Regional Transport Committee

Tuesday 2 August 2022 at 11.00am

 

 

AGENDA

 


Regional Transport Committee

2 August 2022

Regional Transport Committee Agenda

 

Meeting to be held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Tuesday 2 August 2022, commencing at 11.00am

 

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

 

MEMBERSHIP OF THE Regional Transport Committee

 

Chairperson, NRC Councillor Rick Stolwerk

FNDC Councillor Ann Court

WDC Councillor Greg Martin

KDC Councillor David Wills

NZTA Representative Steve Mutton

Deputy Chair, NRC Councillor Terry Archer

 

 

KARAKIA / WHAKATAU

 

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 - 7 June 2022                                                                                               4

4.2       Receipt of Action Sheet                                                                                                                             9

5.0       Operational Matters

5.1       Response from the Minister                                                                                                                 12

5.2       Road Safety                                                                                                                                                 15

5.3       Funding Uptake Report                                                                                                                           29

5.4       Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027 - Three Year Review - Update 35

5.5       Waka Kotahi Northland Activity and Funding Update                                                                 37

5.6       Towai Rail Crossing and Kawakawa Railway Line                                                                          59

5.7       Compensation for Damages on Northland State Highways                                                       62


 

 

 


Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 4.1

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Confirmation of Minutes - 7 June 2022

From:

Nicky Hansen, PA to GM Community Resilience

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the minutes of the Regional Transport Committee meeting held on Tuesday 7 June 2022, be confirmed as a true and correct record.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: 2022 06 07 Regional Transport Committee Minutes - unconfirmed   


Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 4.1

2 August 2022Attachment 1

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Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 4.2

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Receipt of Action Sheet

From:

Nicky Hansen, PA to GM Community Resilience

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

The purpose of this report is to enable the meeting to receive the current action sheet.

 

Nga mahi tutohutia / Recommendation

That the action sheet be received.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Regional Transport Committee Action Sheet - as at 2 August 2022   


Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 4.2

2 August 2022Attachment 1

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Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.1

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Response from the Minister

From:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

Questions from the Northland Regional Transport Committee were raised to the Minister of Transport Hon Wood office. Minister Woods responses were delivered by Minister Kelvin Davis at a face-to-face hui at the Northland Regional Council on 15 June 2022.

 

The questions from the RTC and the responses from the Minister’s office are presented below.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Response from the Minister’ by Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience and dated 29 June 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

QUESTION: the four-lane highway from Whangārei to Marsden Point status? A timeframe for any possible re-consideration of this project as it is still No.1 on Northland RLTP.

 

Four-laning of Whangārei to Marsden Point

·     The four-lane upgrade for general traffic is not in any current plan nor is it being progressed as part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP). The Government made changes to the original NZUP Whangārei to Port Marsden Highway project in June 2021 from a four-lane scheme to the current Northern Package, which consists of investment in rail infrastructure and state highway improvements. 

 

·     The investment in the state highway through the Northern Package is to address safety issues on the existing corridor. 

 

·     Further investigation is required before any decisions can be made about a four-lane highway between Whangārei and Port Marsden. Funding to carry out this work will need to be included in a future National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

 

·     The next NLTP is for 2024-27. While the four laning project has been identified in the Waka Kotahi long term (30 year) view, it does not appear as a priority in the Waka Kotahi 10-year project plan.  

 

QUESTION Update on when decisions are being made on Marsden Rail Link and safety improvements SH1 Wellsford to Whangārei?

 

NZUP Northland Package: update on when decisions are being made on Marsden Rail Link and safety improvements SH1 Wellsford to Whangārei.

·     Rail improvements – KiwiRail is currently progressing this business case and expects to seek approval from its Board by the end of June. Following that, a report will be provided to Ministers for consideration.

 

·     SH1 safety improvements – Waka Kotahi is currently progressing the business case for the state highway safety improvements and expects to seek approval from the Waka Kotahi Board and from Ministers in Q3 2022.

