Rose

CARRIED

 

5.7

Public Transport Technology Update

Presentation - Public Transport Technology Update: Objective ID A3759139   

Transport Advisor (Network Optimisation) Melissa Winters, Transport Support Stacey Brooks and Legal and Commercial Manager Jessica Easton presented this item.

Key Points:

·        The biggest advantage of Dynamis and the Bee Card was it brought all of the operators across the region into the same system

·        The tag on tag off data supplied from the Bee Card system provided a much clearer picture of the journeys that patrons were taking

·        Demonstrated how the Dynamis replay and real time tracking on the Bay Bus website worked

·        The Transit App was available for all services across region except for three

·        A Vodafone outage had caused issues with the digital displays that were not yet resolved and may take up to two weeks to rectify

·        Future technology initiatives included:

Improving reporting capability of on time performance monitoring, patronage reporting and contract management. Staff were working with Waikato Regional Council on many of the reports as they used the same background systems and were able to share development work

o Future real time service change notifications to customers included ‘bus running late’ texts and traffic delays

o Next stop announcement systems were complicated but a priority focus for 2021.

Key Points – Members:

·      Public confidence in the live information technology was crucial in achieving mode shift change and increasing bus patronage.

In Response to Questions:

·        Bus stop usage information was shared with local authorities to assist in determining future infrastructure requirements

·        The Transit App was used internationally and alternatives had been considered, but developing custom Apps held prohibitive costs

·        There were plans to provide digital signage in Rotorua.

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Public Transport Technology Update.

von Dadelszen/Thurston

CARRIED

 

5.8

Public Transport Arotake Tuarua - Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to December 2020

Legal and Commercial Manager Jessica Easton and Transport Operations Team Lead Jen Proctor presented this item.

Key Points:

·        State Highway 2 corridor between Katikati and Tauranga was a challenging route to place bus stops and residents of Fairview Estate had approached Council to have one placed there.  This was installed in 2020 and was both a successful and safe solution with good usage by residents to date

·        Operators were being added to the Tauranga, Katikati and Rotorua networks for the Total Mobility scheme

·        There had been a spike in complaints over the October-November 2020 period, along with reduced punctuality and reliability, which was addressed with focused contract management and recruitment

·        Bee Card use for tertiary students was picking up and staff hoped to see further increases in using Bee Cards instead of cash.

Key Points - Members:

·        Moving solely to Bee Card as a completely digital service was impractical for some members of the public and it was important to balance accessibility with convenience

·        Key to engaging with students was approaching them in person; and suggested incentivising students by lowering the $5 card fee.

In Response to Questions:

·        Staff would continue working with tertiary institutes to promote the Bee Card. 

 

Resolved

That the Public Transport Committee:

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

Rose/Thurston

CARRIED

1.11 pm – the meeting closed.

 

 

Confirmed                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                    Cr Andrew von Dadelszen

.Chairperson, Public Transport Committee


 

 

 

Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Authoriser:

Mat Taylor, General Manager, Corporate

 

 

Chairperson's Report

 

Executive Summary

This report highlights matters of interest that the Committee Chair considers to be relevant to the business of the Public Transport Committee.

The report includes updates on:

·           Transportation and Urban Planning Long Term Plan directions;

·           the national context including funding for the living wage, SuperGold funding, Transport Services and Infrastructure Business Case, Public Transport Operating Model review and rest and meal break assurance programme;

·           public transport including patronage updates; and

·           Western Bay of Plenty Community Panel.

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Chairperson's Report.

 

1.        Matters of Potential Interest

1.1      Transportation and Urban Planning Long Term Plan Directions

At the Regional Council’s Long Term Plan Deliberations on 12 May 2021, the Regional Council gave direction relating to Transportation and Urban Planning for incorporation into the draft Long Term Plan for adoption.

These matters will be considered and approved at the Long Term Plan 2021 – 2031 adoption meeting on the 24th June 2021.

1.2      National Context

Funding support for the Living Wage

The Government has directed that it has an expectation that bus drivers on services contracted by Regional Councils and Auckland Transport should be paid a minimum base rate that is at least equivalent to the Living Wage as determined by Living Wage Aotearoa.

 

Waka Kotahi will support the Government’s expectation by providing additional funding to help meet the direct additional costs of increasing the base pay rate of bus drivers to a minimum base rate equivalent to the 2021 level of the Living Wage. Any additional funding will need to be applied for through normal funding processes with supporting evidence, and will be provided at the normal funding assistance rate (51%).

 

Waka Kotahi will be making changes to its procurement manual to make it a requirement that all future procurement for public transport services includes a wage floor or minimum hourly rate for bus drivers.

 

Waka Kotahi have drawn on the work of Bay of Plenty Regional Council to help develop and model the implementation of the living wage nationally. Staff have requested the subsidy to be back dated to reflect the Regional Council’s funding of the living wage since early-2019, which was not previously supported by Waka Kotahi. 

Super Gold Funding

Following the SuperGold Card mid-year funding review, Waka Kotahi confirmed that it would not be adjusting the funding for this scheme for the 20/21 financial year.

Given the impact of COVID-19 on patronage and that Waka Kotahi made a commitment to provide 100% top up of all lost fare revenue for the 20/21 financial year, the calculation of adjusted funding for SuperGold Card was not deemed necessary.

Western Bay Public Transport Services and Infrastructure Business Case

The Transport Services and Infrastructure Business Case is identified as a priority project in the Tauranga Transport System Plan (TSP) and is proposed for funding through the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP).

Staff from Regional Council, Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi meet regularly to review progress across all public transport business cases. The Point of Entry (PoE) for Public Transport Services and Infrastructure Business Case is in preparation; and will be submitted to Waka Kotahi in July / August of this year. The PoE is an essential first step in receiving Waka Kotahi funding.

Any investment in the business case through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will be confirmed by Waka Kotahi at the end of August this year. If funding is received, the intention is to commence work by the end of the calendar year.

Depending on the scope of work, it is anticipated that the business case will take 12-18 months to complete.  However, it is worth noting that optimisation projects across the city will, in the meantime, be making service improvements within existing budgets. Therefore, positive changes to services can be expected in advance of the business case being submitted to Waka Kotahi.

Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) Review

On 5 May 2021, the Minister of Transport, Hon Michael Wood, announced the start of public consultation on the policy and legislative stage of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) Review.

 

The Government wants to introduce new objectives for PTOM that are more in line with its objectives for the transport system. Its proposed objectives are:

 

·      Competitors have access to public transport markets;

·      Public transport is an attractive transport option;

·      Public transport services are sustainable, including a sustainable workforce;

·      Public transport services reduce the environmental and health impacts of land transport.

Attached to this report is the PTOM Review at a Glance brochure released by Ministry of Transport which provides further information relating to the scope of the review.

The submission period closes on 18 June 2021.  Regional Councils and Auckland Transport are working collaboratively to jointly submit to the review.  Staff will also provide a separate submission on behalf of Council.

Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 Assurance Programme

Deloitte and Stantec were engaged to undertake the rest and meal break assurance programme for Waka Kotahi. This involves assessment of the pricing and scheduling agreed between Operators and Councils for the implementation of rest and meal breaks for bus drivers.

Staff have been working with Deloitte and Stantec over the past few months by providing operational and financial information to show how Regional Council has determined the implications of compliance with the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018.  At the time of writing, staff were awaiting final confirmation of the outcome of the assurance work. A verbal update will be provided at the meeting.

1.3      Public Transport Update

Patronage Updates

Regional bus patronage for the period July to March 2021 was 1.973 million. This compares to 2.076 million in the same period in 2020, and 1.920 million in 2019. Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the regional bus patronage continues to track closely to patronage for the past two financial years but it must be noted that this is due entirely to patronage levels in Tauranga.

The Tauranga network (including both urban and school networks) year to date patronage has increased by 1.3% on the same period last year. This increase is driven by the uptake of the dedicated school services.

While we had a slow start to the 2021 year in January and February, we have seen a large surge in patronage during the month of March with the following recorded: 

·    The best month of school student patronage since the beginning of 2016 (94,499 trips); and

·    Tauranga (urban and school combined) seeing the second highest month of patronage since the beginning of 2016 (239,968 trips).

