Agenda of Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting

Terms of reference – Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee

Membership

Chairperson	Chair Anne Tolley
Deputy chairperson	Cr Andrew von Dadelszen
Members Bay of Plenty Regional Council Tauranga City Council	Cr Paula Thompson Cr Andrew von Dadelszen Chair Anne Tolley Commissioner Stephen Selwood
Quorum	Two members, consisting of half the number of members, of which one must be from each respective Council.
Meeting frequency	Bi-monthly or as required by the need for decisions.

Appointment of the Chair and Deputy Chair and associated administrative support to be rotated between the two partner councils on an annual basis.

Purpose

Provide strategic and operational advice and direction for an integrated public transport system for Tauranga city and monitor implementation delivery.

The aim is to ensure that decisions in relation to all relevant parts of the transport system are taken collectively, and deliver outcomes that are greater than the sum of these parts. These outcomes are set out in the Urban Form and Transport Initiative (UFTI) Programme Business Case and Tauranga Transport System Plan (TSP).

Role

The Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee is a joint committee of Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council that report to their respective councils.

The area covered by the Joint Committee extends to the Tauranga City Council boundaries. The role includes:

· Enabling integrated decision making for Public Transport in Tauranga City.

· Preparing and reviewing a Tauranga City Integrated Public Transport Work Programme.

· The Work Programme to include:

o Projects and business cases as outlined in Annex 1 (and prioritised accordingly).

o Providing advice and guidance on Tauranga-specific content of the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP), for consideration by the Public Transport Committee.

o RPTP policy implementation in relation to the Tauranga City Council area.

o Tauranga city parking strategy and implementation.

o Travel behaviour management programmes (including The Wednesday Challenge).

· Funding and financing (includes updates on Tauranga road pricing, bus fares, parking charges and third party funding).

· Monitor and review the implementation of the Work Programme.

· Receive reporting on the performance of public transport services and infrastructure, and making recommendations for improvement.

· Provide quarterly implementation updates to the Public Transport Committee.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Joint Committee’s role does not include adopting, varying or renewing the Regional Public Transport Plan, which is a function of the Regional Council.

Reports to the Joint Committee will be prepared in partnership between the two councils. Where differences of view at officer level are apparent, these will be clearly set out in order for Councillors and Commissioners to make an objective and balanced decision.

Power to Act

To make all decisions necessary to fulfil the role and scope of the Joint Committee; with relevant powers delegated from the respective council committees.

Any recommendations that impose financial commitments to either party are to be referred to the respective councils for approval.

Any variation to the Joint Committee’s terms of reference are by formal agreement by both councils.

Power to Recommend

The Joint Committee has a recommendatory power in relation to Tauranga City public transport matters to be considered as part of the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) process.

Adopted by Tauranga City Council – 8 February 2022

Adopted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council – 17 February 2022

Annex 1: Projects and Business Cases

Priority Projects

The following projects are to be implemented, commencing in the next six months:

· Tauranga CBD Interchange Temporary Relocation.

· Bus Stop Improvements.

· Bus Shelter Improvements.

The following projects are to be implemented, commencing in the next twelve months:

· Low Cost Low Risk projects relevant to public transport.

· Tauranga Network Refresh Phase 2.

Business Cases

The following business cases will be progressed, broadly in priority order:

· Tauriko Early Works.

· Arataki Bus Interchange.

· Public Transport Services & Infrastructure.

· Tauriko Long Term.

· Hewlett’s Road Sub-area.

· Turret Road / 15^th Avenue.

· Cameron Road Stage 2.

· Accessible Streets Area A (Mount / Papamoa / CBD).

· Accessible Streets Area B (Otumoetai / Bellevue / Brookfield).

Operations

Matters could include:

· Coordination of highway works to minimise bus service disruption.

· Bus service and work programme disruptions as a result of COVID-19.

Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting Agenda

21 March 2022

9 Business

9.1 Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council Project Update

File Number: A13269365

Author: Alistair Talbot, Team Leader: Transport Strategy & Planning

Brendan Bisley, Director of Transport

Authoriser: Christine Jones, General Manager: Strategy & Growth

Naumouta Poutasi, General Manager Strategy and Science (BOPRC)

Purpose of the Report

1. The purpose of this report is to provide the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee with an update on the current progress, next steps and identified risks with key transport projects.

