Deliberative
Poll for VKT Reduction Programme
File No.: CP2023/09638
Te
take mō te pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
whiwhi / receive information on the Deliberative Poll being conducted as part
of Auckland Council’s Vehicle Kilometres Travelled Reduction Programme to
gain greater understanding of community views on the future of our transport
system.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. A
Deliberative Poll is being conducted by Koi Tū in partnership with
Auckland Council, Auckland Transport (AT) and Waka Kotahi (WK) as a key input
to Auckland’s Urban Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) Reduction
Programme due to be completed by December 2023.
3. This
deliberative engagement process utilises a civic lottery process to generate a
representative population sample of 100 participants who will engage in
learning and deliberation over two full Saturdays two weeks apart plus on-line
sessions.
4. Polling
of the participants will be conducted pre and post the learning and
deliberation days to gauge the views of an informed public and how these views
are modified by the deliberative forum.
5. The
outcomes of the process will be presented to a future Transport and
Infrastructure Committee meeting to inform councillors of any insights gained
in addition to the immediate input to Auckland’s Urban VKT Reduction
Programme.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Transport and
Infrastructure Committee:
a) tuhi
ā-taipitopito / note that a Deliberative Poll is being conducted in
partnership with Koi Tū as part of the Vehicle Kilometres Travelled
Reduction Programme by December 2023
b) whakaae
/ approve the Chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee or a
delegated representative to attend the Deliberative Poll to welcome the
participants
c) whakaae
/ agree that the outcomes of the Deliberative Poll will be presented to the
Transport and Infrastructure Committee
d) whakaae
/ agree to refer the outcomes of the Deliberative Poll to the Auckland
Transport Board for their information.
Horopaki
Context
Letter of
Expectation
6. The
Mayor’s Letter of Expectation to AT discussed the need for AT to lift
social license for its activities and to understand and respond to what matters
most to Aucklanders.
7. The
letter also emphasized the opportunity to shift focus from large scale
investments in new infrastructure to better managing the infrastructure assets
we already have.
8. AT
were requested to consider how deliberative democracy techniques could inform
their understanding of the factors that shape Aucklanders’ transport
decisions and that generalised consultation is often not effective.
Waka Kotahi provides funding for a VKT Reduction Programme
9. Waka
Kotahi made funding available to Auckland Council and AT to develop an Auckland
Urban VKT Reduction Programme to detail how the city will achieve the specific
sub-national VKT reduction target assigned by Te Manatū Waka, which will
in turn support the Emission Reduction Program’s national target of a 20
per cent reduction in light vehicle VKT by 2035.
10. Auckland
Council included a proposal to conduct a deliberative engagement project in the
joint Expression of Interest with AT. To ensure independence, the project is to
be delivered by Koi Tū, the University of Auckland Centre for Informed
Futures, in partnership with Council, AT and WK.
11. To meet the funding and timing
constraints, a Deliberative Poll process was chosen as the specific methodology
to deliver the deliberative engagement project.
Key milestones
12. The
key dates for participation in the project are below:
|
Date
|
Milestone
|
|
31 August
2023
|
On-line meet
and greet session for 100 participants
|
|
2 September
2023
|
1st
deliberation day
|
|
7 September
2023
|
On-line Q&A
session with international expert
|
|
16 September
2023
|
2nd
and final deliberation day
|
|
29 September
2023
|
Draft report
provided for VKT Reduction Programme
|
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
An approach grounded in the principles
of deliberative democracy
13. The
approach will utilise a ‘deliberative polling’ methodology and
civic lottery process that generates a representative population sample. The
group size will be 100 people to increase the statistical significance of any
observed changes in the polling results.
14. The
‘deliberative polling’ format entails administering a baseline poll
and running the deliberative process over two full Saturdays two weeks apart.
This allows for a full ‘learning day’ and a full
‘deliberation day’, with time in between to gather experts to
answer questions raised on day one, to be addressed in an online session before
the group comes together again on day two to try to work through their
preferences and re-take the poll.