·    Tauranga urban seeing the strongest month of March since March 2017 (145,469 trips).

 

While the outlook for the last quarter of the year remains somewhat uncertain as we continue expect to move through COVID-19 alert levels, we are seeing signs of recovery towards pre-COVID patronage levels for urban networks.

We are still predicting approximately 2.6 million trips taken in the region, similar to 2018/19 and higher than 2019/20.

Patronage benchmarking against other regions

Staff have added a new graph to the Public Transport Arotake Performance Monitoring Report which shows patronage at Bay of Plenty, Otago and Waikato Regional Councils. 

This data will allow us to better benchmark against other regions and identify whether patronage movements are trends that are impacting similar sized Councils or whether there are issues unique to the Bay of Plenty. 

The data presented shows that patronage recovery over the past year has been strong in the Bay of Plenty.

 

 

Safety and Security at Bus Interchanges

As reported at the previous Public Transport Committee meeting, Council has now extended security presence at Bayfair, on Farm St, Mt Maunganui from 22 March 2021 following removal of police presence over the school holiday period.

The security schedule has been developed in conjunction with Nutech Security, Police and TCC, to ensure the most appropriate cover is provided within available resources.   With our partners, we assess the reported incidents at interchanges on a weekly basis and set up security requirements around the patterns that we see, with police being aware of times that security presence is not provided. We regularly adjust or move security if there are any flare ups or issues that arise at a particular location.  Nutech Security and Police are also able to deploy extra support when required.  

Presence of security comes at a considerable cost to ratepayers the Regional Council. We continue to work with Waka Kotahi and TCC to obtain funding as is reflected in other regions because there is no funding included in the draft Long Term Plan 2021 - 2031.

1.4      Tauranga Fare Review

It is intended to undertake this work as part of the new Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP), which is due for completion in June 2022. Implementation of any revised fare policy and structure is likely at the start of 2023, when the current trials are due to finish.

1.5      Western Bay of Plenty Public Transport Community Panel

The Panel’s first meeting was on 23 March 2021. There were lessons learnt about the format of the meeting and topics for discussion. Future meetings will focus on ‘big picture’ matters, and include a brief presentation of the topic and background material supplied prior to the meeting.

This feedback was taken on board when arranging the second meeting for 18 May 2021. The agenda for this meeting focuses on a workshop session around ‘why people don’t use the bus’, and the scope of the Regional Public Transport Plan review. Additional people have joined the Panel since the first meeting to increase and broaden community representation. A verbal update on the 18 May meeting will be provided at the Committee meeting.

Staff are also planning on-line feedback and engagement opportunities for Participate BOPRC (Council’s on-line engagement website).

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Public Transport Operating Model Review At A Glance  

 


Public Transport Committee                                                                                                       27 May 2021

PDF Creator

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Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Writer:

Nick Renton, Senior Transport Planner

Report Authoriser:

Namouta Poutasi, General Manager, Strategy & Science

Purpose:

To request approval of the high level scope for the Travel Demand Management and Behaviour Change programme

 

 

Bay of Plenty Travel Demand Management and Behaviour Change Programme

 

Executive Summary

This report sets out:

·      The key objectives for the Travel Demand Management and Behaviour Change (TDMBC) programme.

 

·      A high level scope for a Bay of Plenty Region wide TDMBC Programme for approval.

 

·      The timeframes for the planning and development of the TDMBC programme.

 

·      The next steps for the programme team.

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Bay of Plenty Travel Demand Management and Behaviour Change Programme.

2        Approves the high level scope and timeframes for the programme as outlined in this report.

1.        Introduction

Travel Demand Management (TDM) describes a series of planning interventions and projects which aim to change the way people and organisations think about their travel needs, as a means of then changing their travel behaviour. TDM can be anything that influences how, when, where or even if we travel.

Both the Urban Form and Transport Initiative (UFTI) and Transport System Plan (TSP) have identified travel demand management (TDM) and behaviour change as a fundamental part of the investment strategy in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

In partnership with local councils, Waka Kotahi and key stakeholders it is proposed to plan, design and deliver a TDMBC Programme which will support delivery of transport and spatial planning across the Bay of Plenty region.

1.1      The Current Situation

People in the Bay of Plenty Region currently place a huge reliance on private car travel for a range of journey purposes. Feedback from our communities suggests that there are many reasons for people choosing the car over public transport – including perceptions of cost of travel vs cost for parking, speed / convenience, reliability and safety. Local employers often provide free car parking for their staff, which means there is little incentive for people to use the bus.  Similarly, most council provided car parking is currently free of charge (Tauranga City Council are currently reviewing this through a Parking Strategy).

Council partners and Waka Kotahi have aspirations to significantly improve walking and cycling networks, which Regional Council also relies on for access to bus services.  Once again, levels of walking and cycling are well below those of the private car.  It is important to both understand how current barriers to walking and cycling are addressed by infrastructure investment, and ensure that usage of new facilities is supported by policy, regulatory and marketing interventions.

Regional Council is heavily investing in public transport service improvements and making fares more affordable through recent LTP deliberations.  Similarly, council partners and Waka Kotahi will also be committing funds to improving public transport infrastructure – such as bus stops, interchanges and priority measures.  Elected member direction is that a much better understanding of both current service performance and barriers preventing significantly more people from using buses is needed.

With a climate emergency being declared in New Zealand, and transport making a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, the time to take action to address unsustainable patterns of travel behaviour is upon us.

1.2      Key Objectives

Subject to further discussion with our partners, objectives of the TDMBC are likely to include:

Objectives

·      Raising awareness of the need to change travel behaviour amongst transport users and communities in the Bay of Plenty.

·      Identifying priority areas where travel demand management and behaviour change can have the greatest impact.

·      Implementing a range of interventions which demonstrate the effectiveness of travel demand management and behaviour change.

·      Placing travel demand management and behaviour change at the centre of all investment decisions, thereby giving effect to the Waka Kotahi investment hierarchy.

·      Making a strong case for significantly more investment in travel demand management and behaviour change.

·      Coordination and effective collaboration between regional council, territorial authorities and partners.

·    Establishment of a coordinated marketing approach or branding initiative.

1.3      Alignment with Strategic Framework

A Vibrant Region

We lead regional transport strategy and system planning, working with others to deliver a safe and reliable public transport system.

The Way We Work

We look to partnerships for best outcomes.

 

1.3.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

Medium - Positive

þ Cultural

Low - Positive

þ Social

High - Positive

þ Economic

Medium - Positive

Increasing mode shift towards public transport, walking and cycling has an important role to play in improving the wellbeing of the community. Utilising public transport and active modes and reducing dependence on private vehicle use enables a more accessible, safe, and sustainable transport system. Public transport and active modes are space efficient forms of transport, meaning people can travel with ease, without reducing quality of life.

A shift from private vehicle use to public transport and active modes contributes to positive environmental outcomes through reduced transport emissions.

Increased mobility through public transport and actives modes enables cultural activities to take place, contributing to positive cultural outcomes. Please see the Implication for Māori section of this report for further details.

Public transport and active modes increase accessibility and facilitate a wide range of social economic interactions, thus supporting the economy. An ineffective and unsustainable transport system can hold back economic development. The Bay of Plenty has high development potential and transport investment can help to facilitate economic growth.

 

2.        Travel Demand Management & Behaviour Change Programme Scope

The purpose of this work is to develop a coordinated programme of travel demand management initiatives between the Regional Council, the Territorial Authorities within the Region, Waka Kotahi and external partners that leads to an overall shift away from car dependent travel towards more sustainable travel (i.e. public transport, walking, cycling, micro-mobility) or a reduction in the need to travel at all for Bay of Plenty residents, workers and visitors.

While being a region-wide initiative, the programme will be staged and focussed on each of the following three sub-regions of the Bay of Plenty:

·      Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

·      Rotorua.

