Auckland
Transport update on the shortlist of potential bus services for the Rodney
Local Board area
File No.: CP2022/00822
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
seek approval for funding from the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate
to investigate potential future public transport services.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. In
May 2022 Auckland Transport will take over the funding of two bus services,
route 126 (between Westgate and Albany via Riverhead and Coatesville) and route
998 (Wellsford to Warkworth), that were established using the Rodney Local
Board Transport Targeted Rate.
3. This
will free up approximately $1.1 million per annum from the transport targeted
rate which the local board may use to fund additional public transport
services.
4. Following
a workshop with the Rodney Local Board and Auckland Transport on 17 November
2021, there are short-listed five options to be investigated as possible future
Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate-funded services.
5. Auckland
Transport recommends that Via Mobility, LLC consultants
undertake this investigation.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Rodney
Local Board:
a) approve
funding of $31,000 from the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate with
funding to be allocated proportionally among the respective subdivisions to
investigate the viability of the following services for possible future
approval of funding:
i) Kumeū
subdivision:
A) on-demand
shuttle service loop from Muriwai Beach to Riverhead, connecting people to
Waimauku, Huapai and Kumeū along the way
ii) Dairy
Flat subdivision:
A) introduce
a new bus or shuttle service between Milldale and Hibiscus Coast Station via
the Pine Valley Road and Argent Lane extension
iii) Warkworth
subdivision:
A) local
shuttle loop of the Warkworth area on weekdays to connect residents to the
Warkworth Community Transport Hub, retail and services
B) introduce
shuttle runs to Leigh and Sandspit from Warkworth on Saturdays and Sundays.
Horopaki
Context
6. Between February and May 2019, three new bus services were
introduced in the Rodney Local Board area, funded by the Rodney Local Board
Transport Targeted Rate. Auckland Transport (AT) planned and procured these
routes, running them in the same way as other AT services, including fares and
ticketing.
7. When these services were implemented, service targets were agreed
between AT and the local board. The targets were based on passenger numbers
and, if achieved by the end of a three-year trial, AT would consider taking
over the funding of these services.
8. Two of these services, the 998 between Warkworth and Wellsford and
the 126 between Westgate and Albany (via Riverhead and Coatesville), have met
the agreed targets and will be funded by AT from May 2022. The third route, the
128 between Helensville and Hibiscus Coast Station, did not meet the patronage
target and will continue to be funded by the local board.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
9. At the
Rodney Local Board workshop on 17 November 2021, potential new services were
discussed with a request from AT that the local board
submit a short-list of options for further detailed investigation.
10. The
short-list consists of five options:
· Kumeū
subdivision
o on-demand shuttle service
loop from Muriwai Beach to Riverhead, connecting people to Waimauku, Huapai and
Kumeū along the way
· Dairy
Flat subdivision
o introduce a new bus or
shuttle service between Milldale and Hibiscus Coast Station via the Pine Valley
Road and Argent Lane extension.
· Warkworth
subdivision
o local shuttle loop of the
Warkworth area on weekdays to connect residents to the Warkworth Community Transport
Hub, retail and services
o introduce shuttle runs to
Leigh and Sandspit from Warkworth on Saturdays and Sundays
· Wellsford
subdivision
o introduce
an on-demand shuttle service between Te Hana and Wellsford.
11. As some of these
services are on-demand, AT would engage consultants to investigate feasibility
and report back. In this case, AT would recommend the use of Via Mobility, LLC
- the technology provider for the AT Local on-demand rideshare trial in
Devonport. AT has subsequently used Via Mobility for simulation modelling which
resulted in the choice of Takanini for the current AT Local trial.
12. Via Mobility is a
US-based organisation but with an Australian office and staff in New Zealand.
The three approved AT on-demand suppliers are all based outside New Zealand. Of
the suppliers, Via Mobility has had the most experience running projects in New
Zealand.
13. If engaged, Via
Mobility will review the identified zones and consider their appropriateness
for implementing on-demand as a transport solution. Via Mobility will use its
proprietary on-demand and fixed-route transport simulation tools (ViaViewer),
statistical models, and planning and design tools (Remix) to identify how
on-demand services could meet customer needs.
14. Via Mobility will
deliver its findings, including simulation results, to allow AT and Rodney
Local Board to determine which, if any, on-demand services should be
implemented. It will also provide an implementation plan which include
operations, vehicle approach, net-zero outcomes, customer acquisition and
retention, and management approaches.
15. Attachment A to
the agenda report A (Rodney On-Demand Transport Service
Planning - January 2022) provides a high-level proposal to investigate
on-demand services in the Rodney Local Board area.
16. Via
Mobility’s report back to AT will also provide estimated costs for the
different on-demand services.
17. This project
would take between eight to 12 weeks and cost $38,000.
18. However, the
initial review has identified that the option for the Wellsford subdivision (an
on-demand shuttle service between Te Hana and Wellsford) is unlikely to be a
suitable candidate for on-demand transport. There are minimal customer
and operational benefits to be achieved due to the small customer base and
distance involved. Assuming this area was excluded from the scope, Via
Mobility’s fee would reduce to $31,000. It would, however, explain the
rationale behind not developing a simulated model of this area in its final
report.
19. AT has previously engaged Via
Mobility to do simulation modelling and reporting in a collaborative approach
whereby both parties meet regularly to ensure that the final report meets the
brief.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
20. The Rodney Local
Board Transport Targeted Rate supports the outcomes sought by the Auckland Plan
2050, the Auckland Climate Action Plan and council’s priorities regarding
mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing council’s carbon emissions
by funding projects that enable better access to active and public transport,
namely footpaths, bus services and bus infrastructure and park and ride
facilities.
21. Auckland
Transport’s core role is in providing attractive alternatives to private vehicle
travel, reducing the carbon footprint of its own operations and, to the extent
feasible, that of the contracted public transport network. These projects all
support pedestrian and/or cyclist safety therefore contributing to climate
change actions.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
22. The
appropriate council group inputs were sought by Auckland Transport in the
formulation of this update report.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
23. At
the workshop with the Rodney Local Board and Auckland Transport on 17 November
2021, a long list of options were discussed for investigation.
24. After that
workshop, the local board submitted a short-list of options for further
detailed investigation.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
25. The services that are recommended to be investigated in this report
may, if they are implemented, provide additional access to public transport for
the public, including Māori.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
26. The investigation and reporting on all five services would
cost $38,000 to be funded from the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate.
27. The investigation and reporting of those
services in the Kumeū, Dairy Flat and Warkworth subdivisions would cost $31,000
to be funded from the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate.
28. For whatever funding amount is approved by the
local board for the investigation work, the approved funding will be used in a
proportional manner from the respective subdivisions’ allocation of
funding from the Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
29. There is a risk
that none of the options are feasible for operational, cost or other reasons.
If that is the case, and the local board still wanted to introduce new
services, it would be necessary to further refine the options listed in this
report or look at other options for services within the local board area.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
30. Auckland Transport will commence work on the direction resolved by
the local board.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
a⇩
|
Rodney Local Board on-demand transport service
planning proposal
|
9
|
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Author
|
Dave Hilson – Senior Service Network Planner
|
|
Authorisers
|
Duminda Wijayasinghe – Programme Director
Lesley Jenkins - Local Area Manager
|