15. Providing
unbiased, evidence-based information resources for the participants is
absolutely critical. Koi Tū will work with Auckland Council to help
develop the participant booklet that will outline the problem to be solved and
the potential strategies to be discussed. This material will also provide the
basis from which to formulate the deliberative poll.
16. The
learning and deliberation process relies on access to experts to answer participant
questions either as they arise, or in the intervening online session. Subject
matter experts (independent of Council) will be identified and recruited to
participate either in the live sessions or online.
17. The
final poll should reflect the considered judgements of a group that credibly
represents the public’s view on the issues so it is the views of a representative
and informed public on their policy preferences.
18. This
process will demonstrate how average citizens, given access to unbiased information
and opportunity to deliberate, can think through the issues and form reasoned
judgements on VKT reduction strategies that will be generally acceptable to the
wider public.
19. The
report analysing the deliberative forum process and the pre- and post-forum
poll results will provide a solid base of public attitudes to inform the
Auckland VKT reduction programme.
Extending the outcomes
20. The
process and content will be documented on film, to serve several purposes:
· to reach a broader audience of Auckland
stakeholders and socialise the outputs and the VKT reduction programme
· to reach community audiences who may be
interested in the identified transport solutions
· to
reach a broader policy audience so they can consider the potential of deliberative
democracy.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
21. There have been concerted local and central government efforts
towards reducing transport emissions in recent years. Auckland Council
unanimously declared a climate emergency in 2019, endorsed Te
Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan in 2020 and
adopted the Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway (TERP) in 2022. Central
government added decarbonisation to the Government Policy Statement on Land
Transport (GPS-LT) in 2021, released its first Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP)
in 2022 and has indicated that it will strengthen the focus on emissions
reduction in the 2024 version of the GPS-LT.
22. The Deliberative Poll will inform the development of
Auckland’s Urban VKT Reduction Programme which gives effect to the ERP
and is well-aligned with Auckland Council’s climate policies and
strategies, including Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri and TERP. Central
Government, the Climate Change Commission and Auckland Council have repeatedly
acknowledged the important role that a reduction in light vehicle VKT needs to
play in achieving their emissions targets.
23. Transport emissions currently constitute more than 40 per cent of
Auckland’s total emissions profile, with 86 per cent of the
sector’s emissions coming from road transport. Reducing VKT will reduce
Auckland’s emissions while also unlocking a range of other key benefits.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
24. The
Deliberative Poll will contribute to Auckland’s Urban VKT Reduction
Programme to be completed by December 2023. Council and AT staff are
participating in a Working Group to ensure delivery is coordinated across the
agencies.
25. The
outcomes will also inform other processes such as the development of the 2024
RLTP, which will be led by Auckland Transport.
26. The
outcomes when implemented should contribute toward Auckland Transport and the
Council Group more broadly being able to establish social license for some of
the required changes to the transport system.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
27. The
Deliberative Poll uses a civic lottery process to ensure that the 100
participants are representative of Auckland’s adult population. The
process is designed to be a mini-public or a representative group of people who
go through a process of learning and deliberation so they develop a more
comprehensive understanding of the complexities and trade-offs required when
making complex decisions.
28. The
process will have an Auckland-wide focus so will not engage with specific Local
Boards but will ensure that all local areas are represented by the
participants.
29. Local
boards have consistently been supportive of the need to reduce Auckland’s
transport emissions through the provision of sustainable transport choices and
better approaches to land use planning, as highlighted during the development
of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri and TERP.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
30. Auckland
Council will partner with Māori and work with both mana whenua and
mataawaka during the development of the Deliberative Poll. It is intended that
the process will build on the valuable partnerships established through the
development of previous climate-related policy including Te
Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri and TERP.