·      Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty is an initial focus for the programme following on from the strategic urban and transport planning that has been developed over the past few years through UFTI, the Mode Shift Plan and the TSP. Travel demand and behaviour change has been identified in the TSP as a priority for the first three years of its implementation plan.  The Regional Council LTP is also considering a specific TDM initiative – Carless Wednesday Challenge (CWC).

Rotorua is a focus for Regional Council due to declining public transport patronage and to support the implementation of the public transport review. Travel demand initiatives can be focussed to both enhance the tourist experience and also to enable better access to jobs for local people.  Both of these transport benefits will help support economic growth.

Early engagement with Eastern Bay of Plenty communities will seek to understand access challenges, travel behaviour and barriers people may face to using alternative travel modes.  There are short term opportunities to promote greater use of existing public transport services (including proposed improvements between Kawerau and Whakatāne) and support development of the cycle routes programme.

Stage 1 will be the first step in rolling out best practice and coordinated TDMBC initiatives across the Bay of Plenty Region.

2.1      Within scope

The development of the TDMBC programme will include a series of phases:

Phase 1: Research and analysis

The aim of this phase is to set up the programme for success, by understanding the mode shift potential and setting out what “excellent” TDM looks like.  Key activities will include:

1.   Review of international and national best practice in travel demand management and behaviour change programmes and initiatives.

2.   Review and collation of existing travel demand management initiatives undertaken or planned by each of the partner organisations.

3.   Data collection and analysis.

4.   Customer research and insights.

Phase 2: Identification of potential initiatives (travel demand management levers)

A key action for the next four to six months will be to produce a detailed scoping study which will set out a three-year investment strategy for the TDMBC.  The scoping study will consider the mode shift potential of various possible initiatives and ensure that TDMBC integrates with planned business cases, low cost low risk interventions and infrastructure projects.  The scoping study will set out a range of TDM “levers” and identify costed and phased interventions:

Table 1: TDM Levers and Possible Interventions

TDM Levers

Examples of Possible Interventions

a)  Behaviour change   initiatives

·      Marketing and branding (joint initiative with partner agencies).

·      Communications and campaigns.

·      Rewards and incentives (“nudge” behaviour change).

·      Education and training (alternative transport options).

·      Monitoring and evaluation.

·      Information and wayfinding.

·      Safety and accessibility (designing for all).

·      Travel planning for employers, schools, hospitals.

·      Transport Management Association (TMA).

b) Network optimisation initiatives

·      Technology (mobility as a service).

·      Traffic information and monitoring (existing traffic conditions/alternatives).

·      Bus and transit lanes and priority at signals.

·      Intelligent transport systems (traffic signal priority and flow).

c) Policy and planning initiatives

·      Land use planning and development (smart growth, Transit Oriented Development).

·      Travel planning for new developments.

·      Transport Pricing.

·      Enforcement (parking and traffic).

·      Parking pricing and bus fares.

d) Capital works and service improvement

·      New and improved infrastructure.

·      New or optimised public transport services.

·      Walking and cycling.

·      Cycle parking.

·      Park & Ride.

It should be noted that while the Regional Council and partners may already undertake a number of the example initiatives shown in the table above, the purpose of this phase is to identify opportunities to better coordinate and support existing work streams as well as identifying new proposals.

Phase 3: Implementation and delivery programme

The following programme structure has been proposed to deliver the TDMBC programme:

Table 2:

Governance Entity

Function

Programme Board

The Programme Board (PB) exists to provide strategic councillor direction on TDM policy and investment priorities (with advice provided by senior officers).  Therefore it is proposed that the Regional Council Public Transport Committee will take strategic decisions to adopt specific investment proposals.

Programme Management Team

The Programme Management Team (PMT) is responsible for implementing the strategic direction provided by the Programme Board.  The PMT will commission all technical work and establish detailed investment priorities against available resources.  Any bids for funding will also be progressed by the team.  Key responsibilities will be to develop and implement programme artefacts such as resource plans, benefits realisation strategies, stakeholder management plans and risk management / mitigation plans.  Representatives on the PMT will include:

·      Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

·      Territorial Land Authorities within the region.

·      Waka Kotahi.

The PMT will be responsible for all monitoring, evaluation and reporting to the Programme Board.  An experienced programme manager will lead the work.

Programme Reference Group

The Programme Reference Group (PRG) is comprised of stakeholder groups who will have key implementation roles in the programme.  The group members will monitor and report progress against specific initiatives and provide a repository for sharing best practice and lessons.

The group will meet on a regular basis, and will have an evolving membership.  However, key partners and stakeholders are likely to include:

·      Ministry of Transport (MOT).

·      Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB).

·      Transport operators.

·      Tangata whenua

·      Travel generating businesses and educational institutions.

·      Greater Tauranga Travel Pledge.

·      Carless Wednesday Challenge.

·      Western Bay Community Panel.

·      Waikato Regional Council (WRC).

Project Teams

Once an intervention has been identified as a priority, the key council and stakeholder participants will form a project team under the leadership of a suitably experienced manager.  The project team will be responsible for delivery of the specific initiative against the metrics of time, cost, quality and benefits.

2.2      Supporting Activities

The TDMBC Programme will support programmes and projects, including:

·      Undertake a detailed assessment of fare structure and pricing across the Region. The review of fares across the Region is being undertaken independent of this programme through the Regional Fare Review.

·      Undertake an assessment of car parking policies and pricing levels across the Region. Tauranga City Council are undertaking a review of parking strategy and pricing.

·      Undertake a Region wide Freight Strategy. This has been identified as a wider initiative that will require the Regional Council, Waka Kotahi, Territorial Authorities and the Freight industry to work on together to develop.

·      Propose any bus service network changes. Any proposed changes will be identified independently of this programme through optimisation projects or the PT services and infrastructure business case.

2.3      Timeframes

The following table shows indicative high level timeframes for the planning and development of the TDMBC programme.

Phase

Task/Milestone

Date(s)

Deliverable(s)

Planning

Establish Programme team/structure

May 2021

Agreement on programme team/structure

Complete programme brief

May 2021

Programme Brief

Plan work programme

May 2021

Detailed work schedule

Western Bay Community Panel workshop

18 May 2021

Initial stakeholder feedback

Develop Communications and Engagement Plan

May-June 2021

Communications and Engagement Plan

Development

Programme initiation with PTC

27 May 2021

PTC resolution

Research and analysis of TDM best practice

June-August 2021

Research and analysis report

Tauranga / Western Bay of Plenty research and analysis

June-August 2021

Research and analysis report

Rotorua and Eastern Bay of Plenty research and analysis

September-October 2021

Research and analysis report

Identification of potential initiatives

August-November 2021

TDMBC Scoping document

Update on ‘Quick wins’ for TDM and Behaviour Change

November 2021

Update included in PTC paper 30 November 2021

Programme update to PTC

30 November 2021

TDMBC Scoping document and proposed three-year investment strategy

Timeframes beyond November 2021 to be confirmed

 

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

The following table shows potential risks and mitigations that have been identified and will be managed during the programme.

Table 3: Risks and Mitigations

Risk

Mitigation

Close coordination with other authorities required to deliver TDM projects due to lack of sufficient funding. This could result in an uncoordinated approach / delays to the programme.

Identify project partners early and encourage project buy-in/collaboration.

Large and varied project scope could result in unidentified project overlap with pre-existing/emerging projects.

Project overlap across authorities to be investigated thoroughly before individual projects are progressed.

Freight strategy excluded from scope without plans for a separate freight strategy to be delivered. This could result in negative feedback from the freight community.

Plans for a separate freight strategy to be developed.

 

3.2      Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

A primary objective of the programme as a whole is to encourage residents across the Bay of Plenty to travel more sustainably, whether that be by carpooling, taking public transport, cycling, scootering and walking, or by reducing their need to travel at all (working from home if possible). Each of these travel options can have positive impacts on our environment by reducing transport emissions.

 

3.3      Implications for Māori

Travelling more sustainably has positive effects for Māori through improved accessibility and travel choice options. This enables Māori to have improved access to essential services and opportunities, including employment, education, health care, social and cultural activities.

Engagement with Māori will form a critical part of engagement approach of this project. The engagement plan with Māori will be developed and undertaken as the project proceeds. 

