Passenger Transport Committee 06 May 2014

Report No. 14-71 Decision Required

PALMERSTON NORTH BUS SERVICES REVIEW PHASE TWO REPORT

1. PURPOSE 1.1. To approve the Palmerston North Bus Services Review Phase Two report.

2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 14-71; b. notes that public consultation seeking feedback on the three options identified in the Phase Two report will be undertaken in June and July 2014; c. notes that a final report identifying the preferred option will be brought to the Passenger Transport Committee in November 2014; d. notes that implementation of the preferred option will be subject to future Council Long Term Plan processes.

3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. No financial impact as a result of this report.

4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. After the Committee has approved the Phase Two report, the next stage of the review will involve public consultation on the options developed by the working group. A detailed communications plan is currently under development.

5. BACKGROUND 5.1. The review of Palmerston North bus services has been divided into three phases. Phase One (information gathering) included seeking public feedback on what the “ideal” network arrangement would be, analyzing the results of previous surveys, submissions and reviews, as well as looking at features of other networks. The Phase One report was presented to the Passenger Transport Committee in August 2013 and is available at http://www.horizons.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Events/Passenger_Transport_Committee_Me eting_/2013-08-20_100000/13-156-Annex-A.pdf. 5.2. Phase Two of the review (stakeholder consultation and development of options) commenced in September 2013 and focuses on formulating a number of network options for further public consultation. Options have been developed by a working group made up of representatives from key organisations such as Palmerston North City Council, Massey University, Universal College of Learning (UCOL), the New Zealand Transport Agency, public transport operators and user representatives. 5.3. Phase Three (selection of the preferred option) will focus on presenting options to the public for further feedback. The information presented will include details on route structures and frequency, potential costs and funding options. Following public consultation, it is expected that the Passenger Transport Committee will select the preferred option in November 2014.

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Passenger Transport Committee 06 May 2014 6. OPTIONS DEVELOPED 6.1. The working group has developed three options for consideration. A summary of the options developed is shown below, with the full report attached at Annex A.

Option One

6.2. This option sees no change to the current structure of services and routes, and instead focuses on improvements to frequency and operating hours. Network operating hours are:  Peak services are from 6.20am to 9.00am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm Monday to Friday;  Off-peak services are from 9.00am to 3.00pm and 6.00pm to 7.40pm Monday to Friday;  Late night services operate Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8.00pm to 11.00pm (hourly frequency);  Weekend services operate 8.00am to 5.30pm. 6.3. The proposed frequency under Option One is a doubling of the current services from every 20 minutes to every 10 minutes at peak times. Off peak services would increase to 20 minutes and weekend services would increase to every 40 minutes (Saturday) and 60 minutes (Sunday). Weekday services would be extended to 7.40pm from the current 6.00pm last service. 6.4. All services to Massey University would remain unchanged under Option One.

Route Peak frequency Off-peak Weekend Late night frequency frequency frequency Urban 10 minute 20 minutes Saturday – 40 60 minute (8pm minute – 11pm), Thursday to Sunday – 60 minute Saturday only Massey No change No change No change No change

Option Two

6.5. This option is a complete new network structure with all new services. The new routes introduced under this option are:  13 simple direct routes radiating from the city centre with two way core and a one way “loop” at the outer point of each route (“lollipop” routes); .  An outer city “orbiter” loop which covers major traffic generators such as local high schools and intermediates, the Airport, Hospital and Massey University;  A route running from Palmerston North Hospital to Massey University via the city centre which forms the core of services to Massey University (HCM route);  A Massey shuttle loop service to support the base Massey University services. This runs from the city centre to the Massey Turitea Campus via the Hokowhitu Campus and the International Pacific College;  A direct route from Ashhurst to the city centre;  A direct route from Longburn to the city centre.