 

QUESTION: How can the Northland RTC represent Northland effectively and be listened to in the national decision-making process? How can the RTC be more proactive in advancing the roading issues in Northland, could RTC representatives visit Wellington on a formal basis once a year to discuss the issues at ministerial level? What are the best options?

 

·     It is important that the RTC work closely with Waka Kotahi officials to develop a compelling Northland investment story based on evidence that will feed in to the Regional and National Land Transport Programme.

 

·     If the Northland RTC would like to discuss transport issues with Hon Michael Wood, Minister of Transport, they are welcome to request a meeting.

 

QUESTION: Concerns over the funding structure for Waka Kotahi and the availability of funds for rural regions in the future. What is being done to secure funding for transport and support both transport infrastructure and climate change priorities in rural regions?

 

Funding

·     To ensure a sustainable future funding model for the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF), a review of land transport funding (in conjunction with Treasury and the Ministry of Transport) is in progress.

 

·     Funding through the 2021–24 NLTP has been targeted at delivering a land transport system that is safe and accessible; that supports Aotearoa’s economic recovery and continues our transition to a more sustainable transport system. 

 

·     During this three-year period, total investment in the land transport system will be significant, with about $24.3 billion invested across the NLTF, Crown funding and co-investment from local councils. This includes a $751 million investment for Northland’s land transport system, which is a large boost from the $460 million budgeted for in the 2018 NLTP.

 

·     Following the release of the Emissions Reduction Plan, several Climate Emergency Response Fund budget bids have been announced, including:

 

·    $569 million for Clean Car Upgrade, an equity-oriented pilot and rollout of a scrap-and-replace scheme, which will provide targeted assistance to lower- and middle- income households to shift to low-emission alternatives upon scrapping their old vehicle.

 

·    $350 million to fund Transport Choices, transport services and infrastructure investments that reduce reliance on cars and support uptake of active and shared modes. Investment areas will include rapidly rolling out urban cycleway networks, creating walkable neighbourhoods, supporting safer, greener, and healthier school travel, and making public transport more accessible and easier to use.

 

·    $20 million for a vehicle social leasing scheme trial, which will lease low-emission vehicles to low-income New Zealanders, making it more affordable to transition to cleaner options.

 

·    $61 million to support a sustainable, skilled workforce of bus drivers.

 

·    $40 million over four years to accelerate the decarbonisation of the public transport bus fleet to enable providers to start working towards the Government’s target of decarbonising the public transport bus fleet by 2035.

 

·    $20 million to accelerate the decarbonisation of freight transport. This includes co-funding for low emission freight projects through a dedicated round of the Low Emissions Transport Fund delivered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, and funding Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport’s development of the decarbonisation aspects of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy and other freight-related actions in the Emissions Reduction Plan.

 

Northland Speed Review

·     On 14 June 2022, Waka Kotahi concludes the public consultation on permanent speed limits for 11 corridors of state highway in Te Tai Tokerau Northland and Tāmaki Makaurau north Auckland.

 

·     This consultation includes proposed lowered speed limits at schools and through townships in the region. It also includes collaboration with iwi and hapū on signage for marae.

 

·     Keeping students safe from vehicles outside the school gates is the top priority for the review. Initially, for schools within the review area, the proposed changes include reducing existing permanent speed limits for some schools and/or using variable speed limits.

 

·     Waka Kotahi will consider the feedback that has been provided, then make a final decision and notify the public.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.2

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Road Safety

From:

Ian Crayton-Brown, Transport Projects Officer

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

This report serves to update the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) on combined works from the Northland Transportation Alliance in conjunction with Waka Kotahi and Northland Police regarding capital improvements, road safety enforcement and promotional activities to meet the expectations of the Governments 10-year road safety strategy Road to Zero.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Road Safety’ by Ian Crayton-Brown, Transport Projects Officer and dated 15 July 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Northland Transportation Alliance in conjunction with Waka Kotahi and Northland Police have developed a comprehensive multifaceted program of capital improvements and road safety enforcement and promotion activities to meet the expectations of the Governments 10-year road safety strategy Road to Zero. Road to Zero has a targeted goal of reducing death and serious injuries from road trauma by 40% by 2030.