 

3.4      Community Engagement

Adobe Systems

CONSULT

Whakauiuia

To obtain input or feedback from affected communities about our analysis, alternatives, and /or proposed decisions.

 

A community engagement plan is currently being developed alongside the scoping for the TDMBC programme.

A key first step for the programme is to review existing customer surveys, research and insights that has been undertaken over the past few years and identify any gaps that may need to be addressed through further engagement.

 

3.5      Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this fits within the allocated budget.

 

4.        Next Steps

Next steps include;

·    BOPRC to engage consultant with TDM and Behaviour Change experience to assist with the development of the TDMBC programme;

·    Programme team to commence region-wide and Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty sub-region research and analysis phase;

·    Programme team to commence Rotorua sub-region research and analysis phase from August 2021;

·    Programme team to identify potential TDM initiatives for Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty sub-region. This work will produce a scoping document.

 

 


 

 

 

Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Writer:

Nick Renton, Senior Transport Planner

Report Authoriser:

Namouta Poutasi, General Manager, Strategy & Science

Purpose:

To inform the Committee that the Plus 1 Concession will be rolled out with the Accessibility Concession Scheme

 

 

Accessibility Concession - Addition of a Plus 1 Concession

 

Executive Summary

This report sets out the benefits to both our customers and to the Regional Council for implementing the ‘Plus 1’ (caregiver/travel companion) concession and notes its inclusion in the Accessibility Concession from July 1, 2021.

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Accessibility Concession - Addition of a Plus 1 Concession;

2        Notes the inclusion of a ‘Plus 1’ Concession in the roll-out of the Accessibility Concession scheme from July 1, 2021.

 

1.        Introduction

At the Public Transport Committee meeting on March 18, 2021, an update was provided on the implementation of an Accessibility Concession scheme within the Bay of Plenty. The scheme would be implemented from July 1, 2021 and would be available for people with permanent mobility impairments that mean they are unable to drive. The impairments could be physical, intellectual, psychological, sensory or neurological.

The plan was to implement the scheme in a staged approach that will allow Regional Council staff to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme and seek feedback from our customers and disability groups, and investigate opportunities to improve the schemes offering (such as a concession for people with temporary mobility impairments and caregivers).

Following feedback from Councillors and also after engaging with the Waikato Regional Council, staff have been discussing the logistics of a ‘Plus 1’ Concession added to the Accessibility Concession scheme, to support people who need assistance to use our bus services.

This report defines the eligibility criteria for a ‘Plus 1’ concession and outlines the benefits to both our customers and the Regional Council for including it as part of the Accessibility Concession scheme from July 1, 2021.

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Vibrant Region

We lead regional transport strategy and system planning, working with others to deliver a safe and reliable public transport system.

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

¨ Environmental

 

¨ Cultural

 

þ Social

 

¨ Economic

 

 

Social – providing sustainable transport choices and opportunities for the community. Social benefit is the key wellbeing relevant to many public transport decisions, particularly around fare concessions.

 

2.        Accessibility Concession – ‘Plus 1’

2.1      Eligibility for ‘Plus 1’ concession

The ‘Plus 1’ Concession will be available to any Bay of Plenty registered Accessibility Concession card holder who requires companion assistance to travel by bus. 

This will mean free travel for a caregiver or companion to travel alongside accessibility concession members.

If approved for inclusion in the scheme, the application form that is currently being drafted by Council staff will include a question regarding the applicants need for a caregiver or travel companion. The application form will need to be signed by our approved assessors before the ‘Plus 1’ can be activated by Regional Council staff.

2.2      Benefits of introducing the ‘Plus 1’ Concession now

There are a number of benefits for both our customers and for the Regional Council that have been identified through further investigation into the addition of a ‘Plus 1’ Concession to the Accessibility Concession scheme.

Benefits include:

·      Peace of mind and reduced anxiety for Accessibility Concession passengers, knowing that they have the support they need to travel safely on what may be their first time using the bus.

·      Peace of mind for bus drivers to focus on providing the best service for each person and not feeling pressured or unsure about whether or not they should be helping people onto the bus.

·      Reducing the number of hoops that eligible customers will have to navigate if they are in need of additional support to use the bus (having to apply now and possibly in the future if we introduce a ‘Plus 1’ later).

·      Time and cost savings in providing joint communications and printing material, combining the logistical effort, and minimising changes to RITS.

Feedback from the Waikato Regional Council revealed that they wish they had introduced their ‘Plus-one’ at the same time as the Accessibility Concession.

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

Risks and mitigations include:

Risks

Mitigation

Implementation timing with the Accessibility Concession scheme going live on July 1 2021

Regional Council staff have put together a team to implement the scheme and the addition of a ‘Plus 1’ has been included in the planning and roll-out if needed.

There are no significant risks associated with this initiative.

3.2      Climate Change

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

The implementation of an Accessibility Concession scheme and additional ‘Plus 1’ Concession will contribute to positive environmental outcomes through reduced transport emissions when more people choose to take public transport instead of private vehicle trips.

3.3      Implications for Māori

Improvements to our public transport network via the work components covered in this report have the potential to have positive effects for Māori around accessibility and provision of transport options.

The 2013 New Zealand Disability Survey (Ministry of Health, 2013) shows that Māori had a higher disability rate than non-Māori, regardless of age. This scheme will assist disabled Māori people in the Bay of Plenty by providing greater access to education, employment and social activities. People with disabilities are also more likely than non-disabled people to be unemployed.

 

3.4      Community Engagement

 

Adobe Systems

INFORM

Whakamōhio

To provide affected communities with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problems, alternatives and/or solutions.

 

Council staff have been engaging with members of the disability sector to identify eligible customers and start the application process.

 

3.5      Financial Implications

 

The reduction fare revenue as a result of free fares for mobility impaired people is estimated to be $139,000 per annum. Provision for this sum has been included in Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Draft Long Term 2021-2031.

The estimated sum of $139,000 per annum does not account for the inclusion of a ‘Plus 1’ Concession but following initial investigation into the potential uptake of the concession (only 12% of the 2500 Accessibility Concession Card holders require a care giver), staff do not believe there will be any material financial impact, and the benefits to the customer are much more important.

Based on a high level estimate, staff expect an additional $17,000 per annum ($156,000 total) in foregone fare revenue as a result of implementing the ‘Plus 1’ alongside the Accessibility Concession scheme.

 

4.        Next Steps

Next steps for Council staff include:

·      Updating Accessibility Concession application form with question regarding applicants needs for a caregiver or travel companion;

·      Providing an update to disability sector (including assessors) on the recommendation;

·      Development of a multi-channel communications campaign to raise awareness of the new scheme and to ensure those who are eligible are empowered to use it or know where to find more information;

·      Continuing on with implementation of the Accessibility Concession scheme.


 

 

 

Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Writer:

Ruth Feist, Team Leader Urban

Report Authoriser:

Namouta Poutasi, General Manager, Strategy & Science

Purpose:

To provide the results of community consultation on the Rotorua Public Transport Review, and decisions made as part of Bay of Plenty Regional Council LTP deliberations on the matter.

 

 

Rotorua Public Transport Review Consultation Feedback

 

Executive Summary

At the request of the Public Transport Committee, staff carried out community consultation on the Rotorua Public Transport Review during March 2021. Results of the consultation are provided in this report, and have been considered as part of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s deliberations on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031. In summary:

·           62% of respondents preferred Option 3 (“a balanced approach”) as the short-term option.

·           There was no clear preference on the long-term options.

·           There was clear support for the “around the lake service”, “recreational lakes service” and provision of park & ride sites.

As part of deliberations on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031, Bay of Plenty Regional Council has approved funding for Option 3 (“a balanced approach”).

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Rotorua Public Transport Review Consultation Feedback;

2        Notes the community consultation results for the Rotorua Public Transport Review, and that a decision has been made as part of deliberations on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Long Term Plan 2021-2031.

 

1.        Introduction

At the Public Transport Committee meeting of 27 November 2020, the Committee requested staff to investigate opportunities to advance public consultation on the Rotorua public transport review prior to 2022, and passed a resolution which:

“Advances public consultation on the Rotorua public transport review.”

