The mill grinds on

Quite a bit going on in the Papakura Local Board area as far as transport is concerned. This is from the Papakura Local Board February Agenda:

Papakura Local Board27 February 2019

Auckland Transport Update to the Papakura Local Board – February 2019

File No.: CP2019/00015

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1.       To update the Papakura Local Board about transport related matters in its area.

Whakarāpopototanga matua –Executive summary

2.       This month’s report includes information on:

• Responses to resolutions – Takaanini Station and Parking Study
• Update on the Takaanini Park and Ride
• Update on the Papakura Park and Ride and bus expansion project
• AT quarterly reporting from October to December 2018.

3.       This report also provides an update on the Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF).

Horopaki – Context

4.       This report addresses transport-related matters in the local board area and includes information on the status of the Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF) and LBTCF projects.

5.       The LBTCF is a capital budget provided to all local boards by Auckland Council and delivered by Auckland Transport. Local boards can use this fund to deliver transport infrastructure projects that they believe are important but are not part of Auckland Transport’s work programme.

6.       Any LBTCF projects selected must be safe, must not impede network efficiency, and must be located in the road corridor or on land controlled by Auckland Transport (though projects running through parks can be considered if there is a transport outcome).

7.       Auckland Transport is responsible for all of Auckland’s transport services, excluding state highways. Auckland Transport reports on a monthly basis to local boards, as set out in the Local Board Engagement Plan. This monthly reporting commitment acknowledges the important engagement role local boards play within and on behalf of their local communities.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu – Analysis and advice

Responses to Local Board resolutions

8.       At the December 2018 Papakura Local Board meeting, the board made the two following resolutions: PPK/2018/214:

9.       Request Auckland Transport, at its own cost, install a sign or plaque at the Takaanini Station on both sides of the platform shelter, ensuring appropriate consultation is undertaken with Te Ākitai Waiohua.

10.     Auckland Transport have agreed to install a small sign/plaque as per the local board’s request. We are currently seeking advice on the wording from the relevant parties.

11.     Request Auckland Transport to agree a scope and methodology for the Parking Study with the Papakura Local Board before commencing the work.

12.     A document with the scope and methodology for the parking has been circulated. It was shared with the Papakura Commercial Group on 13 February 2019 for feedback and will be presented to the local board at a workshop on 20 February 2019.

13.     The local board feedback will be recorded at that meeting and passed back to the relevant AT team.

Takanini Station Park and Ride

14.     AT is in the process of delivering an at-grade park and ride at Takanini (Rail) Station.

15.     The park and ride will formalise the existing informal use of the area for overflow parking by commuters using the adjacent Takanini Station.

16.     Works are due to start on 19 February 2019 and expected to be completed by May 2019.

Papakura Park and Ride and bus expansion

17.     This project is included in the Auckland RLTP (2018-2028) as a funded project, with approximately $12 million allocated for the Park and Ride development in years 2018-2020. A further $6 million is identified for the bus station interchange but is currently unfunded.

18.     AT and Aurecon have completed the Single Stage Business Case (SSBC) for Papakura Rail Station Access (including park and ride, bus, walking, cycling and on-demand services). The draft report will be circulated to key stakeholders (including the local board) during the week starting 18 February 2019.

19.     Feedback and discussions with key stakeholders on the business case recommendations will be considered prior to finalising an investment proposal.   

20.     Preliminary findings from the business case were presented to the local board at a workshop on 21 November 2018.  

21.     A follow up workshop was held with the local board on 13 February 2019 to share the recommendations from the business case.

Bus Lane/T2-3 Lane Great South Road, Takanini

22.     AT is in the process of planning and delivering improved bus priority lanes throughout Auckland and in this local board area, on Great South Road, Takanini.

23.     Since the initial briefing to the local board in October 2017, this project has been revised, in part, due to local board feedback.

24.     In August, the local board formally resolved their preference for a T2-3 lane Great South Road, Takanini with the cycle lane to be removed from the road carriageway and for parking restrictions to be during peak hours only.

25.     This particular section of Great South Rd has been identified as a priority within the corridor programme, recognising the significant delays buses are currently experiencing and safety concerns. 

26.     Significant work has been completed within AT on finding an integrated solution addressing bus, cycle and safety needs along this route.

27.     The contract arrangements with the programme team are currently being finalised for initial designs, and staff are anticipating that contracts will be awarded in March/April 2019.

28.     The Integrated Corridor Team will likely be back to the local board in March or April to provide the board with an update as to where the programme is at and the priorities to be focused on.

Pararekau Road

29.     AT expects the construction of a new 3-metre-wide footpath between 17-143 Pararekau Road, Karaka to be completed by the end of February 2019.

30.     AT is also conducting an engineering investigation into the options to rehabilitate and upgrade the road pavement.

31.     At the time of writing this report, the details for the reinstatement of the road pavement were not available. This information will be provided to the local board in the March business report.

Safer Communities Project

32.     Papakura is one of three trial locations for the Safer Communities Project. This project is focused on improving road safety in local communities and promoting active modes of transport by improving pedestrian infrastructure

33.     Initial community consultation was carried out in October 2017, with feedback used to develop a priority list of projects to improve the ‘walkability’ in and around Papakura, including the town centre as a focal point.

34.     The local board was briefed on the current status of the project in a workshop on 5 December 2018. This included traffic modelling to determine various options being considered as part of this project.

35.     Consultants have been engaged to develop draft concept designs between March and July 2019. These plans will be used during the next stage of public consultation (Phase 2).

36.     The feedback from the second stage of consultation will be used to develop detailed designs for the priority areas identified.