This report focuses on three key responses to the Road to Zero goal.

1.    Infrastructure Improvements – improvements to roads and roadsides

2.    Speed Management – speed limit reviews and supporting infrastructure

3.    Road User Choice – Encourage safer choices and safer behaviors on our roads

 

Infrastrucutre Improvements

The infrastructure improvement program has key strands.

A.    High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR)

B.    High Risk Urban Corridors (HRUC)

C.    High Risk Intersections (HRI)

D.    Local Area Traffic Management (LATM)

E.    School Zones (SZ)

F.    Pedestrian Crossing Facilities (PED)

 

Projects are developed to target investment to the highest road safety need and endorsed by Waka Kotahi Road to Zero team.  The NTA is on task to implement the following improvements to Northlands local road transport network within the 2021-24 RLTP period.

·    13 of Northlands highest risk rural roads (HRRR) ~200km

·    3 of Northlands highest risk urban corridors (HRUC) ~10km

·    6 of Northlands highest risk intersections (HRI)

·    20 of Northlands highest risk urban streets (LATM) ~10km

·    10 of Northlands highest risk school zones (SZ)

·    >30 of Northlands highest risk pedestrian crossing (PED)

 

Speed Management – Speed Limit Reviews

Northland Transportation Alliance is leading a rolling review of speed limits on Northlands local roads (excludes State Highways) as part of the implementation of the Road to National Road Safety Strategy.  The Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022 has been adopted, staff are working with Waka Kotahi to transition to the new rule.  A more comprehensive report is included in the RTC Workshop.

The speed limit reviews are being undertaken on a road catchment area basis, with the highest benefit catchments prioritised.  High benefit catchments are those areas where better speed management will lead to significantly improved road safety outcomes through a reduction in serious injury and fatal crashes.  Progress in each District is set out below.

 

Far North District

·    Implemented – 176km of roads.

·    Next Catchment – Kaitaia-Awaroa, Kohukohu-Broadwood, Moerewa urban and Te Oneroa-a-Tohe Ninety Mile Beach area (509km of roads, excluding Te Oneroa-a-Tohe Ninety Mile Beach) is currently in the detailed design and procurement phase.

·    The next planned review is in the Bay of Islands and Kerikeri area.  Detailed technical assessments to comply with the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022 are currently underway.

 

Kaipara District

·    Implemented – 214km of roads.

·    Next Catchment – Poutu Peninsula and the West Coast area (west of SH14), excluding the Dargaville urban area). Detailed technical assessments to comply with the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022 are currently underway.

 

Whangarei District

·    Implemented – 117km of roads.

·    Next Catchment – Waipu South located to the east of SH1 and south of Waipu (52km of roads) is currently in the detailed design and procurement phase.  Consultation was completed in 2021.

·    The next planned review is in the Whangarei Heads area.  Detailed technical assessments to comply with the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2022 are currently underway. 

 

Northland

507 kilometres of Northlands local road network has been treated. We are working on developing the Interim Speed Management Plans (2022-24) and preparing the Regional Speed Management Plan (2024-27 and beyond).

 

Road Safety Promotion Contracts Year 1 Summary:

It has been a successful year of delivery for our road safety promotion contracts. There have been some interruptions with the Covid-19 pandemic, but the region has seen some successful road safety outcomes.

 

Bike Northland – Whangarei District

·    Delivers bike skill in schools and runs adult programmes as well.

·    Was contracted to deliver to 1240 Grade 1 (beginners) students and actual delivery was to 1941 students.

·    Was contracted to deliver to 500 Grade 2 students and adults (taking the skills learnt in Grade 1 and riding on the road) and actual delivery was to 547 students.

