Agenda of Public Transport Committee Workshop


Informal Workshop Paper
To:	Public Transport Committee Workshop
	11 May 2022
From:	Bron Healey, Principal Advisor, Regional Development
	Namouta Poutasi, General Manager, Strategy & Science

Regional Public Transport Plan Review

1. Purpose

To review the full draft of the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) with a specific focus on new content prepared since the previous Public Transport Committee (PTC) workshop in February.

2. Guidance Sought from Councillors

Input and feedback on the following matters:

1) Recap on content revised as a consequence of feedback received at the previous PTC workshop.

2) New sections:

2.1.3 Bay of Plenty Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031;

2.2 Funding;

2.3.1 Regional context for challenges and opportunities;

2.4 Our current public transport network;

4.1.2 Future Strategy: Rotorua;

4.1.3 Future Strategy: Eastern Bay of Plenty;

4.1.4 Regional services; and

Part 5: Monitoring and review.

3) New or revised policy proposals and associated actions covering the following objective areas:

i. Mode shift and carbon reduction;

ii. Service planning and design;

iii. Service and infrastructure delivery;

iv. Public transport and land use integration;

v. Partnerships; and

vi. Fares and pricing.

4) RPTP Consultation and Engagement Plan.

3. Discussion

3.1 Background

The RPTP is currently being reviewed and revised, with the goal of having the new plan operative by the end of 2022.

The RPTP is the key statutory document for public transport planning and investment in the region, and must be reviewed as soon as practicable after the Bay of Plenty Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) is finalised (which was June 2021).

The RPTP takes a 10+ year strategic view with a particular focus on the first three years. In doing so, the RPTP describes:

· What we want our public transport system to achieve (our long-term vision and objectives);

· How we propose to get there (the strategies, focus areas, policies and actions that will help us achieve our goals); and

· The public transport services we propose to provide in order to address our key policy objectives.

Members will recall that we have had three previous RPTP review workshops (October & December 2021; February 2022) primarily covering the development of the plan’s strategic framework and the majority of policy proposals.

This workshop will cover the remaining plan content, with a particular focus on areas which have been amended in response to previous feedback from the Committee. New proposals for the remainder of the policy topics will also be tested with members.

3.2 New and revised content following February workshop

The draft RPTP (Version 1.3, 3 May 2022) is included as Attachment 1. The following sections highlight the substantive changes made to the draft RPTP since the previous workshop. These are either new sections that have been added since the February workshop, or previous content that has been revised following members’ feedback.

Part 2: Context

2.1.3 Bay of Plenty Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031 (RLTP)

· New section summarising key policy in the RLTP and relationship with the RPTP.

2.2 Funding

· New section describing public transport funding sources and splits.

· Includes explanatory box noting bus fares are sub-set of a broader range of travel costs; references other direct costs such as road pricing and the importance of getting the relationship between the different direct costs of travel right.

2.3.1 Regional context for challenges and opportunities

· New section added following PTC feedback at previous workshop.

· Describes and emphasises the scale and importance of regional and sub-regional contextual challenges.

· Region-wide challenge: recovering from the impacts of COVID-19.

· Sub-regionally notes the challenges of delivering UFTI Connected Centres in the western Bay of Plenty, noting in particular:

o Geographic dispersion;

o Vehicle growth; and

o Roadworks / physical disruption.

2.4 Our regional public transport network

· Section now completed.

· Includes:

o Overview;

o Descriptions of Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty; Rotorua; Eastern Bay of Plenty networks, and regional services;

o Summarises Total Mobility and school services; and

o Outlines recent developments across the public transport network, including introduction of the Bee Card, real-time information and recent network changes.

Part 3: What we want to achieve

3.1 Vision

· Definition of urban transformation is now included.

3.3 Focus areas

· New ‘customer centred’ focus area added following PTC feedback at previous workshop.

· Associated action to undertake market segmentation analysis and better understand customers’ willingness to pay added to section 4.2.7 Fares and pricing.

Part 4: How we will get there

4.1 Future strategy

4.1.2 Rotorua

· New section outlining future strategy for Rotorua.

