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Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee
03 October 2024
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Improving
Network Productivity - Auckland Transport
File No.: CP2024/14669
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
provide an update from Auckland Transport on the integrated work programme
being implemented to improve network productivity.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. This
report outlines the comprehensive work programme being planned and implemented
to improve network productivity.
3. At
future meetings, progress updates will be provided against the workstream
measures, along with more detail on topical matters within the programme.
4. The
aim of the Improving Network Productivity programme is to:
· Enhance
network throughput, safety and efficiency through implementation of advanced
technology, strategic enhancements, and infrastructure works;
· Provide
a more dynamic network that adjusts to customers’ needs;
· Increase
flow and throughput across the network to achieve a more reliable network; and
· Gain
a deeper understanding of disruptions, with an increased ability to manage
these, react and mitigate them.
5. Auckland
Transport aims to deliver this objective through a range of cohesive
improvements across six different workstreams:
i)
Operational Planning
ii)
Network Optimisation
iii)
Network Disruptions Management
iv)
Parking / Room to Move
v)
Safety on the Network
vi)
Time of Use Charging.
6. The
approach being taken is focused on Auckland Transport’s customers,
network reliability and the safe movement of all users across the network.
Auckland Transport will enhance its approach to this by better utilising data,
insights, and listening to customers to target investment and interventions to
maximise delivery benefits and value for money.
7. Benefits
of integrating all this work include:
· Improved
productivity of the network;
· Travel
times on key arterials being maintained whilst enabling growth of the city;
· Increased
flow and output across the network;
· Reduced
journey times across the network;
· Minimising
disruption impact on Aucklanders’ journey times;
· Providing
Aucklanders with the necessary information to better plan their journeys;
· Providing
more parking for Aucklanders, in the right place, at the right time and for the
right reasons;
· Increased
user contributions - to keep rates lower;
· Fewer
deaths and serious injuries; and
· Reduced
congestion.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Transport, Resilience
and Infrastructure Committee:
a) whiwhi / receive this October update from Auckland
Transport on network productivity initiatives for FY2024/2025.
b) tuhi
ā-taipitopito / note Auckland Transport’s proposal to bring an
update to this forum on a regular basis, suggested as every two months.
This will be presented in an easy-to-understand dashboard form.
Horopaki
Context
8. Auckland
Transport is seeking to make the best possible use of the existing network and
road spaces as Auckland continues to grow. Our existing transport corridors
need to accommodate much of the increase in travel; making better and smarter
use of our existing roads, rail, footpaths, cycleways and ferries is part of
Auckland Transport’s solution.
9. This
will be achieved through investment in network optimisation initiatives that
deliver significant improvements through small-scale interventions, technology
upgrades, and developing demand-based solutions to manage congestion and
improve travel times. All six workstreams integrate to achieve this.
10. Operational
Planning (workstream 1) is about maximising the productivity and operation
of the existing road network, identifying areas for investment and providing
expertise to consenting and project design.
This involves having an Auckland Network Operating Plan
(ANOP), understanding current network performance through data and insights and
integrating this knowledge with an understanding of upcoming changes to our
network in the short to medium term (up to five years).
Initiatives to deliver Operational Planning include:
11. Activity
Coordination Project (Forward Works Viewer);
· Operational
plan guidance & tools;
· Network
performance and insights;
· Sub-regional
operational plans;
· Accelerated
development of Special Vehicle Lanes Programme; and
· Improved
network resilience to adapt to the operation of the network.
12. Examples
of work completed to date in this workstream include:
· Launch
of a Forward Works Viewer (spatial viewer of all planned works on the network
including utilities, maintenance, developments and projects);
13. Updated
corridor congestion and deficiencies have been mapped for all arterial roads on
the network. This data is informing the special vehicle lane development
and optimisation programmes and to develop operational plans; and
· Early
detour assessments for strategic routes are underway with Auckland Transport
supporting New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to improve preparedness in
the event of significant unplanned incidents.
14. Network
Optimisation (workstream 2) aims to optimise flow through the existing network by
implementing a combination of infrastructure and Intelligent Transport System
(ITS) solutions such as smarter intersections, dynamic lanes, and corridor
improvements.
This second workstream also focusses on designing and
implementing cost-effective solutions for parts of the network identified as
“deficient” by workstream 1.
Initiatives to deliver Network Optimisation include:
· Smarter
intersections (bus booster, detection);
· Dynamic
streets (dynamic timings/lanes/zones);
· Special
Vehicle Lanes (SVL) - freight and high occupancy vehicles;
· Corridor/intersection
improvements; and
· Behaviour
change linked to projects.