31. One of the draft principles identified by Waka Kotahi to guide the
VKT Reduction Programme development is that ‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi
underpins our approaches.’ Another relevant principle is that ‘We
will reduce inequities, not reinforce them,’ which includes
addressing the inequities faced by Māori as a result of Auckland’s
past transport decisions.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
32. The
Deliberative Poll has been funded by Waka Kotahi as a component of
Auckland’s Urban VKT Reduction Programme. Auckland Council staff will
provide their time to ensure the project is delivered successfully.
33. The
Deliberative Poll will generate insight into what actions are required to
deliver a better transport system. These will have financial implications but
are unknown until the process is completed and will be subject to normal
funding processes and considerations.
34. Waka Kotahi has stated that Urban VKT Reduction Programmes ‘may
be used to support future budget bids at national and local levels and will
inform investment across multiple sources.’ Thus, the Deliberative
Poll will help ensure that the region can receive its required share of
transport investment in the future.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
35. The
following risks and mitigations have been identified:
|
Risk
|
Proposed
Mitigation
|
|
The
Deliberative Poll is not completed by end September 2023
|
Work on project
planning is advanced with Koi Tū who are experienced in this field and a
project working group has been established within Council to meet the
proposed timing. A range of work tasks are already advancing.
|
|
The
Deliberative Poll outcomes are different to the existing plans and research
conducted by Council and AT
|
The
participants will be advised of existing plans and research outcomes related
to transport futures so their outcomes, especially if contradictory, will
inform how Council and AT deliver future work in order to gain social
license.
|
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
36. Auckland
Council, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi will support Koi Tū as they
deliver the Deliberative Poll by end September as part of the development of
Auckland’s Urban VKT Reduction Programme.
37. Outcomes from the project will be presented to the Transport and
Infrastructure Committee by December 2023.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Author
|
Michael Roth - Lead Transport Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Denise O’Shaughnessy – Acting General
Manager Auckland Plan Strategy ＆
Research
Barry Potter - Director Infrastructure and
Environmental Services
|
City
Centre Transport Operations, including Midtown
File No.: CP2023/04538
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
inform the Committee on how the changes in Midtown between now and the opening
of the City Rail Link (CRL) are being managed, including the actions being
taken to resolve current and future issues.
2. This
report also provides a response to resolution GB/2023/31:
Request that officers work with Auckland Transport and
the City Centre Advisory Panel to ensure that city centre works associated with
this project are timed so that efficient movement for people and goods is
maintained across the city centre, including east-west vehicle movement, and
report back to the Transport & Infrastructure Committee at an appropriate
time on how this will be achieved.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
3. The
next three years will transition the transport network into an operational
state that will maximise the uptake of CRL. This will give effect to the
movement strategy of the CCMP, its Access for Everyone (A4E) commitment and the
City Centre Bus Plan (CCBP).
4. To
maximise the benefits of CRL, we are focusing on three key areas:
· Enhancing
traffic circulation and prioritising local business access.
· Enabling
better public transport access through a more efficient bus network.
· Maintaining
loading and servicing for local businesses.
5. The
Midtown Projects (Te Hā Noa – Victoria Street, stage one of the
Wellesley Street Bus Improvements, Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project, Queen
Street Wastewater Diversion Project, as well as the City Rail Link and various
electricity network upgrades by Vector) and the associated transport response
are delivering key elements of the City Centre Masterplan 2020 (CCMP) and A4E.
6. Construction
temporary traffic management is planned according to key principles set out by
Auckland Transport, to ensure that multiple temporary traffic management for
public and private works within the city centre are proactively managed to
enable the city centre network to operate at acceptable levels, as well as to
reinforce the Future Connect strategy and Access for Everyone outcomes,
behaviour change and future state.
7. The
temporary traffic management considers east-west movement across Victoria Street,
Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive, with alignment across all. In practice,
this means traffic movement on Victoria Street and Wellesley Street should be
less constrained, noting that Watercare work will create addition impediments
when they commence.