6.6. Network operating hours are:  Lollipop peak services are from 6.20am to 9.00am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm Monday to Friday;

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Passenger Transport Committee 06 May 2014  Lollipop off-peak services are from 9.00am to 3.00pm and 6.00pm to 7.40pm Monday to Friday;  Lollipop weekend services operate 8.00am to 6.00pm;  The orbiter route operates 6.20am to 7.40pm weekdays and 8.00am to 6.00pm weekends;  The HCM route operates from 6.30am and 9.40pm;  Late night services operate on the lollipop and orbiter routes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8.00pm to 11.00pm (hourly frequency);  Services from Ashhurst and Longburn operate between 7.20am and 5.40pm (Ashhurst) and 8.00am and 4.10pm (Longburn)1

6.7. Two options for frequency for the lollipop routes have been developed:  Option 2A: Lollipop routes would operate every 10 minutes at peak, 20 minutes at off-peak and every 40 minutes Saturday and 60 minutes Sunday.  Option 2B: Lollipop routes would operate every 20 minutes at peak, 40 minutes at off-peak and every 60 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. 6.8. The orbiter route operates with buses running in each direction (clockwise and anti- clockwise) at a frequency of 20 minutes during the off peak weekday period with peak frequency increasing to 15 minutes. Weekend services operate every 30 minutes. 6.9. The HCM route would operate at a frequency of 15 minutes all day during weekdays and 30 minutes during weekends. To cater for increased demand to Massey during peak times, additional peak services between the city centre and Massey are provided, taking the overall peak Massey service frequency to five minutes. 6.10. Services from Ashhurst and Longburn would operate to the timetable shown below:

Depart Ashhurst Arrive Main Street Depart Main Arrive Ashhurst Street 7.20am 7.40am 8.20am 8.45am 9.10am 9.30am 10.55am 11.10am 11.10am 11.30am 12.55pm 1.10pm 1.10pm 1.30pm 2.55pm 3.10pm 3.10pm 3.35pm 4.10pm 4.25pm 4.25pm 4.45pm 5.05pm 5.25pm 5.25pm 5.40pm 5.40pm 5.55pm *Highlighted services include a diversion through the Fernlea Avenue area to Whakarongo School.

1 Services to and from Longburn are supported by the Levin to Palmerston North commuter service which departs Longburn for the city at 7.25am and returns from Palmerston North at 5.20pm.

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Depart Main Arrive Longburn Depart Longburn Arrive Main Street Street 7.25am 7.35am 7.45am 8.00am 8.00am 8.20am 9.35am 9.50am 9.50am 10.10am 11.35am 11.50am 11.50am 12.10pm 1.35pm 1.50pm 1.50pm 2.10pm 3.35pm 3.50pm 3.50pm 4.10pm 5.25pm 5.35pm *Highlighted services are the Levin to Palmerston North commuter service which currently stops in Longburn if required

6.11. The table below summarises Option Two.

Route Peak Off-peak Weekend Late night frequency frequency frequency frequency Lollipop 2A: 10 minute 2A: 20 minute 2A: Saturday, 40 60 minute (8pm – minute; Sunday 60 11pm), Thursday 2B: 20 minute 2B: 40 minute minute to Saturday only 2B: Saturday and Sunday 60 minute Hospital- 15 minute 15 minute 30 minute - City-Massey (City-Massey: (HCM) 5 minute) Orbiter 15 minute 20 minute 30 minute 60 minute (8pm – 11pm), Thursday to Saturday only Massey 30 minute 60 minute - - shuttle Ashhurst – Varied 120 minute - - City Longburn – Varied 120 minute - - City

Option Three 6.12. This option provides a further alternative approach to the current network through provision of a number of intersecting north-south and east-west routes. This option relies on passengers transferring between services. Generally only one transfer will be required to get from one location to another. However, many more transfers will be required compared to the current network. 6.13. Two high frequency lines form the core of this network, one north-south and one east-west, supported by 18 other linear routes. The Ashhurst to city and Longburn to city routes are also included in this option.