·    Grade 1 courses were delivered to 20 different schools in the Whangarei district and Garde 2 courses were delivered to 12 different schools.

·    Has been awarded a contract to deliver in the Far North District for Year 2 and 3 and funding for Bike Skills in the Kaipara District is being sought. 

·    The Bikes in Schools programme is also supported by Bike Northland where schools take it upon themselves to build a bike track and own a fleet of bikes for the students to use. The focus for this year has been to support the existing programmes and upskill the teachers with using bikes. 22 schools in Northland have taken up this programme:

18 in Whangarei District

2 in Kaipara District

2 in Far North District

4 more schools are currently working with Bike Northland to implement the Bikes in Schools programme; 3 in the Whangarei District and 1 in the Kaipara District

 

Northland Road Safety Trust – Whangarei and Kaipara District

·    On top of their well-developed programmes, this year the Northland Road Safety Trust developed several new programmes:

The Silver Fern Farms programme, where driver mentoring and licencing opportunities were provided to the employees on work time.

A new Drug Impaired Driving programme - this programme will be for drivers charged with driving under the influence of drugs (prescription or illegal), this programme was developed to support the legislation change around saliva roadside drug testing by police, although this change is not expected to take place till early 2023.

A new child restraint programme was established in partnership with New Zealand Police and Plunket where if the Police ticket someone for not having an appropriate restraint for their child they can get in contact with Plunket and get the support they need as well as getting their fine removed.

In curriculum driver licencing programmes. This has been established in two High Schools and will remain a focus for year 2 and 3.

·    The Northland Road Safety Trust has intention to bring on a contracted support person to increase capacity to work on more programmes for the Whangarei and Kaipara Districts.

 

Far North REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme) – Far North District

·    Far North REAP have had another full year of promotional activity as well as utilising their 6 district teams to host a range of road safety programmes and licensing initiatives. Some of the highlights that came out of year 1 was:

The launch of their promotional campaign theparty.co.nz – a new technology used in New Zealand where the user was enabled to make the decisions for the characters with a range of outcomes.

One Tear Too Many brand refresh – this has been a big piece of work and looking at a region wide roll out in Year 2.

A new child restraint programme where they are asking for people to return unused child restraints and the team works on them to decide if they can be reissued to a family in need (after a thorough check and clean) or destroyed, for example if the child restraint is expired. The restraints are sent to Seat Smart where they are broken down and the parts can be recycled.

The Far North Driver Licensing Improvement Programme – the team are in the middle of a pilot where Police staff have been trained to undertake restricted and full licence tests for students who have completed a programme with Far North REAP. This is alleviating some of the barriers people face when trying to graduate through the driver licence system. The hope is that this will be rolled out region wide.

 

 

Road User Choice

Road Trauma Update

 

2021 - 1 January – 19 July, Road Fatalities Statistics

Fatalities Jan – Jul 2021

Far North

Whangārei

Kaipara

Northland

National

Local roads

2

2

2

6

97

State highways

5

3

6

14

87

TOTAL

7

5

8

20

184

 

2022 – 1 January – 19 July, Road Fatalities Statistics

Fatalities Jan - Jul 2022

Far North

Whangārei

Kaipara

Northland

National

Local roads

3

3

0

6

106

State highways

7

3

2

12

97

TOTAL

10

6

2

18

203

 

 

Motorcycle Safety - Ride Forever (R4E) Rider Training Update -

·    R4E – 2019/2020 – 240 riders completed courses for that financial year.

·    R4E – 2020/2021 – 186 riders completed courses for that financial year.

·    R4E – 2021/2022 – 182 riders have completed courses for this financial year just completed.

Bronze Course – 78

Silver Course – 50

Gold Course – 54

Government restrictions and lockdowns around Covid have been consistent during the last two years affecting the Ride Forever Training. It is hoped that this next 12-month period will at least see a return to figures similar or better to 2019/2021 financial year period.