8. Midtown
east-west journeys will change as Victoria Street reopens and Wellesley Street
is proposed to be bus only at Queen Street. Customs Street, Victoria Street and
Mayoral Drive will be used for general traffic. Ring routes should be more
efficient for through traffic, with local access prioritised in the Queen
Street valley.
9. Victoria
Street, Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive are being considered as a
sub-system, planning of the temporary traffic management is aimed to minimise
disruption and street clutter.
10. Bus journeys
through Midtown should improve with the proposed introduction of Wellesley
Street bus lanes.
11. Staff from
Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku and other agencies are working
collaboratively across several integration workstreams established for the
Midtown area to manage the risks and disruptions to the public and businesses
in the area.
12. Staff will
update the Waitematā Local Board, relevant councillors and the City Centre
Advisory Board once it has been established.
13. We have heard
from residents, businesses and other stakeholders that loading and servicing
continues to be challenging in the city centre. As we progress the development
of the Comprehensive Parking Management Plan, we will be implementing tactical
improvements wherever practicable.
14. In response
to public and focus group feedback, we will be improving information and
wayfinding for the upcoming works. Auckland Transport will design and implement
public information campaigns as part to educate residents, businesses and
visitors about network changes. They will also design and implement new
wayfinding in both physical and digital forms.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Transport and
Infrastructure Committee:
a) tuhi ā-taipitopito
/ note the information regarding City Centre Transport Operations.
Horopaki
Context
The city centre is changing
15. The CCMP is
the Council whānau’s key guiding document for the city centre,
setting the vision and strategic direction for the next 20 years.
16. The city
centre will look and operate quite differently in three years’ time.
While the most visible changes are driven by major public and private
construction projects, there are also multiple strategies being implemented
which will change how people will access and move around the city centre. This
includes Auckland Transport’s (AT’s) parking, loading, and
servicing plans, A4E, the City Centre Bus Plan (CCBP), and road safety
programme.
The role of the transport system
17. The transport
system enables different land uses, plays a key role in our response to climate
change and gives people choices for how they move around. It is therefore an integral
part of the regeneration strategy for the city centre. As our city centre
grows, our transport network needs to adapt to ensure that it is responding to
the current and future needs of its communities. The city centre is a pivotal
component of the city-wide network, with motorways, trains, buses, and ferries
intersecting, as well as strategic freight, cycleway and walking routes.
18. To give
people choice whilst meeting our emissions targets under the Transport
Emissions Reduction Pathway (TERP), we must be intentional with our network.
Given that 85 per cent of reductions are expected to come from ‘Tier
1’ urban areas, such as Auckland, this requires a rethink about how we
travel in the city centre.
Access For Everyone (A4E) commits us to doing things differently
19. To achieve
the CCMP, changes to the way we access and move within the city centre are
needed. The A4E programme aims to provide healthier, safer, and more equitable
transport and public space in the city centre.
20. A4E
principles of “to, not through” have already been incorporated into
projects around the city centre. The Queen Street essential vehicles area,
between Wakefield Street and Wellesley Street, has helped to reduce
discretionary general traffic along Queen Street, while maintaining access for
goods and services vehicles. The proposed Karang-a-hape Station streetscape
project and Wellesley Street bus zone, and potential future logistics hubs will
encourage efficient transport choices, while retaining access for people and goods.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
The plan: the next three years
21. The next
three years will transition the transport network into an operational state
that will maximise the uptake of the City Rail Link. This will give effect to
the movement strategy of the City Centre Masterplan, its Access for
Everyone commitment and the City Centre Bus Plan. .
22. Building on
the significant increase in rail capacity delivered by the City Rail Link, we
are making changes to deliver a city centre that is well connected,
particularly for active modes and public transport, and readily serviceable.
We are focusing on three key areas:
· Make
better use of the existing transport network by integrating diverse transport
modes into a single network plan, as set out in Future Connect, the long-term
network plan for Auckland’s transport system.