· Key elements include:

o Delivering the Rotorua Bus Network Refresh; and

o Incorporating a range of broader considerations ahead of renewing the Rotorua operating contract in 2024/25. including

– Mode shift/demand management;

– Financial sustainability;

– Rotorua Future Development Strategy;

– Post COVID-19 tourism sector; and

– Bus fleet decarbonisation.

o Longer term strategy to explore new options and opportunities for public transport in the sub-region, including alternative service delivery models such as on demand public transport.

4.1.3 Eastern Bay of Plenty

· New section outlining future strategy for Eastern Bay of Plenty.

· Key elements include:

o Developing and implementing the Eastern Bay Bus Network Refresh, including:

– Early interventions within current funding allocations; and

– Recommending a future service delivery model taking into account potential alternative options such as on demand public transport and community transport services.

o Renewing the Eastern bay of Plenty operating contract in 2025/26 including consideration of:

– Longer term improvements recommended in Bus Network Refresh;

– The outcomes of eastern Bay of Plenty spatial planning and transport strategy development processes;

– Bus fleet decarbonisation; and

– Travel demand management.

4.1.4 Regional services

· New section outlining future plan for regional services.

· Key actions include:

o Reviewing the trial of tertiary/commuter services; and

o Preparing a regional bus services strategy.

4.2 Policies and actions

· Section 4.2 now contains the proposed RPTP policies and actions in their entirety. The following tables identify whether the policy is new or was presented to the Committee at the previous workshop and has been revised as a result of feedback. A brief description/rationale for the policy is also included. The new policy proposals will be presented at the workshop for Committee discussion and feedback.

4.2.1 Mode shift and carbon reduction

Policy	Status	Brief description/rationale
1.5 Mobility as a service	Revised	· Minor wording change – see supplementary information – section A.
1.6 Passenger rail	Revised	· See supplementary information – section A.
1.7 Transport pricing	New	· New policy added in response to PTC direction to recognise other tools to achieve mode shift e.g. road pricing. · See also supplementary information – section A.

4.2.2 Service planning and design

Policy	Status	Brief description/rationale
2.4 Urban public transport network operating models	New	· Generic policy added that emphasises working with partners in each urban centre to develop an appropriate network operating model.
2.7 Total Mobility	New	· Policy unchanged from previous RPTP.
2.8 School services	Revised	· Policy proposal revised following PTC feedback at previous workshop and subsequent analysis. · Less prescriptive and will apply to new school service proposals only. Key criteria are sufficient demand and a reasonable level of geographic proximity (most of service within two school zones).
2.9 Ferries	Revised	· Minor wording change – see supplementary information – section A.

4.2.3 Service and infrastructure delivery

Policy	Status	Brief description/rationale
3.1 Contract units	Revised	· Table completed with service descriptions and contract start/end.
3.2 New units	New	· Largely reflects policy from previous RPTP, with added reference to collaboration.
3.3 Public transport services	New	· Public transport services considered integral to the network added in Appendix B.
3.5 Innovation and technology	New	· Policy on taking a proactive approach to respond to new innovations and technological improvements.
3.6 Service quality	New	· Policy to work in partnership with operators to improve customer services. Associated actions focus on ensuring drivers have access to training opportunities.
3.7 Service performance	New	· New policy focusing on key metrics of reliability and punctuality. · Policy approach centres on three key methods: bus priority at congested locations; setting achievable timetables; incentivising good operator performance.
3.8 Vehicle quality standards	New	· New policy with tiered vehicle quality requirements consistent with the latest version of Waka Kotahi’s Requirements for Urban Buses 2022 (RUB).
3.9 Vehicle size and weight	New	· New policy added in response to PTC direction at previous workshop – see also supplementary information – section A. · Emphasises flexible approach while considering a range of factors that need to be taken into account.
3.10 Procurement	New	· New policy on procurement approach – consistent with emerging approach in PTOM review; emphasis on efficiency, value for money and incentivising good performance.
3.11 Exempt services	New	· New policy on how BOPRC will respond to new proposals to operate an exempt service. · Developed in accordance with LTMA sections 130 & 134.

4.2.4 Public transport and land use integration

Policy	Status	Brief description/rationale
4.5 Park and ride	Revised	· Policy proposal revised following PTC feedback at previous workshop – see supplementary information – section A.
4.6 Rapid transit	New	· New policy outlining approach to rapid transit: o Short/medium term - progressively deliver frequent and reliable public transport services on the UFTI Connected Centres corridors o Longer term – work with partners to future-proof the corridors for a potential longer-term transition to a higher capacity rapid transit system

Policy

Status

Brief description/rationale

4.5 Park and ride

Revised

· Policy proposal revised following PTC feedback at previous workshop – see supplementary information – section A.

