Whanganui Urban Bus Service Review Post-consultation and Options Report September 2017 CONTENTS Executive Summary 5 Purpose of this report 6 PART A: BACKGROUND AND CONSULTATION OUTCOMES 7 1. Introduction 7 1.1 Purpose of the Review 7 1.2 Review objectives 8 1.3 The Review Process 8 1.4 Report Limitations 8 2. Public Engagement 9 2.1 Communications Strategy 9 2.1.1 Survey distribution 9 2.1.2 Newspaper Advertisements 10 2.1.3 Posters and Displays 10 2.1.4 Weekend Market 11 2.1.5 Website and Social Media 12 2.1.6 Media 13 2.1.7 Radio Advertising 13 2.2 Stakeholder engagement 14 3. Public Feedback Received 14 4. Survey Respondents Profile: Overview of who provided feedback 14 5. Analysis of survey results 17 5.1 What did people not like about the current services 17 5.2 What did survey respondents like about the current services 19 5.3 What would encourage non-users to use the bus service 20 5.4 All respondents: How could the urban bus service be made better 22 5.5 Infrastructure related feedback 24 5.6 Outcomes from stakeholder meetings 24 5.6.1 Tranzit (current operator) 25 5.6.2 Whanganui District Council 25 5.6.3 Positive Ageing forum 26 5.7 Conclusion 26 PART B – OPTIONS FOR CHANGES 28 6. Potential Options for Changes or Additions to Bus Service 28 6.1 Option 1: Increased weekend services 28 6.2 Option 2: Public holiday services 31 6.3 Option 3: Increased frequency of weekday services (including later services)32 6.4 Option 4: New Bastia Hill/Durie Hill service 35 6.5 Option 5: New Castlecliff / Gonville split 36 6.6 Option 6: Variation to current Aramoho Loop 37 6.7 Option 7: New Hospital / Aramoho Loop 38 Whanganui Urban Bus Service Review – Post-Consultation and Options Report 3 September 2017 6.8 Option 8: New Putiki Loop 39 6.9 Orbiter routes 40 7 Other potential changes 40 7.1 Timetable layout 40 7.2 Bike racks 40 7.3 Route structure/direction 41 7.4 Promotions 41 7.5 Infrastructure 41 7.6 Conclusion: Options 42 PART C: RECOMMENDATIONS 43 8. Recommended options 43 9. Total cost of recommended changes 47 10. Where to from here? 49 Executive Summary The current contract for the Whanganui urban bus service is due to expire in December 2018. This review of the Whanganui urban bus service commenced following the Passenger Transport Committee meeting on 21 February 2017 where the concept of the review and establishment of an Advisory Group were confirmed. The scope of the review and public consultation strategy were confirmed at the first Advisory Group meeting on 4 May 2017. Public consultation to understand the community’s views and possible improvements occurred between 29 May and 14 July 2017. As part of the consultation strategy, surveys were distributed to over 16,431 Whanganui homes, rest homes and libraries. People also had the option of submitting their feedback online. The response rate for this review was good, with 400 responses received. and provided some valuable feedback on the current bus service. Overall it can be concluded that there was a mixed response from the survey respondents with some respondents indicating they are happy with the current services and others identifying shortfalls with the service, which they would like improved. From the survey responses and public feedback received, the following key findings have been identified: The current timetable confusing and overly complicated. Respondents also noted that access to timetable information is inadequate; Respondents would like additional weekend services; Respondents would like services on public holidays; Respondents would like to see an increased frequency in services; and Additional services in other areas is desired. These findings have been considered and cost estimates calculated for implementing the each of the potential changes. Following that, factors such as current patronage, affordability, demand and sample size (of the survey respondents) were assessed to determine what would achieve the greatest return on further investment in respect of patronage uptake and farebox revenue. Having considered these factors, the following improvements are recommended: Timetable redevelopment; Additional weekend services; Public holiday services; Increased frequency on existing services (up to an additional two services per route per day); and Route variation to the Aramoho orange loop. Whanganui Urban Bus Service Review – Post-consultation and Options Report September 2017 5 Purpose of this Report The purpose of this report is to outline the public consultation process that was undertaken for the Whanganui urban bus service review, present the findings from the consultation period and associated analysis, and propose potential options for improvements to the existing service. PART A: BACKGROUND AND CONSULTATION OUTCOMES 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the review Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) plans, funds and manages public transport services in the Region. As part of this process, Horizons is required by legislation to