· Enabling
better public transport access through a more efficient bus network.
· Effective
use of limited kerbside, including loading and servicing for local businesses.
23. We are
delivering on these outcomes through city centre programmes focused on public
transport, network management, parking management and cycling infrastructure.
It explores both motorway access and local access for businesses and residents.
In parallel, loading and servicing, and emergency access are informed by the
Parking Strategy and Comprehensive Parking Management
Plan (CPMP).
24. Staff will
engage with the City Centre Advisory Panel to provide an update, and seek
feedback on the development of Comprehensive Parking Management Plan (CPMP) and
at the earliest practicable time (noting they are yet to meet at time of
drafting this report).
Make better use of the existing city centre transport network
25. The city
centre has developed a ring route, allowing vehicles to traverse east-west
across the city centre, while creating a low traffic, people focused Queen
Street Valley. The east of the city has lower capacity, restricted by high
density, challenging geography, and historic form, and therefore less capacity
for through traffic.
Image One: Auckland city
centre circulation, early 2024. Midtown Projects (Te Ha Noa and Wellesley Bus)
highlighted. Only major/access routes have been shown; other routes are
available. Goods vehicles may use Queen Street Essential Vehicles Area (not
shown).
Loading and servicing
26. The density
of the city centre means loading and servicing competes for street space with
other uses such as people space, public transport infrastructure and other
demands for parking.
27. Our analysis,
as well as feedback from businesses and residents, have identified the
following issues:
· Increase
in demand for loading and servicing due to changing nature of businesses and
population growth, with higher demand from residential food and shopping
delivery, as well as property maintenance and pick-up or drop-off.
· Reduction
in available kerb space, with loading zone erosion due to street layout
changes, public and private construction, increase in bus and cycle
infrastructure.
· Lack
of clarity of future provisions, drive the perception that layout and operation
will provide insufficient loading zones to service business and property needs.
· Enforcement
not as frequent or effective as required.
28. Drafting is
underway for the 10-year CPMP outlining the parking and kerbside space
provision and management for the city centre. This is expected to be completed
in late 2024 and delivered in January 2025. The implementation of the strategy
will be delivered over time. it aims to align parking and kerbside space
management with strategies to deliver on objectives while responding to
changing land uses and needs.
29. AT is seeking
to make quicker tactical interventions ahead of the larger strategic refresh,
which may include:
· Identifying
opportunities and creating/replacing loading zones across the city centre where
possible.
· Creation
of free, safe, and dry pick-up or drop-off zones in Civic Carpark, responding
to feedback from arts venues and their patrons.
· Increasing
enforcement through Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) to deliver higher turnover
and utility.
Managing changes in Midtown
30. Auckland
Council, Auckland Transport, Watercare and Eke Panuku will be delivering
several significant projects in the midtown area (surrounding Aotea Square)
alongside CRL, utilities providers and the private sector. An update on the
projects were provided to Transport and Infrastructure Committee at its 20
April 2023 meeting (Resolution number TICCC/2023/49).
31. The
construction in the midtown area have been carefully planned and coordinated,
to minimise disruption to local traffic, businesses, and residents by limiting
the impact and duration of construction at any given time.
32. Temporary
traffic management, such as temporary traffic signals, detours, and lane
closures are planned according to key principles set out by Auckland Transport,
targeted to help minimise disruption to local traffic, support effective bus
operations, safe pedestrian and cycle movements. This will ensure that multiple
temporary traffic management for public and private works within the city
centre are proactively managed to enable the city centre network to operate at
acceptable levels.
33. The key
principles are designed to reinforce the Future Connect strategy and
A4Eoutcomes, reinforcing the behaviour change and future state.
34. A key consideration
for construction planning for Midtown is for east-west movements across the
Queen Street valley, prioritising effective public transport movement. The
temporary traffic management considers east-west movement across Victoria
Street, Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive, with alignment across all.