In accordance with the resolution, staff carried out community engagement during March 2021. Results of the consultation are provided in this report, and have been considered as part of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s deliberations on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031. 

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

A Vibrant Region

We lead regional transport strategy and system planning, working with others to deliver a safe and reliable public transport system.

The Way We Work

We deliver value to our ratepayers and our customers.

The Rotorua public transport review aims to give effect to the vibrant region priority by delivering an improved bus service for the local community.  This approach includes making better use of existing resources through optimisation of the existing service as the first stage in a medium to longer term service and infrastructure improvement plan.

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

Low - Positive

þ Cultural

Low - Positive

þ Social

Medium - Positive

þ Economic

Low - Positive

Key outcomes sought by public transport planning relate to:

·      Environmental – reducing transport emissions, including greenhouse gases (carbon).

·      Cultural – providing transport choices for Māori communities to access essential services, education and employment; and involving Māori in decision-making.

·      Social – providing sustainable transport choices and opportunities for the community (this is the main contribution to community well-being). Social benefit is the key wellbeing relevant to many public transport decisions, particularly fares and service routes and frequencies.

 

2.        Rotorua Public Transport Review Community Engagement Results 

A complete public consultation summary is attached to this report.

2.1      Options in consultation document

The options in the Rotorua Public Transport Review consultation material were categorised as “long term” and “short-term” investment options allowing for a staged approach to delivery. These options are briefly described below:

In addition to these options, three standalone improvements were also included within the consultation with participants asked to provide their views on each:

·      An around Lake Rotorua weekday service;

·      A weekend, recreational service for Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Okareka during summer months; and

·      Two park & ride sites.

2.2      Community Engagement Results

The results are summarised in the graphs below.

2.2.1    Short term and long term options

62% of respondents preferred Option 3 (“a balanced approach”) as the short-term option.

There was no clear preference on the long-term options.

2.2.2    Standalone improvements

There was clear support for the ‘around the lake service’, ‘recreational lakes service’ and provision of park & ride sites.

3.        LTP Deliberations

The community engagement results above were considered as part of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s deliberations on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031.

Council decided to include funding for Option 3 (‘a balanced approach’) in the Long Term Plan 2021-2031. As such, budget is available from July 2021 to implement that option (refer to Next Steps for more detail).

No decisions were made about the standalone bus service options (‘around the lake service’ and ‘recreational lakes service’) at the LTP deliberations. However, further consideration will be progressed when implementing ‘a balanced approach’ network improvements. 

It is important to note that for the Rotorua network, a key consideration is the need to re-tender the contract in 2024, and to potentially do so with low or zero carbon buses.  Any decision to increase services in advance of a new contract is likely to be very expensive, as the incumbent operator only has a very short time in which to recoup their additional investment in buses, staff and depot facilities. In addition, the review of the Regional Public Transport Plan will include clear policy on on-demand services (e.g. Option 5 in the Rotorua review consultation - ‘almost door to door’).   For these reasons, a decision on the longer term options was not made. 

4.        Considerations

4.1      Risks and Mitigations

There are no significant risks associated with this matter/subject/project/initiative.

4.2      Climate Change

Refer to Appendix 3 in the Rotorua Public Transport Review – Consultation Summary document attached to this report for transport emissions reductions expected from each of the Options.

 

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

 

Improving Rotorua public transport services aims to reduce transport emissions by increasing the number of people moved per kilogram of carbon emitted. 

4.3      Implications for Māori

Improvements to our public transport network via the work components covered in this report have the potential to have positive effects for Māori around accessibility and provision of transport options.  This is particularly in locations where there are higher proportions of Māori in the local population. Public transport services can provide Māori better access to essential services, including employment and education opportunities, and health care services.

The proportion of Maori in Rotorua provides significant contrast with the general population of New Zealand with 40% of residents identifying as Maori compared with only 16.5% nationally.

4.4      Community Engagement

 

Further engagement with the community is not required at this stage as the report provides a summary of the results of community engagement on the Rotorua Public Transport Review.

Changes to the public transport service to implement the outcome of the Rotorua Public Transport Review and Council’s decisions will include a marketing and awareness campaign.

 

4.5      Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this fits within the allocated budget.

The results of the community engagement have been considered as part of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s deliberations on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031. Additional funding for Option 3 (‘a balanced approach’) has been included in the Long Term Plan:

 

5.        Next Steps

The next steps will be to plan and implement Option 3 (‘a balanced approach’). The first step is to undertake an optimisation assessment of the current network, while looking forward to integrate the Option 3 improvements. The Option 3 service improvements are summarised below:

·      Increase the number of buses to enable both frequencies and greater service reliability to be delivered,

·      Extension of operating hours to 8.00pm,

·      More services at weekends,

·      A CBD “orbiter” shuttle, and

·      New cross-town service (Ngongotahā to Airport).

Further work around the ‘around the lake service’ and ‘recreational lakes service’ will also be progressed.

Co-ordination with Rotorua Lakes Council is critical in relation to bus infrastructure (bus stop shelters, new signage / wayfinding in the CBD, new bus link to bypass the congested Te Ngae Road, investigations / investment in new bus lanes, new bus information systems). This will be progressed by staff through a collaborative working relationship.

Implementation of the service improvements is expected to start in early 2022.

Fares for the Rotorua public transport services will be as per the regional fare decisions on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031.

 

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Rotorua PT Review - Consultaiton Summary (combined) - May 2021   


Public Transport Committee                                                                                                       27 May 2021

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Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Writer:

Rehan Shaikh, Senior Network Planner

Report Authoriser:

Namouta Poutasi, General Manager, Strategy & Science

Purpose:

To provide updates on our current public transport trials and improvements to bus services in the region.

 

 

Improving Our Network

 

Executive Summary

This paper provides an update on public transport trials which are currently running:

·           Tauranga schools fare free trial – despite the impacts of COVID-19 there is significant growth in patronage;

·           Regional tertiary fare free trial, and – there is not yet sufficient data to analyse trends as more than one full year of data is required for trend analysis, and

·                SuperGold Card free travel – the impact of COVID-19 has adversely affected patronage numbers but the post-lockdown period shows a good recovery in BOP regional patronage for SGC holders.  Further, the Long Term Plan contains funding to extend the trial for a further 12 months.  Final decisions will be made at the 24 June 2021 Council meeting to adopt the Long Term Plan.

The paper also provides a short update on the Bus Service Optimisation Project and requests a decision on the proposed Kawerau On-demand bus service trial. An extension to the Super Gold Card trial is also requested.

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1        Receives the report, Improving Our Network;

2        Agrees to re-consider the Kawerau On-Demand Trial once the service enhancements to the Kawerau-Whakatāne bus service have been in operation for at least twelve months;

3        Notes that the Super Gold Card concession has been extended for 3.00pm to 6.30pm on weekdays for 12 months to 30 June 2022.

 

1.        Introduction

This report provides an update of the public transport trials currently underway in the Bay of Plenty including:

•   Tauranga schools fare free trial.

•   Regional tertiary fare free trial.

•   SuperGold Card free travel – extended hours trial.

Also provided is a short update on the Bus Service Optimisation Project, and a recommendation to reconsider the Kawerau On-demand bus service trial. An extension to the Super Gold Card trial is also requested.

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Vibrant Region

We lead regional transport strategy and system planning, working with others to deliver a safe and reliable public transport system.

The Way We Work

We deliver value to our ratepayers and our customers.

 

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

Low - Positive

þ Cultural

Low - Positive

þ Social

Low - Positive

þ Economic

Low - Positive

 

Improving the public transport network has social and economic benefits for our communities. There are also positive benefits to the environment (i.e. reducing CO2 emissions from transportation) where people choose to use public transport over single occupancy private vehicles.

 

2.        Update on Current Bus Service Trials

2.1      Tauranga School Fare Free

The Tauranga schools fare free trial commenced on 27 January 2020, and has been extended to December 2021.

2.1.1    Patronage

Data is shown to March 2021, which is the most recent information available at the time of preparing this report.

