BEFORE A BOARD OF INQUIRY PEKA PEKA TO NORTH ŌTAKI EXPRESSWAY PROJECT In the matter of the Resource Management Act 1991 And In the matter of a notice of requirement and resource consent applications by the NZ Transport Agency for the Peka Peka to North Ōtaki Expressway Project And In the matter of a notice of requirement by New Zealand Railways Corporation / KiwiRail Holdings Limited (trading as KiwiRail) for the realignment of a section of the North Island Main Trunk railway line through Ōtaki STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE OF DAVID DUNLOP (TRANSPORTATION) ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANTS 12 July 2013 Barristers and Solicitors Wellington Solicitors Acting: Paul Beverley / David Randal Email: [email protected] Tel 64-4-499 4242 Fax 64-4-499 4141 PO Box 2694 DX SP20201 Wellington 6140 TABLE OF CONTENTS QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.................................................................... 2 BACKGROUND AND ROLE ..................................................................................... 3 SCOPE OF EVIDENCE ............................................................................................ 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................... 5 EXISTING TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENT .................................................... 8 PROJECT FORM AND ALIGNMENT ..................................................................... 14 TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENT AND MODELLING METHODOLOGY........... 15 OPERATIONAL EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT ...................................................... 20 TRANSPORT EFFECTS DURING CONSTRUCTION ............................................ 31 ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT AGAINST RELEVANT TRANSPORT STRATEGIES AND POLICIES, AND THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ..................... 35 RESPONSE TO SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................ 43 CONCLUSION........................................................................................................ 48 ANNEXURE A – PROPOSED DISTRICT PLAN TRANSPORT NETWORK HIERARCHY .......................................................................................................... 50 ANNEXURE B – PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK .............................................. 51 ANNEXURE C – ADDITIONAL SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT INFORMATION ...... 52 Page 1 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 1. My name is David James Dunlop. 2. I am a Principal Transport Planner, the Transportation Work Group Manager and a Partner at Opus International Consultants in Wellington. 3. I have the following qualifications and experience relevant to the evidence I shall give: (a) MSc in Planning Studies (focusing on Transportation), Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom (1996/97); and (b) Bachelor of Resource & Environmental Planning, Massey University in New Zealand (1992/95). 4. I have 15 years of experience in the planning, assessment and design of transportation projects in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, working for a wide range of central government organisations, local and regional authorities, and private developers, both as an employee and a consultant. 5. I have provided advice on transportation matters to the NZ Transport Agency ("NZTA"), a number of local authorities and private developers, in respect of various proposed developments. I have provided expert transportation evidence to the Environment Court, including for the Kāpiti Coast District Council ("KCDC") in relation to the Paraparaumu Airport Plan Change 82. 6. I have also been involved in a number of significant projects within the Wellington Region: (a) Kāpiti Traffic Model ("KTM")-SATURN project assessment and modelling, 2006- 2010; (b) Western Link Road Scheme Assessment and Detail Design 2007-2009; (c) Northern Wellington Roads of National Significance ("RoNS") Business Case, 2009 and 2013 update; (d) Transmission Gully Scheme Assessment and Economic Evaluation, 2008-2012; (e) Basin Reserve Transport Improvements 2008-2013; and (f) Wellington Transport Strategy Model ("WTSM") and Wellington Public Transport Model 2011 update and model build, 2011-2012. 7. I am a member of a number of relevant associations including: (a) Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport; and (b) Affiliate Member of the IPENZ Transportation Group. 