 

Motorcycle safety continues to be a high priority area of interest and focus. There have now been five motorcyclists killed on Northland roads since the beginning of this year. These crashes will be further investigated by the Police and the Coroner. 

 

Work continues development of the draft Northland Motorcycle Safety Strategy with WSP.  ACC continues to lead the Ride Forever Programme and together with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency are placing safety messaging on high risk and popular motorcycle routes around Northland roads.

 

                                         

 

Waka Kotahi Road Safety Promotion/Media themes for June & July 2022

Road safety promotional and media related themes for the above-mentioned months will concentrate around:

·    Alcohol, Distractions, Speed, Safe Vehicles,

 

At the local level, Northland also produces; radio, print, bus backs along with other social media to promote road safety messages specific to Northland and complimenting the ‘Road to Zero’ and ‘Safe System Approach.’

The two examples below have been designed for including in the Northern Advocate spaces booked for road safety messaging.

 

Graphical user interface, website

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

 

A picture containing text, newspaper, screenshot

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Northland Rugby Union Road Safety Partnership 2022/2023 Season:

 

Northland road safety partners including the Police are again working with the Northland Rugby Men’s NPC team, promoting road safety. The ‘Seatbelts On’ message will again feature on the team shorts. We will also be able to continue using the Taniwha image/theme with our road safety print/media messaging and promotional items.

 

A joint road safety presentation was given with Police on Wednesday the 13 July 2022 at one of the NPC teams induction days at the Northland Rugby Union HQ & training quarters at Pohe Island, which was interactive and popular with the players and management. The feedback has been very positive.

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Description automatically generated   A person standing in front of a group of people sitting in chairs

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Police ‘Grip Test’ device                       Road Policing Manager Anne-Marie Fitchett engaging with players          

A person giving a presentation to an audience

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Driving blind texting - Blindfold passing rugby ball exercise

 

 

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Northland Police Presentation 2022 08 02   


Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 5.2

2 August 2022Attachment 1

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Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.3

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Funding Uptake Report

From:

Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transportation Alliance

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

This report covers the subsidy claims submitted to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for the first financial year of the 2021-2024 three-year funding period and details the funding uptake by each approved authority for the financial period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Funding Uptake Report’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transportation Alliance and dated 29 June 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Reports relating to the progress made on the funding uptake of the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2027 are to be tabled at each Regional Transport Committee (RTC) meeting. 

These reports serve to update the RTC on the progress of those Activities/Programmes approved for funding assistance in the National Land Transport Programme 2021-2024 for the Far North District Council, Whangarei District Council, Kaipara District Council, and the Northland Regional Council.

These reports are designed to make comparisons of Budgeted Expenditure against Actual Expenditure by Activity Class/Programme for the relevant financial period.

 

In addition to abovementioned comparisons made, the attached spreadsheets serve to provide the Regional Transport Committee with information relating to how each activity: -

 

·    Is tracking in regard to the uptake of the funding assistance approved through the National Land Transport Plan 2021-2024 for the relevant financial year.

 

·    Will support the five Regional Strategic Objectives reflected in the Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2024.

 

·    Will support the seven Regional Priorities included in the Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2024.

 

The Activities/Programmes reflected in the attachments do not include non-subsidised projects or work categories.

 

The base information contained in the attachments is sourced directly from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s ‘2021-2024 National Land Transport Programme for Northland’ and from the June 2022 subsidy claims as submitted by the approved authorities.

Any questions regarding the information reflected in the attached can be directed to the relevant approved Road Controlling Authority.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: RTC Funding Uptake Report for 2 August 2022

Attachment 2: RTC Funding Uptake Report for 2 August 2022 - Graphs 1

Attachment 3: RTC Funding Uptake Report for 2 August 2022 - Graphs 2   


Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 5.3

2 August 2022Attachment 1

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Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 5.3

2 August 2022Attachment 2

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Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 5.3

2 August 2022Attachment 3

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Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.4

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027 - Three Year Review - Update

From:

Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transportation Alliance

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

This report serves to brief the Regional Transport Committee on the process to be followed in the three-year review of the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027 - Three Year Review - Update’ by Chris Powell, Transport Manager - Northland Transportation Alliance and dated 29 June 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

The Land Transport Management Act 2003 (LTMA) details the requirements for the preparing and approving of Regional Land Transport Plans (RLTP).

