2021-2031 Otago Regional Public Transport Plan ORC RPTP 1 Contents Glossary Of Terms 4 Foreword 5 Executive Summary 8 Overview 9 Progress Since The Last Plan 9 The Challenges We Are Facing 9 Our Vision For Public Transport 10 Achieving This Vision 12 Next Steps 12 Acknowledgements 12 1.0 Background 13 1.1 Introduction 14 1.2 Statutory Requirements 14 1.3 Reviewing the RPTP 14 1.4 Developing this RPTP 14 2.0 Context 15 2.1 Regional Overview 16 2.2 Strategic Drivers 16 2.2.1 Network Coverage 16 2.2.2 Population Growth 18 2.2.3 Tourism Growth - Queenstown and Wanaka Growth 19 2.2.4 Covid-19 Impacts 19 2.2.5 Growth Implications for Public Transport 20 2.3 Policy direction 20 2.3.1 Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) 2021-31 20 2.3.2 Otago Southland Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2021-31 21 2.4 Funding Sources 21 2.5 Key challenges 21 2.5.1 Reducing Environmental Impact 22 2.5.2 Increasing Public Transport Access 22 2.5.3 Increasing Attractiveness 23 2.5.4 Reducing Network Pressure 24 2.5.5 Affordability and Funding 25 2.6 Our Opportunities 25 2.6.1 Regional 25 2.6.2 Dunedin Network 29 2.6.3 Wakatipu Network 31 3.0 Our Network And Recent Developments 33 3.1 Public Transport Units 34 3.2 Dunedin Public Transport Network 34 3.3 Wakatipu Public Transport Network 36 3.4 Fare structure 38 3.5 Total mobility 39 3.6 Rail and ferry 39 3.6.1 Rail 39 3.6.2 Ferry 39 ORC RPTP 2 4.0 What We Want To Achieve 40 4.1 Vision 41 4.2 Objectives 41 4.3 Focus Areas 42 4.4 Desired Outcomes 43 5.0 How We Will Get There - Our Policies 44 5.1 Carbon Reduction 45 5.1.1 Vehicle Quality Standards 45 5.1.2 Zero-Emission Vehicles 45 5.1.3 Sustainable Approaches to Physical Infrastructure 46 5.2 Integrated Network 46 5.2.1 Network Form and Function 46 5.2.2 Service Levels (Dunedin and Wakatipu Networks) 47 5.2.3 Regional Connectivity 49 5.2.4 Integration with Land Use and New Development 49 5.2.5 Infrastructure and Service Delivery 50 5.2.6 Multi-modal Access 50 5.2.7 Considering the Needs of the Transport Disadvantaged 51 5.2.8 Park-and-ride 52 5.3 Adaptable and Resilient 53 5.3.1 Collaborative Partnerships 53 5.3.2 Specialist and Trial Services 54 5.3.3 Technology and Innovation 54 5.3.4 Events 54 5.4 High-quality, Accessible, and Safe 55 5.4.1 Physical Infrastructure 55 5.4.2 Service Reliability 56 5.4.3 Vehicle Capacity 57 5.4.4 Customer Standards 58 5.4.5 Customer Information 59 5.4.6 Customer Engagement 59 5.4.7 Branding and Marketing 60 5.4.8 Customer Service 60 5.4.9 Ticketing System 61 5.5 Affordable 61 5.5.1 Fare Structure 61 5.5.2 Setting and Reviewing Fares 62 5.5.3 Fare Concessions 62 5.5.4 Farebox Recovery 63 5.5.5 Funding Opportunities 63 6.0 Procurement And Monitoring 64 6.1 Procurement 65 6.2 Monitoring and Review 66 6.2.1 Performance Monitoring 66 6.2.2 Unit Monitoring 66 6.2.3 Reviewing the RPTP 67 6.2.4 Implementation Plan and Short-term Priorities 67 6.3 Significance Policy 68 6.3.1 Assessing Significance for Consultation Purposes 68 7.0 Appendices 69 7.1 Appendix A – Strategic Context 70 7.1.1 National Context 70 7.1.2 Regional Policy Context 72 7.2 Appendix B – Public Transport Services Integral to the Network 73 ORC RPTP 3 Glossary of Terms Term Description Services that operate with flexible routes and schedules that respond to specific Demand responsive service passenger needs Farebox recovery The proportion of total operating costs that are recovered from users GPS Government Policy Statement on Land Transport LTMA Land Transport Management Act 2003 NLTF National Land Transport Fund NLTP National Land Transport Programme Off-peak Weekdays 9:00 am until 3:00 pm, weekends and public holidays Operators Companies that are contracted by ORC to provide public transport services ORC Otago Regional Council A facility that allows people to securely leave their personal vehicle (i.e., car, Park-and-ride motorbike, cycle) to use a public transport service Peak Weekdays before 9:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm PTOM Public Transport Operating Model RLTP Regional Land Transport Plan RPS Regional Policy Statement RPTP Regional Public Transport Plan (the Plan) TAs Territorial authorities (City and District Councils) Subsidised transport for those with impaired mobility who have difficulty with, or Total Mobility are unable to use, scheduled public transport services Residents who have limited or no access to basic economic, social, and Transport disadvantaged community services such as employment, health care, shopping etc All services that are integral to the region’s public transport network are grouped Unit into units Waka Kotahi Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency ORC RPTP 4 Foreword Introduction Statutory Requirements Reviewing the RPTP Developing this RPTP ORC RPTP 5 Foreword Welcome to Otago Regional Council’s draft Currently, public transport services are only Regional Public Transport Plan for 2021-31, our available in Dunedin and the Wakatipu Basin. strategic document that guides the planning The Total Mobility Scheme, supporting those and delivery of public transport services and who are unable to catch public transport or drive infrastructure in the Otago region. We are for specific reasons, is limited to the four centres pleased to share this draft for your feedback. with the highest populations: Dunedin, Oamaru, There have been major changes to our economic, Queenstown and Wānaka. This leaves many social and environmental landscape since the of Otago’s residents without access to last Regional Public Transport Plan was written public transport. in 2014. At the same time, we have made some Around 30% of Otago’s population is aged under significant improvements to public transport over 14 years old or 65 years old and over. A large the last seven years, including an overhaul of the proportion of these people are unable to drive timetable, new routes in Dunedin and the launch for reasons other than being ineligible for a of the $2 Orbus service in Queenstown. driver’s licence, including affordability We also opened the Dunedin Bus Hub, have put an and mobility impairment. increased focus on community engagement and For some people in our community there is a responsiveness, and improved the Total Mobility growing movement to actively choose public service providing subsidised travel to people transport as a more sustainable way of living. with disabilities. We need to prepare for growth and cater to a In just the last year, we launched the Bee Card (a greater reliance on public transport. Significant tag on tag off bus card that gives bus passengers investment by government has enabled the cheaper fares in nine regions around New Zealand, travel planning partnership of the Otago Regional including Otago), implemented the interim $2 Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council fare in Dunedin, and we worked closely with and Waka Kotahi (previously the NZ Transport our operators to run free buses during the Agency) to forge ahead with a number of business disruption of COVID-19. cases that will re-shape Queenstown with a more While acknowledging all we have achieved, we integrated, smarter way to get around. Similarly, must keep momentum up. National policy around in Dunedin, a number of travel projects are being carbon emissions, a devastating global pandemic considered in our draft long-term Plan and the and, locally, population growth and changes to Dunedin City Council’s draft long-term Plan. our economy impact the way we plan public Nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed transport in Otago. the way we look at public transport. While we were Our government, through the Climate Change in Alert Level 4 and Level 3 lockdown, it became Response Amendment Act and the Climate Change clear how important buses and bus drivers are to Commission report has committed to reducing keeping essential workers moving around. New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions to net While the pandemic caused a temporary drop in zero by 2050. Increasing public transport share patronage, particularly in Queenstown, free travel and with sustainable fleet options supports this encouraged people to try the bus for the first goal as it contributes to carbon reduction, while time. When we went back to charging fares with improving air quality. the launch of our smart travel bus card, the Bee But our Plan is not only about congestion and the Card, our passengers in Dunedin and Queenstown air we breathe. Public transport is at the heart embraced the new system. of a healthy community, connecting people with This is where we are focusing our efforts: each other and giving them the choice to travel • Continuing to improve the customer experience independently to visit family and friends, to get to work and school, to have access to medical care • As that is ultimately what will get more people and to study, amongst other things. catching the bus. That can be challenging in a region as large as Our draft vision for inclusive, accessible, Otago, with such a dispersed population. Key innovative public transport that connects Otago facilities, such as the Dunedin Hospital and and contributes positively to our community, University of Otago, are geographically remote for environment, and economy will guide these efforts.