Recommendations

That the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee:

(a) Receives the Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council Project Update Report – March 2022

Executive Summary

2. The attached Report outlines the progress being made in relation to key projects that Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) are leading and that are important to progressing public transport aligned to the direction provided by the Urban Form and Transport Initiative (UFTI) and the Western Bay of Plenty Transport System Plan. The report also provides an update on key projects that Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency are leading which have a significant public transport component and which Tauranga City are involved.

3. Of specific note relevant to Tauranga City Council lead projects are:

(a) Tauranga CBD interchange temporary relocation – This project is targeting a completion of the 1st July to meet the timeline for the demolition of the current civic building. Route and bus stop details have been finalised and detailed drawings produced to enable BOPRC engagement with contracted bus companies.

(b) The bus stop upgrade & bus shelters installation projects are underway. It is planned for the first shelters to be installed from August and 10 will be installed per month to get the initial 150 completed. Further bus shelters beyond the initial 150 are planned, but further work is required to confirm the locations due to overhead powerlines. The bus stop upgrade works are planned to be tendered in April with the physical works constructed planned to be completed across the city in 12 months.

(c) The Parking Management Plan – City Centre is currently underway and is due to be delivered to Council in May so it can be implemented in the new financial year.

(d) Development of an analytical tool to forecast Tauranga City’s future transport emissions under various scenarios is progressing. This tool will use inputs from the TSP Transport Emissions Study as ‘levers’ (e.g. mode shift; travel demand management; low carbon vehicle update) to test what emissions outcomes will result from ‘pushing/pulling’ each lever and allow assessment of the outcomes to be considered against future national level targets.

(e) The Arataki bus facility business case is developing with the ability to confirm a preferred location now subject to BOPRC feedback on how the ‘emerging preferred option’ integrates into the future service operating model, and further discussion with St Johns New Zealand.

(f) The business case for the City Centre bus facility is being scoped which includes the development of the ‘Point of Entry’ with Waka Kotahi and BOPRC. Initial feedback from Waka Kotahi and BOPRC has raised the issue of the accelerated timeframe to establish a permanent facility and how this will integrate with the Public Transport Services & Infrastructure business case (which will confirm the bus service operating model) and the current lack of funds for construction in this National Land Transport Programme.

(g) Progress is being made with priority TSP business cases for projects such as Hewletts Rd sub-area (Waka Kotahi lead), 15^th/Hairini Causeway/Welcome Bay Road and Cameron Rd Stage 2. Procurement processes to appoint suppliers to deliver the Business Cases are either concluding or well advanced.

(h) The construction of the Takitimu North Link (TNL) project by Waka Kotahi is now underway. The operational matters of the potential for tolling, how managed lanes are to be provided and the revocation of the existing SH2 are still to be progressed by Waka Kotahi.

(i) The Tauriko Enabling Works Business Case has now been endorsed by Tauranga City Council and is to be considered by Waka Kotahi at their Board meeting in April. Waka Kotahi will lead the delivery of the delivery phase including consenting, property acquisition and construction project. Tauranga City Council is continuing work to confirm funding sources (e.g. Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) and Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF).

(j) The Tauriko Long Term business case (Waka Kotahi lead) are continuing work to confirm the preferred option for the long-term transport improvements. The emerging preferred option Waka Kotahi is developing further is Option B – Offline (The transport system - Tauriko West (taurikofortomorrow.co.nz) and next steps include developing a staging plan for delivery. Waka Kotahi are investigating alternative funding sources to bring forward public transport connection between Tauriko and Cameron Road.

4. Of specific note relevant to Bay of Plenty Regional Council lead projects are:

(a) The draft Regional Public Transport Plan development is well underway. The plan has a 10 year view of public transport policy required under the Land Transport Management Act 2023. There has been three workshops with members of the Bay of Plenty Public Transport Committee.

(b) The Public Transport Services & Infrastructure business case is a proposed and prioritised 10 year services and infrastructure investment strategy to deliver the UFTI medium scenario. This is a critical piece of work to support the growth of the western Bay sub-region. Work is being scoped and options to expedite delivery to support other key business cases (e.g. City Centre bus facility) are being considered.