 

Section 13 titled Responsibility for preparing and approving regional land transport plans stipulates that: -

 

(1)       Every 6 financial years, each regional council, in the case of every region except Auckland, must—

(a)      ensure that the relevant regional transport committee prepares, on the regional council’s behalf, a regional land transport plan; and

(b)      approve the regional land transport plan by a date appointed by the Agency

 

 

From 2019 to 2021, the Regional Transport Committee (RTC), on behalf of the Northland Regional Council (NRC), compiled, consulted on and approved the Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021-2027. 

 

Section 18CA titled Review of regional land transport plans states that: -

 

(1)       A regional transport committee must complete a review of the regional land transport plan during the 6-month period immediately before the expiry of the third year of the plan.

(2)       In carrying out the review, the regional transport committee must have regard to the views of representative groups of land transport users and providers.

 

 

Whilst the LTMA provides for the review after three years, the RTC must first consider if there is sufficient cause to warrant a complete rewrite of the RLTP or whether a review is sufficient.

 

In making their decision, the RTC may wish to take into consideration the following: -

 

·    Have there been any significant national changes that will affect the Strategic Objectives or Regional Priorities of the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027.? These national changes are normally driven through the three yearly Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.

 

·    Have there been any significant regional or district changes that will affect the Strategic Objectives or Regional Priorities of the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027?

 

·    Are there any other reasons that may warrant a full rewrite of the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027?

 

Should the RTC consider there is sufficient justification for a full rewrite, then the full process for the compilation of a six-year regional land transport plan must be followed as was done for the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027.

 

If following a review of the Northland Regional Land Transport Plan for Northland 2021/2027, the RTC consider that there has been insufficient change nationally or regionally to invoke a rewrite, it may opt to recommend to the NRC that the plan remain unchanged until 2027.

 

 

 

 

 

A paper will be tabled at the 6 December 2022 RTC meeting recommending that this matter be workshopped, and a formal decision be made on the way forward.

 

 

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.5

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Waka Kotahi Northland Activity and Funding Update

From:

Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will provide an update report to the Regional Transport Committee.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Waka Kotahi Northland Activity and Funding Update’ by Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island and dated 29 June 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Steve Mutton, Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships, Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau, will be speaking to this paper and presentation.

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Attachment 1: Waka Kotahi Northland Regional Transport Committee update – 2 August 2022   


Regional Transport Committee  ITEM: 5.5

2 August 2022Attachment 1






















Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.6

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Towai Rail Crossing and Kawakawa Railway Line

From:

Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

There has been an increase in safety related issues where railway lines cross the State highway. This has resulted in several motorcycle crashes and damaged vehicles.

 

In accordance with the Railways Act 2005, KiwiRail own the railway lines and must undertake maintenance activities within 5 metres of the lines. It has taken some months to get KiwiRail to acknowledge these safety concerns, but a plan is now in place to expedite repairs to ensure the safety of all road uses crossing railway lines on State highways in Te Tai Tokerau.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Towai Rail Crossing and Kawakawa Railway Line’ by Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island and dated 11 July 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

Over several months Waka Kotahi has been made aware of safety concerns relating to the KiwiRail railway lines crossing State highways in Northland – namely the railway line through the Kawakawa township, Hukerenui (north of Akerama) and Towai. These safety concerns include motorcycle crashes and damage to vehicle wheels.

 

Waka Kotahi take road safely very seriously as everyone should get where they are going safely

whether they are walking, cycling, driving, motorcycling or using public transport. For this reason, Waka Kotahi notified KiwiRail of the safety concerns and requested that they resolve the reported issues promptly.