4.6 Rapid transit

New

· New policy outlining approach to rapid transit:

o Short/medium term - progressively deliver frequent and reliable public transport services on the UFTI Connected Centres corridors

o Longer term – work with partners to future-proof the corridors for a potential longer-term transition to a higher capacity rapid transit system

4.2.6 Partnerships

Policy	Status	Brief description/rationale
6.2 Public transport funders	New	· New policy on partnering with PT funding organisations to deliver value for money and efficiency. · Reflects emerging approach in PTOM review.
6.3 Māori	New	· New policy on partnering with Māori to identify opportunities to better serve their access needs. · Associated actions to co-design solutions where possible and develop a Māori responsiveness framework for public transport.
6.4 Communities and local service providers	New	· New policy on partnering with community groups and local service providers, with a particular emphasis on the access needs of rural communities.

4.2.7 Fares and pricing

Policy	Status	Brief description/rationale
Fares and pricing policies	New	· New action added to undertake a comprehensive region-wide fare review to give effect to the RPTP fares and pricing policies. · The RPTP provides the high level policy framework and principles for the fare review. The fare review will subsequently establish detailed fare proposals to give effect to the RPTP.
7.6 Reviewing fares	New	· New policy on process for reviewing fares.

Policy

Status

Brief description/rationale

Fares and pricing policies

New

· New action added to undertake a comprehensive region-wide fare review to give effect to the RPTP fares and pricing policies.

· The RPTP provides the high level policy framework and principles for the fare review. The fare review will subsequently establish detailed fare proposals to give effect to the RPTP.

7.6 Reviewing fares

New

· New policy on process for reviewing fares.

Part 5: Monitoring and review

· New Part 5 containing RPTP monitoring and review provisions.

· includes:

o Performance measures;

o Variation process;

o Significance policy; and

o Review process.

3.3 RPTP Consultation and Engagement Plan

Preparation is underway to develop an RPTP consultation and engagement plan. The plan will provide for a broad range of activities that offer both online and face to face (COVID-19 dependent) participation opportunities. This is to ensure equal and reasonable participation opportunities for different stakeholders.

We will use Participate as the key activity platform for engagement with the general public. Participate is an online platform used to educate users on projects and gather feedback. This will provide stakeholders and members of the public with information on the RPTP and gives users the opportunity to place feedback on key topics, including:

· Vision and objectives – share with users where we are heading and seek feedback on this direction.

· Challenges and opportunities – what we have identified as the key public transport challenges and opportunities for the region.

· Future strategy – what our future public transport strategy is for the Tauranga / Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Eastern Bay of Plenty sub-regions.

· Policy topics – Information on our policies, why they are important, and what impact they will have for public transport in the region.

Beyond using Participate we are planning to undertake tailored consultation and engagement activities to educate and seek feedback on specific policy areas. Activities being scoped in the plan include:

· Consultation activities – variety of online activities including targeted Facebook posts, introductory video campaign, website, paper and newsletter prints. Printed RPTP and summary documents made available.

· Engagement activities – formal notification to all key stakeholders of engagement, more general activities also include online webinars, community drop-in sessions etc.

All activities outlined in the plan are to be carried out in accordance with the consultation requirements set out in Section 125 of the Land Transport Management Act (LTMA). The Regional Transport Committee will also be consulted on the draft RPTP in accordance with the LTMA.

Tangata Whenua will be specifically engaged in advance of the formal consultation period between 3 July – 29 July. This will include reporting to Komiti Māori, and direct engagement by Council staff.

4. Next Steps

Guidance from members will be incorporated into the final version of the draft RPTP that is presented to the 23 June Public Transport Committee meeting. The intention is that the Committee makes a decision at that meeting to release the draft RPTP for public consultation. This will enable the process to be completed by the end of 2022 and ensure that we are meeting the statutory requirement to review the RPTP as soon as practicable after the RLTP has been finalised.

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Draft Bay of Plenty Regional Public Transport Plan 2022-2032 ⇩

Attachment 2 - Supplementary Information - Public Transport Committee Workshop - 11 May 2022 ⇩