Agenda of Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party

8 December 2021

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party Agenda

Meeting to be held via audiovisual link

on Wednesday 8 December 2021, commencing at 11.00am

Recommendations contained in the agenda are NOT decisions of the meeting. Please refer to minutes for resolutions.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party

Chairperson, NRC Councillor Terry Archer

NRC Councillor Rick Stolwerk	NRC Councillor Jack Craw	WDC Councillor Tricia Cutforth
WDC Councillor Anna Murphy	WDC Councillor Greg Martin

RĪMITI (Item) Page

1.0 Ngā Mahi Whakapai/Housekeeping

2.0 Ngā Whakapahā/apologies

3.0 Ngā Whakapuakanga/declarations of conflicts of interest

4.0 Ngā Whakaae Miniti (Confirmation of Minutes)

4.1 Confirmation of Minutes - 11 August 2021 3

5.0 Receipt of Action Sheet

5.1 Receipt of Action Sheet 6

6.0 Reports

6.1 CityLink (Whangarei) Operational Update - November 2021 8

6.2 Verbal Update on the Rose Street Terminus Upgrade and Four-Laning Project

Northland Transport Alliance Strategy & Planning Manager, Jeffrey Devine, will provide a verbal update on the Rose Street Terminus upgrade and the four-laning project.

Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party item: 6.1

8 December 2021

TITLE:	CityLink (Whangarei) Operational Update - November 2021
From:	Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transport Alliance
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 01 December 2021

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

This report serves to update the Joint WDC-NRC Whangarei Public Transport Working Party on the CityLink, Bream Bay Link, Hikurangi Link and Whangarei Heads Link rural trial services for the financial year to date (YTD), 1 July 2021 to 31 October 2021.

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘CityLink (Whangarei) Operational Update - November 2021’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transport Alliance and dated 26 November 2021, be received.

Background/Tuhinga

CityLink Whangārei

CityLink stats for 2021/2022 YTD

(revenue ex GST)

Actual

Budget

Variance

CityLink Passengers

16,680

27,027

-10,347

CityLink Revenue

$22,012

$35,201

$13,189

Passenger numbers remain below budget due to the continued effects of Covid-19 and there being school holidays during October. SuperGold Card passengers remain low as the trend toward the use of the Total Mobility Scheme continues to gain momentum, which is mainly due to the elderly being more cautious in their travel choice due to the scare of COVID-19 transmission on buses.

Incidents of anti-social behaviour of school children on the buses and at the Rose Street Terminus has continued. These are being reported to the New Zealand Police and CitySafe.

The plan at this time is to introduce individual school-only buses operating directly to/from the individual schools in an effort to keep the students apart.

Hikurangi Link Service

Hikurangi Link stats for 2021/2022 YTD

(revenue ex GST)

Actual

Budget

Variance

Hikurangi Link Passengers

-8

Hikurangi Link Revenue

$42

$63

-$21

Whilst passenger numbers remain low, this service has active support from both the community and the business association in promoting it amongst the Hikurangi Community.

Whangarei Heads Link

Whangarei Heads Link stats for 2021/2022

(revenue ex GST)

Actual

Budget

Variance

Whangarei Heads Link Passengers

-13

Whangarei Heads Link Revenue

$47

$104

-$57

Following a number of advertising and promotional campaigns, passenger numbers have failed to meet expectation. Meetings with Whangarei District Council elected representatives and a workshop held with the Northland Regional Councilors has resulted an agreement being reached on the closure of the service at the end of January 2022.

The “Summer Beach Bus” is scheduled to operate a Thursday only service between Rose Street and Oceans Beach from the 23 December 2021 through to 27 January 2022.

Bream Bay Link

Bream Bay Link stats for 2021/2022

(revenue ex GST)

Actual

Budget

Variance

Bream Bay Link Passengers

Bream Bay Link Revenue

$180

$86

$94

With the ongoing positive support from the local community, passenger numbers on the Bream Bay Link, continue to meet budget.

A “Summer Beach Bus” will be operating a Thursday only service between Rose Street and Ruakaka Beach from 23 December 2021 through to 27 January 2022.

Promotions

CityLink Promotion - Silver Festival, 11-13 November 2021

The “Silver Festival” is a three-day series of events to celebrate older adults and acknowledge their important role and contribution to Whangārei. Staff have worked with the Positive Ageing Advisory Group (PAAG) to encourage participants to these events and to travel by bus or alternative transport other than car. Six people went into a draw to win a morning tea compliments of Northland Regional Council.

“Mask Up Northland” campaign

The “Mask up Northland” campaign, running from Tuesday 30 November 2021 to Tuesday 14 December 2021, aims to reward continued mask use amongst bus passengers and encourage further use among those who are reluctant wear them. To help encourage people to get involved, 50 x $30 grocery vouchers will be randomly distributed to those that have entered the draw.

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil

TITLE:	Confirmation of Minutes - 11 August 2021
From:	Laura Exton, Community Resilience Executive Assistant
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 01 December 2021

TITLE:	Receipt of Action Sheet
From:	Laura Exton, Community Resilience Executive Assistant
Authorised by Group Manager/s:	Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 01 December 2021