Te Wero Bridge Transport Assessment May 2008
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Te Wero Bridge Transport Assessment May 2008 Project: Te Wero Bridge Title: Transport Assessment Document Reference: S:\accx\059\CR140508-1 te wero.doc Prepared by: Karl Hancock Reviewed by: Ian Clark Revisions: Date Status Reference Approved by Initials 30 March 2008 Draft AR300308-1 I Clark 8 April 2008 Draft for circulation to BR080408-1 I Clark ARTA, ARC and PB 14 May 2008 Final CR140508-1 I Clark Te Wero Bridge Transport Assessment i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides a transport assessment of the proposed Te Wero Bridge. This Bridge would provide a link between Jellicoe Street, within the Wynyard Quarter, to the west, and Quay Street, on the approach to the Britomart Transport Centre, to the east. It is proposed that the Bridge would accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and scheduled buses, but not general traffic. The proposed Bridge is considered to be an essential element of the Wynyard Quarter Plan Change, which seeks to achieve the framework for quality, mixed use development on a substantial waterfront site, within the northwestern sector of the Auckland CBD. The Wynyard Quarter area is surrounded on three sides by water. Fanshawe Street is located along the southern side (i.e. the fourth side) and this is a busy route for traffic between the Northern Motorway and the CBD. It is also an important leg of the Northern Busway. The Wynyard Quarter Plan Change recognises the transport challenges affecting the accessibility of the site, and it puts forward a solution which emphasises travel by modes of travel other than the single occupancy private vehicle. This solution includes a proposal for bus services to penetrate right through the Quarter. This is facilitated by the Te Wero Bridge, which offers a through route for buses and provides a direct route between the Quarter and the Britomart Transport Centre and the reset of the Auckland CBD. The assessment is based on a scheduled bus flow of 18 vehicles per direction per hour during the weekday peak periods. It may be reasonably assumed that a flow of 12 buses per direction per hour may be experienced during the interpeak. It is also recognised that the Bridge may need to be used by emergency vehicles on occasions. The effects of the Bridge are assessed as follows: The Bridge will bring a greater proportion of the Wynyard Quarter within reach of the rest of the Auckland CBD by walking and cycling; It will facilitate excellent penetration of bus services through the Quarter; It will allow some bus services to be extended from Britomart right into the Quarter and will bring the Britomart Transport Centre within a reasonable walking distance of a greater proportion of the Quarter; It will offer an alternative transport route to/from the Quarter which will reduce the dependence of the area on a single route, namely Fanshawe Street. As a result, the provision of an alternative route which reduces the dependence of the area on access via Fanshawe Street is considered to be a major benefit in terms of the resilience of the network; The Bridge will have some minor positive and negative effects for general traffic, but the modelling assessment has demonstrated that the net effects are positive. As a result, the Te Wero Bridge as a facility for pedestrians, cyclists and buses is considered to be a vital component of the transport solution for the area. It is noted that there will be two further advantages for bus operations in routing some buses through the Wynyard Quarter: The extension of some services will reduce the pressure on layover space in the vicinity of Britomart; Te Wero Bridge Transport Assessment ii The diversion of some North Shore services will reduce pressure on bus stops along Fanshawe Street (particularly the bus stop adjacent to Victoria Park for westbound services). The economic assessment indicates that the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of the facility will be 1.0. However it is noted that this BCR under-represents the value of the facility, which will facilitate the development proposed by the Plan Change. This report has noted the intangible benefits of the project which are considered to be sufficient to justify a BCR of greater than 1. A BCR should also be prepared which reflects private contributions toward the Bridge. The concept of pursuing the Bridge as a pedestrian and cycle link only may appear to be attractive in some respects. It would appear to offer a cheaper solution and it would avoid the potentially adverse effects of buses passing through the Viaduct Harbour entertainment area. However, there are considered to be significant benefits in terms of the accessibility of the Wynyard Quarter in getting buses “right to the front door” of developments within the Quarter. Such bus access is considered to be consistent with “Transit Oriented Development” and with the aim of the Plan Change to maximise the accessibility for modes of transport other than the private car. The traffic modelling indicates that this is achievable without causing significant increases in bus travel times (for those bus passengers that will be passing right through the Quarter). This report has demonstrated that Quarter Areas 4 to 7 and part of Quarter Area 3 are only moderately well served by the existing bus stops along Fanshawe Street. This is particularly the case for persons accessing the westbound services along Fanshawe Street. These services are only served by bus stops to the south side of this busy route, and this represents a significant barrier to easy pedestrian access. At grade and grade separated pedestrian crossings of Fanshawe Street are proposed, but neither will provide the same level of access to buses as regular services running right through the Quarter. This is particularly the case on wet days, or for people that are less able to walk or do not like to walk for a variety of reasons. As a result, the provision of the Te Wero Bridge for buses as well as pedestrians and cyclists is considered to be an important part of the transport package for the Wynyard Quarter and it is consistent with the objective of maximising the accessibility of the area by modes of transport other than the private car. Te Wero Bridge Transport Assessment iii CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Policy Background ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.3.1 Regional Policy.................................................................................................................. 1 1.3.2 Local Area Policy............................................................................................................... 2 1.3.3 Committed Developments................................................................................................. 2 1.4 The Wynyard Quarter Development ........................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Land Use............................................................................................................................ 3 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS....................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Site Location and Existing Development .................................................................................... 5 2.2 Existing Transport Provision........................................................................................................ 5 2.2.1 Local Passenger Transport Network ................................................................................ 5 2.2.2 Local Walking and Cycling Network ................................................................................. 5 2.2.3 Local Parking Conditions .................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Existing Traffic Conditions........................................................................................................... 7 2.3.1 Local Road Network.......................................................................................................... 7 2.3.2 Road network surrounding the proposed Te Wero Bridge .............................................. 8 2.4 Accident Analysis......................................................................................................................... 9 2.4.1 Halsey Street and Jellicoe Street...................................................................................... 9 2.4.2 Quay Street and Lower Hobson Street............................................................................. 9 3 PROPOSED BRIDGE .......................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Bridge Specifications ................................................................................................................. 10 3.2 Location...................................................................................................................................... 10 3.3 Proposed Cross Section...........................................................................................................