Electronic Gating Project – Papakura train station

37.     Auckland Transport is in the process of completing the first stage of a region-wide programme to install electronic ticket gates at selected stations on the rail network including the Papakura train station.

38.     Delays in the programme have resulted in the gating at the Papakura train station now expected to be operational in the second half of 2019.

39.     At the local board meeting on 26 September 2018 the board requested a more detailed update on the cause of the continued delays to the installation of ticketing gates at the Papakura train station (PPK/2018/165).

40.     Confirmation of the timeframes will be reported back to the local board once they become available.

Residential Speed Management – Rosehill, Papakura

41.     AT is undertaking a regional programme to deliver road safety improvements on local streets to create safer environments for all road users, including pedestrians and people on bikes.

42.     The Rosehill area, bounded by Chichester Drive, Park Estate Road, Rosehill Drive, and the side streets leading off Great South Road, have been identified as one of the top priority areas in the region.

43.     Improvements will include speed-calming measures such as speed humps, raised tables (some with zebra crossings), and raised intersections.

44.     Consultation was undertaken in November 2018.

45.     The local board was briefed on the preliminary feedback from the public consultation at a workshop on 5 December 2018 with the final report yet to be published.

46.     Works on this project are expected to be completed around July 2019.

Parking on Opaheke Road and Chapel Street

47.     In mid-2018, bus layovers on Railway Street West and O’Shannessey Street were relocated to Chapel Street and Opaheke Road, to address concerns raised by local businesses and residents about safety and visual amenity within the Papakura town centre.

48.     The relocation of the bus layovers displaced a number of time-restricted car parking serving the community service providers located on the corner of Opaheke Road and Chapel Street.

49.     The local board requested AT to resolve the parking issues. AT has been working with the community services operating out of the Central Park and the council’s Parks and Places staff, to resolve the parking issues.

50.     The community service providers have asked for disability parking and additional time restricted car parking spaces for their clients.

51.     AT is currently in the process of re-designing and gaining internal approvals for the updated parking configuration on Opaheke Road and Chapel Street.

Regional projects and activities

Update on Airport Botany Rapid Transit

Consultation

52.     During November and December 2018, the Southwest Gateway (Airport to Botany Rapid Transit and 20 Connect) project teams attended nine community open days across south and east Auckland.

53.     Approximately 850 people were spoken with and around 500 written comments recorded.

54.     Engagement team included staff who spoke English, Tongan, Samoan, Maori, Chinese, Hindi and Urdu to ensure a variety of languages could be used to actively engage with the community.

55.     Some of the key themes captured in the engagement feedback were: safety, connectivity and integration of projects with other infrastructure (current and proposed future) in the southeast and southwest Auckland, and growth and development.

56.     There was also strong support for the future Rapid Transit Network route to run from Botany to the Airport. Technical work is ongoing to confirm the preferred rapid transit route alignment. 

Early Improvements to Airport Access

57.     Early improvements projects, including the proposed new Puhinui Interchange, remain closely integrated with the wider Airport to Botany Rapid Transit programme of works.

58.     Puhinui Interchange:

·        The project has progressed from concept to preliminary design, which is expected to be completed February 2019.

·        Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) tender was issued in January, with award expected in March 2019 to align with the beginning of developed design.

59.     Other early improvements:

·        Draft concept designs for proposed Puhinui Road bus lanes and Mangere Walking and Cycling Projects commenced and were also completed in December 2018.

·        Concept designs, development of cost estimates and draft Business Case to be completed first quarter of 2019.

Red Light Running

60.     AT launched an eight-week regional awareness campaign for Red Light running on 4 February 2019.

61.     In Auckland between 2013 and 2017, running red lights at signalised intersections resulted in the deaths of seven people, with 93 people seriously injured.

62.     AT is substantially increasing its investment in safety and has a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries by 60% over the next ten years. This investment, including additional safety cameras, will improve high-risk routes and intersections, creating a more forgiving and safer road network.

63.     This is relevant to the new memorandum of understanding recently signed between AT and the NZ Police for the ongoing enforcement of Auckland’s red-light safety cameras at high-risk intersections.

64.     The key objectives of the campaign are:

·        To raise awareness around the dangers of running red lights and to change behaviour to help reduce the number of deaths and serious injury crashes at signalised intersections across the Auckland region.

·        To encourage drivers to stop completely at red traffic lights, and to stop at amber traffic lights when it is safe to do so.

·        To increase driver awareness regarding the serious consequences of red-light crashes and reinforce that drivers should always stop at red lights.

·        To encourage positive behaviour strategies relating to intersection safety, such as ‘Red means stop. No exceptions.’

65.     The overall objective is to help contribute to the annual 2.6% reduction in deaths and serious injuries on the Auckland local network.

66.     AT’s Community Transport staff will be involved in the campaign, engaging with drivers at events, shopping malls and universities to raise awareness of the risk of running red lights and to promote safe road user behaviour near high risk signalised intersections. Community Transport staff will also support NZ Police to deliver an intersection enforcement programme.

67.     The target audience for the campaign is all road users in Auckland, with a primary focus on those aged between 20-39 years old, mostly in Auckland Central areas.

Source: Papakura Local Board

In short:

• Takanini Park and Ride due to open soon
• Papakura Park and Ride extension stalled due to funding issues
• Great South Road bus lanes rolled into an Auckland-wide initiative but still on their way
• Papakura Safer Communities still stalled
• Gates at Papakura Station – hmmm stalled (is there anything not stalled by Auckland Transport)
• Airport to Botany Rapid Transit Stage 1 due to be operational by December 2020. This means you can go from Papakura to the Airport in around 35 minutes including transfer time at Puhinui Station.