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Passenger Transport Committee 06 May 2014 6.14. Operating hours are:  Peak services are from 6.20am to 9.00am and 3.00pm to 6.00pm Monday to Friday;  Off-peak services are from 9.00am to 3.00pm and 6.00pm to 7.40pm Monday to Friday;  Late night services operate Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8.00pm to 11.00pm;  Weekend services operate 8.00am to 6.00pm;  Services from Ashhurst and Longburn operate between 7.20am and 5.40pm (Ashhurst) and 8.00am and 4.10pm (Longburn)2. 6.15. Two frequency options have been developed:  Option 3A - High frequency routes operate every five minutes all weekdays and 10 minutes on weekends. All other routes operate every 15 minutes all weekdays and 20 minutes during weekends. Late night Thursday, Friday and Saturday services operate every 10 minutes (high frequency) and 20 minutes (other routes);

 Option 3B – High frequency routes operate every five minutes all weekdays and 10 minutes on weekends. All other routes operate every 10 minutes all weekday and 15 minutes on weekends. Late night Thursday, Friday and Saturday services operate every 10 minutes (high frequency) and 15 minutes (other routes).

Services from Ashhurst and Longburn would operate to the timetable shown below:

2 Services to and from Longburn are supported by the Levin to Palmerston North commuter service which departs Longburn for the city at 7.25am and returns from Palmerston North at 5.20pm.

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Option Route Peak Off-peak Weekend Late night frequency frequency frequency frequency High 5 minute 5 minute 10 minute 10 minute (8pm frequency – 11pm),

Thursday to Saturday only Other routes 15 minute 15 minute 20 minute 20 minute (8pm – 11pm),

3A Thursday to Saturday only Ashhurst – Varied 120 minute - - City Longburn – Varied 120 minute - - City High 5 minute 10 minute 10 minute 10 minute (8pm frequency – 11pm), Thursday to Saturday only Other routes 10 minute 15 minute 15 minute 15 minute (8pm – 11pm), 3B Thursday to Saturday only Ashhurst – Varied 120 minute - - City Longburn – Varied 120 minute - - City

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Passenger Transport Committee 06 May 2014 7. DISCUSSION 7.1. Each of the proposed options responds to public feedback in different ways and there are advantages and disadvantages to each proposal. This is discussed in greater detail in sections five and nine of the attached report. 7.2. Three guiding principles have been developed to assist in the review. These are that the network must be:  Value for money;  Promote passenger growth – the network should provide capacity for future growth and be sufficiently attractive to encourage new passengers;  Be supported by the community (users of the service as well as the general public). Traffic Design Group (TDG) has peer-reviewed the proposals developed by the working group and has assessed options against a further two criteria:  Good practice;  Responsive to feedback. 7.3. A summary of TDG’s evaluation is shown in the table below. Full detail of their evaluation is provided in section nine of the attached report.

Option Good Responsive Value for Promotes Community practice to feedback money passenger support growth Option 1 Low Low Medium Medium Medium Option 2 High Medium Medium High Medium Option 3 Low Low Low Medium Low 7.4. The working group has recommended Option Two as the preferred option. The group considers this option to respond best to the early feedback given regarding desirable attributes of a public transport system for the city, while promoting passenger growth. 7.5. While the working group recommends Option Two, there is a high level of public interest in the review and options developed, therefore all three options will be included in the information presented to the public for feedback.

8. NEXT STEPS 8.1. Phase Three of the review focuses on seeking public feedback on the preferred option and further refinement of options and costs. Public consultation on the preferred proposal will include detail on route structures, frequencies, potential costs and funding options. 8.2. Following public consultation on the options developed, a final report recommending a preferred option will be prepared. This will be presented to the Passenger Transport Committee in November 2014, which can then recommend adoption of the report to Council. 8.3. Horizons is required to prepare a new Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) by 30 June 2015, which identifies the essential services to be provided in the region, future services/improvements and the policies that will apply. The results of this review will inform development of the RPTP so that the future services are well outlined. 8.4. Implementation of the preferred option will be subject to future Long-term Plan processes.

9. SIGNIFICANCE 9.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance.

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Passenger Transport Committee 06 May 2014 Kelly Curry Ged Shirley SENIOR TRANSPORT PLANNER GROUP MANAGER REGIONAL SERVICES & INFORMATION

ANNEXES A Palmerston North Bus Review Phase Two Report

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