Calendar Year

TGA school fare free patronage

Changes in patronage

Percentage change

2018

466,452

-

-

2019

409,156

(-) 57,296

(-) 12%

2020

502,949

(+) 93,793

(+) 23%

2021 (Jan-Mar)

159,318 (part year)

To be shown when full year data available

-

 

2.1.2    Analysis

The patronage for 2020 was 23% higher than for 2019, and 9.5% higher than the annual average for the trial to date (annual average 459,519 for 2018-2020). This is despite patronage being affected by COVID-19 lockdown during April-May 2020.

Total patronage for 2020 was 502,949 trips. Compared with 2019, a total of 93,793 additional trips were made by students who travelled on both school buses and the urban network in the 2020 calendar year. The data shows patronage is higher in February and March 2021 than for the equivalent months in 2018, 2019 and 2020. There is a significant increase in patronage in March 2021 that is 94,499 (134% higher than March 2019 and 81% higher than March 2020). The data for 2018, 2019 and 2020 reveals a regular trend of higher patronage during the mid-year and lower either side of Christmas as a result of school holidays.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some school children are now travelling by bus instead of by private vehicle, walking and/or cycling.  However it is difficult to measure the effect of the school free fares trial in reducing Tauranga’s traffic congestion due to the number of variables involved, e.g. weather, day of the week, traffic incidents and road works.  Only assumptions could be used to estimate possible reduction in the use of private cars associated with the trial.

2.2      Regional Tertiary Fare Free

The regional tertiary fare free trials was launched on five routes created for this purpose (Whakatāne-Tauranga, Rotorua-Tauranga, Katikati-Tauranga, Murupara-Rotorua, and Tauranga-Rotorua) at the beginning of the 2020 academic year. The scheme enables students from Katikati, Rotorua and Whakatāne to travel into Tauranga and back every weekday. The trial has been extended to 20 December 2021. The scheme is a joint venture between the University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, with each organisation contributing funds to make the service available, along with a grant from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

2.2.1     Patronage

Data is shown to March 2021, which is the most recent information available at the time of preparing this report. There is no data for the month of January due to summer holidays for tertiary students, and therefore the trial effectively began 1 February 2020.

2020/21 Tertiary Trial Patronage by Month

Routes

2020

2021

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Whakatāne - Tauranga

149

135

-

30

71

198

216

201

120

146

33

       -

   90

612

Rotorua - Tauranga

218

291

-

31

117

205

238

233

271

161

46

     -

   78

280

Katikati - Tauranga

215

287

-

18

70

142

173

176

128

135

42

     -

   45

129

Murupara - Rotorua

108

119

-

21

92

53

93

91

74

67

  -

     -

   48

125

Tauranga - Rotorua

362

311

-

29

132

231

287

330

303

184

12

     -

   76

323

Total

1,052

1,143

-

129

482

829

1,007

1,031

896

693

173

-

337

1,469

 

 

         

         

 

         

2.2.2    Analysis

The trial was started in the beginning of 2020, and due to the impacts of Covid-19 lockdown, there is not sufficient data to make a full analysis at this stage. More than one full year of data is required for trend analysis. There is no data for April 2020 due to the Level 4 lockdown. However there is a significant increase in patronage on Whakatāne – Tauranga route for March 2021 (612) compared with March 2020 (135). Patronage naturally falls in December due to tertiary holidays. Although patronage data is only shown for regional tertiary free fares, the bus services are also used by other groups who may have to pay a fare. For example, the Murupara to Rotorua connection is a key social service for the Murupara community.

 

2.3   SuperGold Card Free Travel

Across New Zealand, SuperGold Card holders receive free off-peak public bus travel for the period 9.00am to 3.00pm and after 6.30pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends. The scheme is 100% funded by the Ministry of Social Development. 

In the Bay of Plenty Region, a trial to extend the free travel from 3.00 to 6.30 pm on weekdays is underway. The trial of additional free travel for SuperGold card (SGC) holders was due to finish on 30 June 2021 on all Bayhopper and Cityride services. Funding has been included in the Long Term Plan to extend the trial for a further 12 months to allow better patronage analysis.  Confirmation of funding will occur at the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Committee meeting on 24 June 2021.

2.3.1     Patronage for SuperGold Cardholders

Data is shown to December 2020, which is the most recent information available at the time of preparing this report.

Calendar Year

Senior/SGC patronage

2018 (July-December only)

211,365

2019

439,282

2020

291,995

 

2.3.2     Analysis

Patronage in 2019 was generally higher than equivalent months in 2018. Data from 2020 is substantially affected by COVID-19 impacts, with a decrease of 34%. Similar trends of decreasing in public transport patronage is observed in other major cities i.e. Christchurch (71%), Wellington (70%) and Auckland (50%) (https://www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-services-update/data-and-research/weekly-public-transport-patronage-information/). The post-lockdown period shows a good recovery in Bay of Plenty regional patronage for Super Gold Card holders.

2.3.3    SuperGold Card Patronage Between 3pm to 6:30pm on Weekdays (Bay of Plenty Region trial)

2020/21       

SGC Grand Total (including weekends)

SGC Weekdays Total

SGC Patronage 3pm to 6:30pm (weekdays)

SGC 3pm to 6:30pm

% of total weekday  

July

18,536

16,550

1,868

11.3%

Aug

31,285

25,866

3,039

11.7%

Sept

30,908

26,670

3,213

12.0%

Oct

35,096

28,379

3,807

13.4%

Nov

32,723

27,286

3,457

12.7%

Dec

35,705

30,415

4,042

13.3%

Jan

34,230

27,496

3,838

14.0%

Feb

30,559

25,496

3,474

13.8%

Mar

34,114

28,914

3,996

13.8%

TOTAL

283,156

236,766

30,734

13.0%

 

 

2.3.4    Analysis

The chart reveals the average from July 20 to March 21 patronage (weekdays) between 3pm to 6:30pm is on average 13% of all trips. It is recommended that the Super Gold Card concession extension be extended for a further 12 months to provide further data for patronage analysis of the trial. Currently there is only one year full patronage data available.

2.4      Bus Service Optimisation Project

At the last Public Transport Committee meeting, councillors approved the proposed scope of work and directed that the project commence.  Since then the team have made good progress on a number of tasks, including:

·      Obtaining, analysing and reporting available data on bus patronage;

·      Assessing reliability issues and the impact on service timetables;

·      Liaising with bus drivers to understand the key issues for their perspective;

·      Identifying potential options for service changes;

·      Drafting working timetables to assess the Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR);

·      Assessing potential changes to service operating costs; and

·      Compiling collateral for a public consultation exercise starting in early June.

·      Identify service improvements and changes within the existing budget and that require any increases to budget and make appropriate recommendations to councillors.

There is still some work to be undertaken before the options go live with the public, but we are confident that there are some very positive proposals which will make the network more convenient for customers and easier to understand.  Liaison with the bus operator is a very important part of this work.

Following public consultation, all feedback will be reviewed and considered before final service options are recommended.  It may be the case that more than one option could be put forward for consideration by the Public Transport Committee at its August meeting.

If Committee approval for the proposed service changes is received, the intention is to introduce the changes either in November this year or early 2022. The Optimisation project works within existing budgets. There will be a strong publicity and marketing campaign to accompany the changes.

2.5      Kawerau On-Demand Trial

The Kawerau community have been requesting improved public transport services for many years through previous annual plan and long term plan submissions. As a part of the Regional Council’s Annual Plan 2020/21 it was agreed to trial an on-demand service (a local service for access to shopping and essential services) in Kawerau with $69,000 budgeted. Funding is being carried forward in to the Long Term Plan 2021-31.

At the 18 March 2021 Public Transport Committee meeting, service enhancements to Route 135 were approved starting on 31st May 2021.  These provide a significantly improved levels of service both within Kawerau and to and from Whakatāne.  Further consideration has been given to the need and timing of the Kawerau On-Demand trial as a result.