prepare a Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) that sets the framework for how we provide and develop public transport services and infrastructure in the Region over the next 10 years. It also sets out the public transport1 services that Horizons proposes for the Region and any policies/standards that apply to those services. The current RPTP was adopted in May 2015. The Whanganui urban bus service has been identified as a public transport ‘unit’ in the RPTP and as a service that is integral to the Region’s public transport network2. All contracted public transport services in the Region are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they operate effectively and efficiently. Minor reviews may be undertaken at any time in response to new developments or other changes3, while more in depth reviews are generally undertaken prior to seeking Council approval to retender a service. The current contract for the Whanganui urban bus service is due to expire in December 2018. Horizons are taking the opportunity presented by the contract expiry and associated retender process to review the current urban services. The review will undertake targeted consultation to inform Whanganui’s public transport system going forward, with the aim of attracting more bus users and finding operational efficiencies. The intention is that the review aligns with the following key strategic documents: Whanganui District Council Urban Transportation Strategy (WUTS); Whanganui District Council Active Transport Strategy; Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP); Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP); Passenger Transport Operating Model (PTOM); and Government Policy Statement (GPS). 1 Public transport in the Horizons Region includes bus services, the Total Mobility scheme, health shuttles and community vans. 2 Section 3.3.1, page 13 RPTP 2015-2025. 3 For example, the Ashhurst to Palmerston North trial service timetable was revised following community feedback and analysis of patronage. Whanganui Urban Bus Service Review – Post-consultation and Options Report September 2017 7 1.2 Objectives of the review This is not a ‘first principles review’ and as such the RPTP does not require a review of the Whanganui urban services. However, the contract is up for retender in 2018 and given the length of time since the last review (approximately seven years), this is a good opportunity to review the current services. It is also worth noting that a comprehensive review of Whanganui’s urban bus service was undertaken in 2010, which has contributed to this not being treated as a full scale review, rather an opportunity to see where efficiencies and improvements can be made to the service. The review has been undertaken subject to three guiding principles. These are: 1. Be value for money 2. Promote passenger growth 3. Be supported by the community 1.3 The review process The review process commenced with the establishment of an Advisory Group who confirmed the terms of reference and scope. Following that public consultation occurred over a seven-week period. Feedback from the community was analysed and options for change (or no changes) to the service will be presented to the Advisory Group for consideration, which is the foundation of this report. Following feedback from the Advisory Group, a series of recommendations will be presented to the Passenger Transport Committee for confirmation of the revised service for retender. This report provides detailed analysis of the public consultation, identification of some possible options for improvement and officers’ recommendations on which of those options are feasible to implement moving forward. The intention is that this report will assist the Advisory Group in presenting the findings of consultation and any recommended changes to the Whanganui urban bus service to the Passenger Transport Committee, which will make the final decision on any changes to be incorporated into the National Land Transport Programme and tender process. 1.4 Report limitations With any survey based report there are limitations: Survey respondents were self-selecting. Rather than targeted or strategic sampling, surveys were sent out to 16,431 Whanganui City households. Those who voluntarily responded may have done so because changes would affect them, or have an interest in public transport. This may have resulted in the survey appealing to current bus users. For this reason, this report is written in a way to identify non-user views and preferences as well as current bus user preferences. In many cases, the preferences were very similar. Data errors are present in some of the surveys where the respondent has misinterpreted the questions on the survey and has not ranked their preferences as requested. In some cases, bus users have also filled out the section targeted at non-users. Therefore, inferences about the data have been made based on the trends (and supplementary comments) rather than detailed quantitative analysis.