 

KiwRail maintain road surfaces within five metres of the railway. A railway line is defined in the Railways Act 2005 as a rail or rails laid for the purposes of transporting people or goods by rail; and includes any area within 5 metres of a line drawn midway between a set of rails. Therefore, at a level crossing, the licensed access provider for the railway line concerned must maintain the carriageway at the level crossing on the railway line, and the road controlling authority for the road concerned must maintain the approaches to the level crossing (ie: approaches in this case mean up to 5 metres of a line drawn midway between a set of rails).

Towai rail crossing

 

 

Kawakawa rail crossing – BEFORE REPAIR

 

 

Kawakawa rail crossing – AFTER TEMPORARY REPAIR by Waka Kotahi

 

While this responsibility is very clear in the Act, it has taken some months for KiwiRail to acknowledge and take ownership of the safety concerns and resource the mitigation of the significant risk.

 

Action taken

During this time Waka Kotahi has completed at their own cost temporary repairs to the crossing in Kawakawa to ensure the safety of the public and to minimise the risk of crashes.

 

Waka Kotahi have held several conversations with KiwiRail representatives, and after escalating our concerns, KiwiRail representatives are now expediting the repairs.

 

The repairs will make the railway crossings mentioned above safe, and there is a long-term plan to improve the durability of the crossings to lessen ongoing maintenance risks and costs, and to improve safety for all users.

 

Future investment

Rail is a new activity class within the Government Policy Statement 2021 (GPS). The GPS provides direction for rail which will require the Ministry of Transport, Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail to work together to plan and fund New Zealand’s rail network infrastructure.

 

Waka Kotahi will be responsible for advising the Minister of Transport on KiwiRail’s proposed Rail Network Investment Programme (RNIP), and the funding of rail activities within it.

 

KiwiRail will be required to develop and deliver a three-year investment programme for the rail network. The RNIP will also include an indication of significant rail network activities expected in the next RNIP and a 10-year forecast. The investment priorities in the New Zealand RaiI Plan, and

the funding signals in the GPS, will guide the development of the RNIP.

 

The RNIP will be funded from the Rail Network activity class and the Public Transport Infrastructure activity class for metropolitan rail activities, supported by Crown funding.

 

Planning, operating and maintaining the rail network and the associated freight, tourism and property services remain the core business and responsibility of KiwiRail.

 

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil


Regional Transport Committee                                                                                                                                  item: 5.7

2 August 2022

 

TITLE:

Compensation for Damages on Northland State Highways

From:

Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island

Authorised by Group Manager/s:

Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience, on 22 July 2022

 

Whakarāpopototanga / Executive summary

There have been recent media interest in relation to motorists seeking compensation for vehicle damage done on Northland State highways. Waka Kotahi recognises the frustration for motorists when damage occurs to their vehicle.

In 2020, of the 249 complaints received by Waka Kotahi nationally, 32 were from Northland.

Waka Kotahi is not normally responsible or liable for damage that may occur to a vehicle while driving on a state highway. Where complaints are made that include a claim that a road’s condition has caused damage to a vehicle, Waka Kotahi investigate this to see if there are any exceptional circumstances that should be considered, which may trigger further obligations on Waka Kotahi or its contractors.

 

Ngā mahi tūtohutia / Recommendation

That the report ‘Compensation for Damages on Northland State Highways’ by Steve Mutton, NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island and dated 12 July 2022, be received.

 

Background/Tuhinga

 

There have been recent media interest in relation to motorists seeking compensation for vehicle damage done on Northland State highways.

Waka Kotahi recognises that key transport routes, such as state highways, are critical in connecting Northland’s towns and communities, making the Waka Kotahi maintenance and capital works programme in the region an essential enabler for access to opportunity and economic growth.

It is often these works that create issues for road uses. Waka Kotahi also recognises the frustration for motorists when damage occurs to their vehicle. Waka Kotahi receives a relatively small number[1] of claims from motorists with respect to windscreen and other vehicle damage.