2.5.1     Recommendation to delay trial

It is recommended that the Kawerau On-Demand Trial be reconsidered in 12 months, for the following reasons:

·      The service enhancements to Route 135 starting on 31st May 2021 will provide significantly improved levels of service both within Kawerau and to and from Whakatāne. The enhanced Route 135 will include the Valley Road and Peter Lippa Drive area and together with the Town Loop service, will provide several daily opportunities for travel to and from services in central Kawerau.

·      Further consideration of an on-demand service within Kawerau would be best undertaken once the impacts of the enhanced Route 135 changes have imbedded and are understood.

·      With further investigations it is likely the current funding is not considered to be sufficient and no agreements have been made with Waka Kotahi to provide additional funding support. A further full cost assessment needs to be undertaken. 

·      Travel on Route 135 is free for SuperGold cardholders in accordance with the Super Gold Card concession (with a registered Bee card).

·      The population of Kawerau is unlikely to be able to support both an on-demand initiative and the enhanced Route 135.

·      The Regional Public Transport Plan is currently being reviewed and it will include clear policy direction on any future roll out of on-demand transport services. This policy has yet to be discussed with the Public Transport Committee.

Therefore, it is recommended that the Kawerau On-Demand Trial be re-considered once the proposed service enhancements have been in operation for at least twelve months. The impact on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031 is minimal.

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

There are no significant risks associated with the matters in this report.

 

3.2      Climate Change

Improvements to our public transport network has the potential to reduce transport emissions where people choose to use public transport over single occupancy vehicles. The fuel efficiency and carbon emissions of all public transport, including buses, are strongly influenced by patronage (the higher the patronage, the lower the emissions per passenger).

The matters addressed in this report are of a procedural nature and there is no need to consider climate change impacts.

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

Improving public transport services aims to reduce transport emissions by increasing the number of people moved per kilogram of carbon emitted. 

 

 

3.3      Implications for Māori

Improvements to our public transport network via the work components covered in this report have the potential to have positive effects for Māori around accessibility and provision of transport options.  This is particularly in locations where there are higher proportions of Māori in the local population. Public transport services can provide Māori better access to essential services, including employment and education opportunities, and health care services.

3.4      Community Engagement

 

Adobe Systems

INFORM

Whakamōhio

To provide affected communities with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problems, alternatives and/or solutions.

 

In relation to the reporting of public transport trials, this report is largely information only on matters to improve the public transport network.

 

 

3.5      Financial Implications

If the recommendation is adopted by Council, will it result in:

-   Unbudgeted work during the current financial year?

-   Unbudgeted work for any of the years remaining in the current Long Term Plan?

If the answer is ‘no’ to both questions please select the dropdown option 1 and complete appropriately.

If the answer is ‘yes’ to either question please select “Budget Implications” in the building block below and liaise with your Management Accountant in order to complete the Financial Impact table.

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this fits within the allocated budget.

Future budget implications are being addressed through the development of the Long Term Plan 2021-2031.

 

 

4.        Next Steps

Next Steps: What next? What resources are needed? Further analysis? Timeframes ahead. Any consultation planned. Remind Council of the process ahead. Next update to Council?

Conclusion: Short concluding remarks. Referring back to recommendations. No new content.

The next steps are:

·      Continue to monitor public transport trials and report the results to the Public Transport Committee.

·      Progress the bus service optimisation project and report back to the August meeting of the Public Transport Committee with recommendations.

·      Re-consider the Kawerau On-Demand Trial once the service enhancements to Route 135 have been in operation for at least twelve months.

 

  


 

 

 

Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Writer:

Jessica Easton, Legal and Commercial Manager

Report Authoriser:

Mat Taylor, General Manager, Corporate

Purpose:

This report is being provided to update the Committee on the results of the updated Bus Non-User Survey.

 

 

Updated Bus Non-User Survey

 

Executive Summary

This report provides an overview of the results of the triennial bus non-user survey conducted by Key Research in Tauranga and Rotorua.

Committee members will recall that the initial bus non-user survey that was presented to the Committee at the meeting on 27 November 2020 surveyed a disproportionate number of respondents in the 65+ age group and there was an under-representation of the Māori population.  Staff requested further engagement to address this, the results of which are included in the attached report.

The report provides a summary of the outcomes of the survey questions regarding the barriers towards local public bus usage, benefits of using local public buses, the likelihood of future use, and future improvements, communications and travelling with disabilities or young children.

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1.   Receives the report, Updated Bus Non-User Survey.

 

1.        Introduction

The bus user satisfaction survey has been conducted every year and the user and non-user survey conducted every three years to meet Waka Kotahi requirements.

The survey is commissioned to assist Council to better understand the perceptions, attitudes and awareness of non-users of bus services in Tauranga and Rotorua with a view increasing bus patronage.

The initial non-user survey report was presented to this Committee on 27 November 2020). At that time, Staff advised that the non-user demographic surveyed was not representative of the population with a disproportionate number of 65+ years surveyed and an under-representation of the Māori population relative to 2018 Census statistics. Further work was undertaken to rectify this with the addition of a specified sample of 250 (Tauranga n=112 & Rotorua n=138) increasing the overall sample size to 900 (Tauranga n=562 & Rotorua n=338).

The additional engagement was to gain further community insight from non-public transport users within two specific groups:

•     Māori (regardless of age)

•     Younger Population (15-34 age group)

For the purposes of this research, a ‘non-user’ is defined as someone who does not use a local public bus at least once every fortnight.

1.1      Legislative Framework

Waka Kotahi requires contract performance measures to be included in partnering requirements.  This is detailed in the procurement manual for activities funded through the National Land Transport Programme. 

Performance data is to be reported at least once every three years and specifies that Councils measure public transport customer satisfaction by undertaking a survey to ensure results are comparable across operators, modes and regions.

1.2      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Vibrant Region

We lead regional transport strategy and system planning, working with others to deliver a safe and reliable public transport system.

The results will be used to inform high-level decisions associated with TSP and UFTI.

1.2.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

 

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

Low - Positive

þ Cultural

Low - Positive

þ Social

Medium - Positive

þ Economic

Medium - Positive

2.        Bus Non-User Survey

2.1      Research Objectives

The primary objective of the research is to understand bus users' perceptions, attitudes and awareness of services and use the findings to improve local bus services and ultimately increase bus patronage.

The objectives of the bus non-user research are to:

·      To determine the reasons for non-use of the local public bus services;

·      To identify changes required by non-users for them to consider using public transport;

·      To identify the likelihood of using buses in the future;

·      To uncover if those with disabilities, or who travel with young children, or a young child in a pushchair experience problems or perceive problems when travelling on local public buses;

·      To compare results with previous years and provide recommendations.

2.2      Key Findings of the Bus Non-User Survey

The following summarised findings are from the now completed bus non-user survey inclusive of the original and additional samples.

2.2.1    Barriers to public transport bus use

As a starting point, it is relevant to note that 73% of all respondents said that they would consider using the local public bus service in the future (2014-71%). This was fairly evenly spread across age and income demographics. Respondents in Tauranga were more likely to use public transport in the future than other respondents.

Despite such a high percentage of respondents stating they would consider using the bus service, 62% of respondents site convenience as the main reason for using private transport over public transport. Force of habit and personal preference are the main factors that make private transport more convenient for this group.

Note: For comparison purposes ‘Convenience’, ‘Flexibility’ and ‘Independence’ have been combined, as they were a single category in previous years.

Further, 50% of respondents feel more independent using private transport. They do not want to have to rely on buses or anyone else. 43% cite that they want to be able to go where they want and 30% do not want to travel to a timetable.

2.2.2    Benefits to public transport bus use

The main benefit, with 36% of respondents stating so, is that the use of local public buses eliminates parking or its cost. This view was a 16% increase from 2014.

There has been an 8% decrease from 2014 on the number of respondents who feel using the public bus service would save them money or fuel (36% 2014 vs 28% 2020).

2.2.3    Communications

In relation to communications, 23% stated they had heard about the Transit app and 48% had heard or know about the Bee Card.  Respondents in Tauranga are more likely to be aware of the Transit app and Bee Card than those in Rotorua.

2.2.4    Travelling with disabilities or young children

18% of respondents use mobility, hearing or visual aids when travelling outside the home, with 63% of those using a walking stick or single crutch.