Examples of work completed to date in this workstream
includes:
· Implementation
of Main Highway Dynamic Bus Lane Trial and preparation to test and consult on a
dynamic crossing at Botany College and dynamic loading zone at Kingdon Street;
15. 25 smart
detection (including bus transponder) sites implemented of the 65 planned for
this year. On track to pilot emergency vehicle intersection priority
(with Fire & Emergency New Zealand) this year;
· Optimised
43 or the 250 intersections planned for this year; and
· Preparation
work for 2 public transport special vehicle lanes (Triangle Road – aiming
to deliver in Q2 2024 & Westgate / Fred Taylor Drive Q2 2024) with 10 more
SVLs design ready for 2025/2026.
16. Network
Disruptions Management (workstream 3) is to minimise the impact of
disruptions on customers’ journeys within Auckland’s transport
network through faster detection and response, integrated management and
improved communication.
Every day, customers’ journeys on Auckland’s
transport network face disruptions due to planned activities such as roadworks,
concerts, and community events, which are essential for the growth of our city
and communities. Additionally, unexpected events like weather conditions,
accidents and protests also cause disruptions.
Initiatives to deliver Network Disruptions Management
include:
· Temporary
Traffic Management (TTM) transformation programme;
· Operational
systems & technologies integration;
· Real
time situational awareness solution; and
· Enhanced
disruption communication.
Examples of work in this workstream includes:
· Integration
of a ‘Forward Works Planner’ to prepare a ‘dig once’
approach; smarter timing & co-ordination of works across providers to
minimise disruption; and
· New
systems and contract management to assess TTM to enable optimal movement
without compromising safety (underway).
17. Room to
Move / Parking (workstream 4) aims to increase movement on our key roads
and increase access to key destinations through effective allocation and
management of kerb-side space in Tāmaki Makaurau. It also seeks to
increase user pays contributions.
Initiatives to deliver Room to Move / Parking include:
· Region-wide
rollout of the parking strategy 'Room to Move';
· Public-facing
kerbside/parking map;
· Car
Share framework review;
· Compliance
management initiatives;
· Comprehensive
Parking Management plans; and
· Park
and Ride Framework.
18. The Room to
Move strategy aims to:
· Prioritise
movement of people and goods on key roads to optimise the network;
· Create
and manage easy and accessible parking (that turns over) to support access and
business;
· Gain
user contributions towards the cost of parking to reduce burden on ratepayers.
A full update on Room to Move has been requested with the
Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee at a workshop in October
2024 (to be confirmed).
19. Safety on
the Network (workstream 5) aims to create a network free from death and
serious injury.
Initiatives to deliver Safety on the Network include:
· Creating
a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of safety interventions on the network;
· Reviewing
raised crossings on arterials;
· Researching
the impact on the network of serious crashes; and
· Deliver
a road safety engineering programme targeting the highest risk areas.
An update will be provided to the Committee as part of this
workstream on Auckland Transport’s response to the Ministry of
Transport’s 'National Road Safety Objectives’. Auckland
Transport will respond to any finalised legislation on speed changes once the
new speed limit setting rule is announced by Government.
20. Time of
Use Charging (workstream 6) aims to utilise travel demand management to
reduce congestion and optimise road corridor productivity on the most congested
parts of the network through demand-based pricing.
The current approach is to implement a phased system to
charge for road use during peak congestion times, with variable pricing based
on time of day, location, and vehicle type.
Early engagement is underway for partners and key
stakeholders with formal feedback to be sought in late 2024. Public
consultation will be deferred until legislation enacted and detailed design is
near completion. Policy settings are under review and scheme concept
analysis is underway and the review of Auckland Transport technology systems to
support this work is nearly complete.
A detailed update on Time of Use Charging will be presented
to the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee in December 2024.
21. Through
integrating all six of these workstreams, Auckland Transport aims, by the end
of the 2024/2025 financial year, to:
· Ensure
an average journey time across the arterial network of 24 minutes (with a lower
journey time target over the following years);
· Achieve
an arterial productivity (average number of people moving per hour during the
morning peak) of 28,000 (with an increased target over the following years);
· Achieve
a freight performance of 85% (percentage of the freight network without
congestion in the interpeak);
· Ensure
there are no more than 575 Deaths and Serious Injuries (with a lower target
over the following years); and
· Ensure
we are listening and responding to our customer’s needs.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
22. A full update
on Room to Move to be presented to the Committee at a workshop in October 2024
(to be confirmed).
23. A detailed
update on Time of Use Charging will be presented to the Committee in December
2024.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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Improving Network Productivity - Presentation
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Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Author
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Taryn Muir - Executive Officer
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Authorisers
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Dean Kimpton – Chief Executive, Auckland
Transport
Barry Potter - Director Resilience and Infrastructure
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