8. I confirm that I have read the 'Code of Conduct' for expert witnesses contained in the Environment Court Practice Note 2011. My evidence has been prepared in Page 2 compliance with that Code. In particular, unless I state otherwise, this evidence is within my sphere of expertise and I have not omitted to consider material facts known to me that might alter or detract from the opinions I express. BACKGROUND AND ROLE 9. My evidence is given in relation to the notices of requirement and resource consent applications lodged by the NZTA and KiwiRail for the Peka Peka to North Ōtaki Expressway (the "Expressway") and North Island Main Trunk ("NIMT") Railway realignment (together, the "Project"). 10. I have been involved in the Project for the last three years in the capacity of Deputy Team Leader, Transportation Lead and Transportation Specialist. Prior to the decision on the preferred scheme for the Project, I was involved in the following pieces of work directly related to the Project area: (a) Ōtaki Parking and Traffic Study, 2009; (b) Ōtaki South Riverside Development Transport Review for NZTA, 2008-2009; (c) State Highway 1 Kāpiti Strategy Study Technical Report, 2009; (d) Peka Peka to Ōtaki Scoping Study, 2011; and (e) Peka Peka to Ōtaki Scheme Assessment Addendum and supporting Draft Transportation Assessment, 2012. 11. In preparing my evidence I have: (a) undertaken numerous site visits throughout different phases of the Project, and have a detailed understanding of the Project area; (b) prepared and managed the assessment of options and transport solutions for the Project; (c) attended public engagement, community open days, community board meetings and meetings with KCDC and Greater Wellington Regional Council ("GWRC"); and (d) been involved in specialist workshops and expert meetings as appropriate. 12. As part of the Scheme Assessment phase of the Project I was involved in the consideration of alternative Expressway alignments, which included the alternatives assessment managed by Ms Sylvia Allan, and analysis of alternative intersection forms, access arrangements, connections, and facilities under the management of Mr Tony Coulman. This work involved transportation assessment, transport modelling, option evaluation, design and reporting. 13. I lead the team that assessed and prepared Technical Report 6: Integrated Transport Assessment dated January 2013 (the "Integrated Transport Assessment") in volume 3 of the Assessment of Environmental Effects Report ("AEE"). Page 3 14. In preparing my evidence I have relied on the evidence of Mr Coulman (design and consultation), and Mr Derek Holmes (construction methodology), and the technical reports relating to the Design Philosophy Statement (Technical Report 1) and the Construction Methodology Report (Technical Report 5). 15. In the developing my evidence I have worked with Mr Coulman, Mr Holmes, Dr Stephen Chiles (noise), Mr Andrew Curtis (air quality), Mr Mike Copeland (economics), Ms Wendy Turvey (social effects), and Mr Bruce Curtain (urban design). My team also prepared the draft Construction Traffic Management Plan ("CTMP") and I have provided inputs into the draft Construction Environmental Management Plan ("CEMP") and the indicative draft Site-Specific Environmental Management Plans ("SSEMP"). I also advised on the proposed designation conditions, attached to the evidence of Ms Rebecca Beals. SCOPE OF EVIDENCE 16. My evidence addresses the following matters: (a) the existing transportation environment; (b) Project form and alignment; (c) transportation assessment and modelling methodology; (d) operational effects of the Project (including mitigation), encompassing: (i) traffic reassignment; (ii) travel time forecasts; (iii) travel time reliability; (iv) Expressway and local traffic connectivity; (v) route security and resilience; (vi) road safety; (vii) public transport users; (viii) pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians; and (ix) property access; (e) temporary transportation effects during construction (including mitigation); (f) assessment of the Project against relevant transport strategies and policies; (g) assessment of the Project against the Project objectives; (h) a response to submissions; and (i) conclusions. Page 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background 17. The Expressway is one of eight sections of the Wellington Northern Corridor RoNS, which forms part of the Government's package of RoNS proposals. RoNS are part of the Government's strategy to unlock economic growth potential. Investment in the RoNS is expected to significantly improve access within and through New Zealand's largest cities and improve critical parts of our national freight and tourism routes. The Wellington Northern Corridor RoNS will improve journey times between Levin and Wellington Airport. 18. This Project aims to: (a) enhance inter-regional and national economic growth and productivity; (b) enhance efficiency and journey time reliability between and through Kāpiti district; (c) enhance safety of travel on SH1; (d) appropriately balance the competing functional requirements of inter-regional and local traffic movements; and (e) facilitate others to provide modal choice opportunities. 19. The Project follows