More than a quarter of the respondents who travel outside their home with an aid (28%) have indicated that they would encounter problems travelling on or getting to or from the local public bus. These problems included mobility concerns due to disability, health or age (80%) and bus stops being too far away to walk to (51%), unavailability of a direct bus service (7%) and lack of bus stop shelter or cover (4%).

Only a few respondents (9%) are responsible for travelling with young children, or a young child that requires a pushchair. Of these, 26% have said they would encounter a problem using a pushchair when using public bus transport.

2.2.5    Suggested improvements

Respondents’ suggested improvements to the public bus service included:

·      changes to existing routes and more direct and quicker routes (16%);

·      more frequent and reliable service (15%); and

·      better accessibility to bus stops (10%).

3.        Considerations

3.1      Risks and Mitigations

The previously identified risks have been addressed through the provision of this additional sampling such that the survey now includes more respondents from younger age groups and also explore the Māori population to better inform improvements to public transport.

3.2      Climate Change

 

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

The matters in this report relate to Focus Area 3 (the services we provide as a Regional Council) in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Climate Change Action Plan and Goal 10 - reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.

3.3      Implications for Māori

There are no specific implications for Māori as a result of this report. Implications resulting from projects or items considered in this report will be addressed within those projects or processes. However, this further engagement has allowed us to obtain a higher proportion of Māori respondents to better reflect the composition of our community.

3.4      Community Engagement

 

Adobe Systems

INVOLVE

Whakaura

To work directly with affected communities throughout the process to ensure that their issues and concerns are consistently understood and fully considered in Council’s decision making.

 

3.5      Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this fits within the allocated budget.

4.        Next Steps

The findings from the Bus User and Non-User Surveys will be used to inform high-level decisions associated public transport planning and delivery.

Attachments

Attachment 1 - BOPRC Bus Non-User Survey 2020 - Updated Report  

 


Public Transport Committee                                                                                                       27 May 2021

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Report To:

Public Transport Committee

Meeting Date:

27 May 2021

Report Writer:

Jessica Easton, Legal and Commercial Manager

Report Authoriser:

Mat Taylor, General Manager, Corporate

Purpose:

To provide an overview of performance monitoring for Public Transport in the Bay of Plenty for the nine months ended 31 March 2021.

 

 

Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru - Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to March 2021

 

Executive Summary

This report provides an overview of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s performance monitoring for Public Transport as set out in the Bay of Plenty Public Transport Plan for the 2020/21 financial year.

Attached as Appendix 1 to this report, is our monitoring report Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru 2020/21 - July 2020 to March 2021. Public Transport Arotake brings together information and data for Public Transport across the region and includes the following sections:

·           Executive Summary - includes high level patronage overview over the reporting period along with financial and non-financial performance information;

·           Public Transport Updates – including updates on bus services, and an overview of patronage, reliability, customer experience, and community engagement;

·           Technology – including an overview of the Regional Integrated Ticketing System and the Bee Card;

·           Total Mobility updates; and

·           Finance - detailed financial information for key areas within the Transportation Group of Activities budget.

 

Recommendations

That the Public Transport Committee:

1.   Receives the report, Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru - Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to March 2021.

 

1.        Introduction

This report provides an overview of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s performance monitoring for Public Transport as set out in the Bay of Plenty Public Transport Plan for the 2020/21 financial year.

Attached as Appendix 1 to this report, is our monitoring report Public Transport Arotake Tuartoru 2020/21 – July to March 2021. Public Transport Arotake brings together information and data for Public Transport across the region.

1.1      Alignment with Strategic Framework

 

A Vibrant Region

We lead regional transport strategy and system planning, working with others to deliver a safe and reliable public transport system.

1.1.1    Community Well-beings Assessment

Dominant Well-Beings Affected

þ Environmental

Low - Positive

þ Cultural

Low - Positive

þ Social

Medium - Positive

þ Economic

Medium - Positive

 

2.        Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru

2.1      Patronage Highlights

Patronage levels across a number of services are showing signs of recovery following COVID-19 restrictions over the past year. Despite the impacts of COVID-19 we are still predicting approximately 2.6 million trips taken in the region, similar to 2018/19 and higher than 2019/20.

* Q1-Sep patronage figures have been restated to correct a reporting system issue. This resulted in a small increase in total YTD (net 3210 trips for the total network, 0.16% mvmt). Note there is no impact on revenue.

 

As noted in the Chairperson’s Report, we have seen a large surge in patronage during the month of March with the following recorded: 

·    The best month of school student patronage since the beginning of 2016 (94,499 trips); and

·    Tauranga (urban and school combined) seeing the second highest month of patronage since the beginning of 2016 (239,968 trips).

·    Tauranga urban seeing the strongest month of March since March 2017 (145,469 trips).

Tauranga school services have continued to do well with a 39.3% increase on Quarter 3 prior year with patronage of 159,318 in 2020/21 in comparison to 114,333 in the 2019/20 period. Between February and March this year, there was a staggering 46% in patronage which resulted in the need for additional buses to be added to the school network.

In Rotorua, Quarter 3 and YTD were down 34% and 30.3% respectively on the same periods last year. While seeing the usual decrease over the summer months, March has seen a return to patronage numbers similar to last year which have remained fairly static.

In Whakatāne, while March year to date patronage was down 17% year on year, Quarter 3 has increased 60% on same period last year (5,808 2020/21 vs 3,622 2019/20). 

The Waka Kotahi COVID-19 Transport Impact core report for 18 March 2021 indicated the reasons behind a decrease in public transport activity; “While the top barriers relate to a reduced need, one in five express concern about others not wearing masks as required and a third are explicitly worried about transmission”. This concern was evident in a number of complaints received by Council’s call centre and the Transport Operations team during this period.

2.2      Route 85 – Waihi Beach Town Connector

Route 85 which services Waihi, Waihi Beach and Katikati by van received a timetable review this period, with feedback from the operator prompting the addition of the Waihi Medical Centre as a timetabled stop.  Changes went live on 30 March 2021.

2.3      Total Mobility

Six new operators have joined the scheme this Quarter; three in Tauranga, one in Katikati and two in Rotorua. The addition of new operators has been received very well by scheme members, proving especially popular in Katikati.

2.4      Budget Update

The key budget highlights for the nine months ended 31 March 2021 are as follows:

 

·      Revenue at the end of Quarter 3 2020/21 is $0.8 million higher than budget. Waka Kotahi is funding the lost revenue resulting from the free fare period during the implementation of RITS and throughout the COVID-19 response period. The total contribution from the Super Gold Card has also been received from Waka Kotahi.

·      Operating expenditure at the end of Quarter 3 is $0.3 million lower than budget. This is mainly due to lower RITS operational costs and depreciation due to the delayed implementation of the RITS project.

·      Capital expenditure at the end of the year is expected to be $0.4m higher due to the RITS implementation costs.

 

3.        Considerations

3.1      Climate Change

 

Mitigation

Adaptation

Reduce GHG emissions

Produce GHG emissions

Sequester carbon

Anticipate climate change impacts

Respond to climate change impacts

The matters in this report relate to Focus Area 3 (the services we provide as a Regional Council) in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Climate Change Action Plan and Goal 10 - reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.

3.2      Implications for Māori

There are no specific implications for Māori as a result of this report. Implications resulting from projects or items considered in this report will be addressed within those projects or processes.

3.3      Community Engagement

 

Adobe Systems

INFORM

Whakamōhio

To provide affected communities with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problems, alternatives and/or solutions.

 

3.4      Financial Implications

There are no material unbudgeted financial implications and this fits within the Annual Plan 2020/21. Looking ahead, Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s draft Long Term Plan 2021-2031 for adoption will be presented to full Council for review and approval in June 2021 following the external audit. Recommendations from the Public Transport Committee will be incorporated into Council’s forecasts through its in-year monitoring processes.

4.        Next Steps

As this report is for information only, no further steps are required.

 

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Public Transport Arotake Tuatoru 2020/21 Performance Monitoring Report July 2020 to March 2021   


Public Transport Committee                                                                                                       27 May 2021

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