35. In practice,
this means traffic movement on Victoria Street and Wellesley Street should not
be constrained to an unacceptable level by construction at the same time. Currently the Victoria Street and Albert Street
intersection is closed to enable construction by the CRL, Auckland
Council’s Te Hā Noa Victoria Street project and utilities work.
Significant construction is not planned to start on Wellesley Street until the
Victoria Street and Albert Street intersection is opened to two lanes of
traffic at the end of 2023.
36. As each stage
of construction is completed, it will be progressively opened to support local
journeys, businesses, and residents, rather than through traffic, in line with
A4E.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
37. The midtown
projects underway, as well as the City Centre Bus Plan and the City Rail Link
will improve transport choices for customers, encouraging higher uptake of
public transport, walking and cycling.
38. Improving
mode share in the city centre will have a positive impact on the climate impact
of transport choices. Auckland’s current proposed sub-national vehicle
kilometres travelled (VKT) reduction target is 29 per cent. As of 2016,
transport was responsible for 43.6 per cent of Auckland’s total
emissions, with 86 per cent of this being travel by road.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
39. Auckland
Council, Auckland Transport, Watercare and Eke Panuku are working together to
coordinate delivery in the midtown area. Several integration workstreams across
the council group are currently established, these span utilities, network
operations, engagement and communications, and a consistent development
response approach, which manages the risks and disruptions to the community and
businesses in the area.
40. This report
has been prepared in conjunction with the cross-Council Controlled Organisation
City Centre Leadership Team.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
41. The
Loading and Servicing team engages with relevant stakeholders on both a
business-as-usual basis as well as on project-specific issues, including
quarterly reference group meetings with business, residents, industry
representatives, and emergency services.
42. Residents and
businesses have expressed their desire for a higher level of service for
loading and servicing in Midtown and city centre. This view has been escalated
via the Waitematā Local Board.
43. A
presentation on this topic to the Waitematā Local Board is planned for 13
June 2023.
44. Staff will
engage with the City Centre Advisory Panel at the earliest practicable time
(noting they are yet to meet at time of drafting this report).
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
45. Mana whenua
partnership occurs as part of the development and delivery process in city
centre projects through regular council group Mana Whenua hui and forums, and
other project specific hui or partnerships.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
46. Capital
projects will deliver changes to street layout and changes to loading and
servicing improvements with the project scope.
47. Improvements
outside of approved capital projects, including CCTV, are subject to the AT
capital budget (currently in draft).
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
48. Lack of
network understanding by general public. AT will lead advertising campaigns and
improved wayfinding developed from feedback from new driver focus group
testing. New in-depth report being developed for businesses, residents and
interested/affected stakeholders outlining the strategies, plans, projects and
performance.
49. Traffic
congestion as new network is established. This will be mitigated through
advertising campaigns, improved wayfinding, and active network management
techniques.
50. Bus
reliability affected by traffic congestion, particularly outside of the project
area. This will be mitigated in the future on Wellesley Street West by Stage 2
of the bus improvement project.
51. Reputational
risk from poor implementation or low public understanding of changes. This will
be mitigated through advertising campaigns and improved wayfinding.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
52. AT will lead
the design and implement public information campaigns for the city centre to
educate residents, businesses and visitors about network changes.
53. Update the
Waitematā Local Board on City Centre Transport Operation at its 13 June
2023 meeting.
54. Update the
City Centre Advisory Panel on City Centre Transport Operation once the panel
meets.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
a⇩
|
City Centre Transport Operations, June 2023
|
19
|
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Author
|
Graeme Gunthorp, Programme Director, City Centre
Transport Integration, Auckland Transport
|
|
Authorisers
|
Andrew Allen, Executive General Manager, Service
Delivery, Auckland Transport
Andrew Downie, Governance Lead, Auckland Transport
Dean Kimpton, Chief Executive, Auckland Transport
Barry Potter - Director Infrastructure and
Environmental Services
|