 

Damage to vehicles

Damage to vehicles generally occurs following re-sealing work, when loose chip remains on the highway surface for a period of time while the seal settles in. During this time, speed restrictions are in place, usually at 30km/h, after a site has been sealed. Driving at these temporarily reduced speed limits helps the new seal to bed in and also prevents stone chips from ‘flying’ into the windscreens of other motorists. Following this period, the sites are swept, excess chip is removed, and the temporary speed limit is typically increased to 50km/h until line marking has been reinstated (usually within 48 hours of the site being sealed).

Unfortunately, it is often those who are obeying the temporary speed limits through work sites who end up with chips in their windscreen and on their cars, due to oncoming traffic disregarding temporary speed limits and ‘flicking’ chips up at other vehicles.

Drivers understandably expect that roadworks and hazards will be clearly signed, and that Waka Kotahi will act quickly to make seal repairs when needed. However, the actions of Waka Kotahi and its contractors, need to be balanced with the responsibility of road users to drive with care and to the conditions.

Potholes can also develop very quickly once water penetrates the road’s surface. High volumes of rainfall, coupled with ever moving ground conditions in Northland, makes it a particularly challenging environment for road maintenance.

 

·    Once water does penetrate the road’s surface (and becomes saturated), it can have significant impacts that result in potholes and other damage.

·    Due to winter weather conditions, any pothole repairs completed at this time of year are done using a temporary fill, with more permanent repairs carried out in summer (during the warmer, more drier conditions).

·    Repairs to potholes are carried out as soon as conditions permit the work to be undertaken safely by Waka Kotahi contractors.

Waka Kotahi actively monitors the state highway network so that damage can be repaired as soon as possible.

Waka Kotahi is not normally responsible or liable for damage that may occur to a vehicle while driving on a state highway. Where complaints are made that include a claim that a road’s condition has caused damage to a vehicle, Waka Kotahi and our contractors investigate this to see if there are any exceptional circumstances, we should be aware of, which may trigger further obligations on Waka Kotahi or our contractors.

 

Northland statistics

The table below summarises the total number of requests for compensation by Northland motorists to Waka Kotahi from 2018 to 2020.

 

Year

Number of Compensation Requests

2018

45

2019

45

2020

32

 

In the context of the figures for all New Zealand for the 12 months from May 2020 to April 2021 above, 249 complaints across New Zealand for the year 2020, the proportion of complaints from Northland would be approximately 13%.

 

Investment in Northland

Waka Kotahi has allowed $344 million over the next three years to maintain local roads and state highways in Northland. This funding is for maintenance to ensure State highways are safe and responding to weather events so we can ensure communities are re-connected as quickly as possible.

 

In the last year alone, Waka Kotahi has invested more than $43 million in maintaining Northland’s state highways and delivered one of the largest road maintenance programmes Northland has ever had.

 

Every year, Waka Kotahi embarks on a national summer maintenance programme. For the Northland state highway network, the last two seasons have seen a total of 346 lane kilometres repaired and resealed. For the coming 2022/23 season, a further 177 lane kilometres of repairs and reseals are planned.

 

As part of our maintenance programme, the Waka Kotahi contractor crews carry out active surveillance of the state highway network and repair thousands of potholes every year.

 

The majority of road maintenance work is carried out during the warm summer construction season. While Waka Kotahi also has an active winter maintenance programme, the frequent and intense rainfall has made this work particularly challenging this year.

 

We understand the frustrations felt by motorists when new potholes appear, and we encourage people to report any concerns as soon as possible by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).

 

Attachments/Ngā tapirihanga

Nil



[1] Between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, Waka Kotahi received 249 claims for damage to vehicles, of which 40 were for specifically for windscreens. The other claims refer generally to ‘vehicle damage’, which may relate to windscreens, tyres, wheels or paintwork.