(d) Western Bay Network Refresh Phase 2 is underway following the success of Phase 1. Phase 2 involves better matching service supply to demand on 10 Tauranga Bus routes. The scope was approved late last year through the Bay of Plenty Public Transport Committee. Initial options and concepts have been produced. Ōmokoroa Ferry – A consultant is being secured to develop a high level feasibility study to be completed in June 2022.

(e) Bus Decarbonisation Feasibility Study – technical specification are currently being drafted.

Strategic / Statutory Context

5. The transportation projects covered in this report are framed under the strategic direction of SmartGrowth and UFTI, the Western Bay of Plenty Transport System Plan and the Councils Long-Term Plans.

Options Analysis

6. There are no options; this report is for information only.

Significance

7. While growth and transport system challenges are a significant issue for Tauranga City, this report does not require any decisions and is not significant in itself.

Next Steps

8. The TSP partners continue to progress the projects and workstreams identified in this update report.

Attachments

1. Appendix A - Projects Update - A13297440 ⇩

2. Public Transport Projects Dashboard - A13297439 ⇩

Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting Agenda

21 March 2022

9.2 Papamoa Ratepayers and Residents Association Petition regarding Links Avenue

File Number: A13280154

Author: Brendan Bisley, Director of Transport

Authoriser: Nic Johansson, General Manager: Infrastructure

Purpose of the Report

1. The purpose of this report is to advise the Committee of a petition received from the Papamoa Residents and Ratepayers Association on the upcoming trial in Links Avenue.

Recommendations

That the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee:

(i) Receives the report, Papamoa Ratepayers and Residents Association Petition regarding Links Avenue

Discussion

2. Tauranga City Council received a deputation from the Papamoa Ratepayers and Residents Association (PRRA) at the Council meeting of 28 February 2022. This deputation was an opportunity to express their views on the upcoming trial of a further cul-de-sac in Links Avenue that is planned to start this month.

3. The PRRA had previously submitted a petition to Council in November regarding the first trial and then submitted further correspondence to Council in January regarding the trial and their views on alternatives that could be considered for bus journeys.

4. The deputation was planned to be heard on 14 February when Council considered the Links Avenue staff report, but due to unavailability of PRRA representatives it was not heard until the 28 February Council meeting.

5. Tauranga City Council staff prepared a brief report responding to the matters raised by the previous correspondence and this is attached to this report an appendix. Also attached is the original petition received from the PRRA.

Next Steps

6. The report is submitted for information only and it is TCCs intention to implement the second trial of the Links Ave cul-de-sac starting on 28 March 2022

Attachments

1. Papamoa Residents & Ratepayers Association Petition - A13297681 ⇩

2. TCC Staff Report for the Papamoa ratepayers and Residents Association deputation - A13218663 ⇩

Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting Agenda

21 March 2022

9.3 Electric Buses

File Number: A13283148

Author: Brendan Bisley, Director of Transport

Authoriser: Nic Johansson, General Manager: Infrastructure

Purpose of the Report

1. This report is to update the joint committee on an issue that require further discussion, a request from MP Todd Muller to support funding for an electric bus trial along Cameron Road.

Recommendations

That the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee:

Receives the report and the attached letter.

Discussion

Electric Bus Trial support letter

2. The Committee has received a letter from MP Todd Muller supporting a request for $100,000 in funding to support an electric bus trial along Cameron Road.

3. From the information contained in the letter, the bus trial is proposed to have a 5-minute frequency. The electric bus trial is proposing a smaller electric bus designed for up to 20 people, with sliding doors that allows access for cyclists, scooters, mobility scooters etc. The trial is being proposed by a group called The Transit Group (Mark Wassung, Richard Drummond and Max Lewis). The letter refers to this project being suitable to apply for the funding from the recently announced Low Emission Transport Fund.

4. Tauranga City Council does not have any funding in the Transport budget available to fund the $100,000 trial so funding would be required from another source if it was to proceed.

5. The letter has few details on the trial and how the frequency would be provided, how many buses etc are required to achieve that, how the service would integrate with other bus services and who would operate the service. It is unclear if it is planned to be operated by the Regional Council’s existing provider or by The Transit Group and whether this would require additional funding for the service operation during the trial. It is also unclear if The Transit Group has had any discussions with Regional Council staff about any trial of this new service.

