Request for WCC detailed Bus Priority Plan recently developed by WCC

Tony Randle made this Official Information request to Wellington City Council

The request was successful.

From: Tony Randle

Dear Wellington City Council,

The WCC, GWRC and NZTA recently released the BRT Indicative Business Case (URL: http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Transport/P...).

The Indicative Business Case (IBC) outlined its approach was as follows:
"The BRT option in the PTSS assumed complete dedication and intersection priority, such that buses could essentially move freely throughout the route without congestion. The Working Group wanted to consider some variants of this BRT solution that involved lower degrees of dedication and priority. In effect, the Working Group wanted to assess options that spanned a continuum from the PTSS BRT option to the PTSS Bus Priority option." (IBC page 26)

Further, the options developed are related to the PTSS BRT and Bus Priority options as follows:
"Our Option 5 is designed to match the PTSS BRT option, and hence we applied the PTSS BRT modelling to it. In addition, we assumed that the transport effects (e.g. journey times) of Option 1 are materially similar to the PTSS Bus Priority option (minus the Kilbirnie branch). The reference case was also assumed to be the same for both the PTSS and this analysis.

The use of the PTSS outputs for Options 1 and 5 represented the ‘bookends’ of our analysis. The transport effects of Options 2 through 4 were determined by interpolation, using methods developed in conjunction with GWRC." (IBC page 32)

IBC Option 1 is described as follows:
"Option 1 – Improved bus priority and other modes improvement
This option is based on a detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements along the Central spine and Newtown branch.

It provides for additional bus lanes between the Railway Station and Newtown, in certain locations where none currently exist. It also provides for bus signal priority at a greater number of intersections along the route, using the ‘B phase’ method.

Some of these bus lanes will only operate at certain periods, depending on inter-peak congestion levels." (IBC page 28)

Can I please have a copy of the "detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements along the Central spine and Newtown branch." ?

Can I please have a copy of the costings (operating and capital) of the "detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements along the Central spine and Newtown branch." ?

Can I please have a copy of the designs of the "detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements along the Central spine and Newtown branch." ?

Can I please have a copy any performance and capacity information (patronage, bus numbers, journey times, etc.) of the "detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements along the Central spine and Newtown branch." ?

If this information is available in electronic form, I would prefer it was provided in its complete and original electronic format. I also prefer that the substantive response and any correspondence be via the FYI web site.

Yours faithfully,

Tony Randle

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From: BUS: IRO
Wellington City Council

Thank you for your email, sent to the Issues Resolution Office at Wellington City Council.

This email address is monitored daily. Your email will be assessed and actioned in due course.

We appreciate your patience.

Wellington City Council Issues Resolution Office.

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From: Tony Randle

Dear BUS: IRO,

On 14th of August I asked the WCC for some information on the WCC Bus plan that was used as the basis for one option in the Wellington Bus Rapid Transit Indicative Business Case.

I have yet to receive any substantive response. Can the WCC please update me on the status of my request including when I may expect to receive the requested information ?

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle

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From: Chris Brown
Wellington City Council


Attachment IRO 4787 FYI Randle 01.pdf
563K Download View as HTML


Hello Mr Randle,
 
Thank you for your reminder email.
 
I apologise for not responding sooner. I was due to send you this
information on Monday 14 September, but was unfortunately on wellness
leave.
 
Please find the Council response to your request as attached.
 
Kind regards
 
Chris
Chris Brown | Issues Resolution Officer | Governance Directorate |
Wellington City Council
P 04 801 3479
E [email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz | |
IMPORTANT: The information contained in this email may be confidential or
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From: Tony Randle

Dear Chris Brown,

Today I received the DVD with a PDF of a set of plans under the "Bus Rapid Transit" Project for options to have bus lanes and cycleways which are helpful. These appear to be roading design sheets with bus lanes and cycleways for the following options (sheets in brackets):
- "Option 1 Kerb Side Bus Lanes" (1 - 8 of 11)
- "Option 1 Additional Design Options" (1-4 & 7 - 8 of 17)
- "Cambridge Terrace Cycle Lane Option 1: Raised Cycle Lane" (2)
- "Cambridge Terrace Cycle Lane Option 2: Shared Median" (2)
- "Adelaide Road - Option 1 Central Cycle Lane (no RTBs)" (5)
- "Adelaide Road - Option 2 Central Cycle Lane with RTBs" (5)
- "Adelaide Road - Option 3 Kerb Side Cycle Lane" (5)
- "Adelaide Road - Option 4 Combined Bus-Cycle Lanes" (5)
- "Hanson Street - King Street Cycle Lane Option 2 No Parking" (3)
- "Hanson Street - King Street Cycle Lane Option 3 Parking West Side" (3)
- "Hanson Street - King Street Cycle Lane Option 4 Parking Both Sides" (3)