6. From a Tauranga City Council perspective, while we support the move to electrified buses on the network to reduce carbon emissions, there are concerns about the bus design and axle loads they have. The current electric buses being used on the network are running 10.3tonne rear axles and this is approximately 25% higher than a standard heavy commercial axle. This is causing premature road failures in parts of the city where the pavements are not designed to have this high axle load. When Council approved the electric buses being trialled, they were only approved along Cameron Road where it was known pavements could cope better with the unusually high axle loads, but the buses are being used across the city outside the terms of the trial approval. Council staff have recently sought to discuss this with Regional Council and the bus operators but have been struggling to find who are the right people to discuss the concerns to ensure the electric buses are only used on the approved route.

7. Any new electric buses that are used in the city need to be designed in a way to ensure that the axle load remains as low as possible, but definitely no higher than a standard commercial axle weight to avoid pavement failures on bus routes.

Next Steps

8. Further information should be sought on the proposed bus service trial before support is given to apply for funding from the Low Emission Transport Fund to ensure it is feasible and will work with the other bus services that are operating. As this is about the provision of the bus service per se, although it has infrastructure flow-on effects, we suggest this is led by Regional Council.

Attachments

1. MP Todd Muller support letter for electric bus trial funding - A13283077 ⇩

Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting Agenda

21 March 2022

9.4 Bus Data request

File Number: A13294604

Author: Brendan Bisley, Director of Transport

Authoriser: Nic Johansson, General Manager: Infrastructure

Purpose of the Report

1. This report is to update the joint committee on an issue that requires further discussion, being the request for data by the Commissioners to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council that is still outstanding.

Recommendations

That the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee:

(a) Receives the report;

(b) Requests that Regional Council staff supply the information requested by Commissioner Selwood on 26 October 2021 after an earlier request in March 2021.

Discussion

Bus Service Information Request

2. The Commissioners wrote to the Regional Council in October 2021 seeking information from the Regional Council to support the Council’s investment decisions in bus infrastructure across the city. Commissioner Selwood sought this information in March 2021 and a follow-up letter was sent by Commission Chair Anne Tolley in October 2021 when the information requested earlier was not provided. Council received a response from the Regional Council chief executive in November 2021, but this does not provide the information sought.

3. The information sought is contained in the letter from Commission Chair Anne Tolley that is appended to this report.

4. The Commissioners are still seeking the information requested to allow ongoing discussions around appropriate funding levels for bus infrastructure and would like the Committee to support release of this data as requested in the original request in March 2021 and repeated in October 2021.

5. The Regional Council collects a range of Public Transport data. Attachment 3 includes a table of what information is available in terms of the type of data, the data source, the type of analysis and projects the data is being used for. The Arotake Public Transport monitoring report includes information on: financial performance; patronage; reliability and punctuality; customer service; smart card usage; and total mobility which will be presented to the Public Transport Committee on 17 March 2022. A dashboard to monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as part of the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) has also been developed, which was presented to Regional Transport Committee on 15 March 2022. Finally, Regional Council have an interactive dashboard to monitor internal service KPIs (Attachment 4). In Attachment 4, note the recent impact of shifting to a Saturday timetable to accommodate driver shortages as a result of COVID-19.’

Next Steps

6. The information requested regarding the bus services is important and allows Council to prioritise investment in the bus infrastructure.

Attachments

1. Commissioners letter to Regional Council - A13283074 ⇩

2. Regional Council Chief Executive Response - A13283070 ⇩

3. Uses of Public Transport Data - A13297399 ⇩

4. Service Plan Dashboard Summary Report - A13297404 ⇩

Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting Agenda

21 March 2022

11 Public excluded session

RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC

Recommendations

That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting.

The general subject matter 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 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Ground(s) under section 48 for the passing of this resolution
11.1 - Wednesday Challenge Update	s7(2)(i) - The withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)	s48(1)(a) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 or section 7


AGENDA Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting Monday, 21 March 2022
I hereby give notice that a Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Meeting will be held on:
Date:	Monday, 21 March 2022
Time:	12.30pm
Location:	BoP Regional Council Chambers Regional House 1 Elizabeth Street Tauranga
Please note that this meeting will be livestreamed and the recording will be publicly available on Tauranga City Council's website: www.tauranga.govt.nz.
Marty Grenfell Chief Executive