However, I would note the following issues with the WCC substantive response:

1) This set of plans appears to be incomplete. For example, only sheets up to "8 of 17" for "Option 1 Kerb Side Bus Lanes" and up to "8 of 11" for "Option 1 Additional Design Options" are included. And where is "Hanson Street - King Street Cycle Lane Option 1" ? Can I please have all sheets associated with this work ?

2) There must be other documentation associated with this WCC work. For example:
* what documents specified that this work should be undertaken and for what purpose ?
* what document(s) specified to Calibre Consulting (who produced these roading designs) about what each option was for which these roading design sheets were produced ?
* What is the document(s) that specifies to Calibre Consulting what the "Additional Design Options" where to be added to the sheets ?
* What document(s) specified to Calibre Consulting the proposed dimensions of the larger buses ?

3) The sheets themselves have the note "Updated following WCC comments" for sheets for "Option 1 Additional Design Options". These designs have obviously been both requested and reviewed by the WCC and so copies of any support information (correspondence, meeting notes, etc.) that outline the WCC Bus Priority plans would also help understand this information.

~~~
In the end this request comes from the Wellington Bus Rapid Transit Indicative Business Case that was endorsed by the WCC Council and descibes:
"Option 1 – Improved bus priority and other modes improvement
This option is based on a detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements along the Central spine and Newtown branch."

The request asks for a copy of the "detailed possible plan recently developed by WCC, for bus priority improvements". The set of detailed plans are an unexpected but welcome set of information, but it does not seem reasonable that this is all the information held by the WCC on this option.

Can the WCC please check if there is not any further other information by way of work request, meeting notes, correspondence, etc. ?

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle

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From: Internal admin user


Attachment 282965936 WCC BRT Bus Lane Cycleway Plans Wellington NZ CBD South Feb 2015.pdf
86.7M Download View as HTML


PDF that was supplied to the requester on DVD.

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From: Tony Randle

Dear Wellington City Council,

The WCC provided a set of road plans as the sole substantive document to my request for a copy of the WCC bus plan listed as Option 1 in the 2015 BRT Indicative Business Case. On September 19, 2015 I sent a further request asking the WCC to confirm that this was the only information held and noting a range of other information that may also be held.

Can the WCC please confirm that it has received this further reply and the status of any further information that may be provided about the WCC bus plan listed as Option 1 in the 2015 BRT Indicative Business Case ?

Yours faithfully,

Tony Randle

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From: Chris Brown
Wellington City Council

Hello Mr Randle,

Thank you for your email,

The Council did receive your earlier message, and this was passed to the appropriate persons for their attention.

By way of a response, the Council's Chief Transport Planner, Steve Spence, is intending to contact you directly to discuss and explain the situation. Mr Spence has your contact details and you can expect him to be in touch with you in the near future.

Kind regards

Chris
Chris Brown | Issues Resolution Officer | Governance Directorate | Wellington City Council
P 04 801 3479
E [email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz | |

IMPORTANT: The information contained in this email may be confidential or legally privileged. It is intended solely for the recipient or recipients named in this message. Please note that if you are not the intended recipient you are not authorised to use, copy or distribute the email or any information contained in it. If you have received this email in error, please advise the sender immediately and destroy the original message and any attachments.

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From: Tony Randle

Dear Chris Brown,

On August 14th, I asked the WCC for information about Detailed Bus Priority Plan that was outlined as Option1 of the Bus Rapid Transit Indicative Business Case (Ref: https://www.fyi.org.nz/request/3047-requ...). While the WCC did provide a set of detailed roading plans, the provided information appeared to be incomplete and it also appeared that further information on this matter must be held ... points I outlined in a documented response.

The most recent response from the WCC was on the 2nd of October and stated:
"the Council's Chief Transport Planner, Steve Spence, is intending to contact you directly to discuss and explain the situation. Mr Spence has your contact details and you can expect him to be in touch with you in the near future."

I regret to highlight that Mr Spence has not contacted me as promised. Can I please have an update on when I may expect to get a further substantive response from the WCC on this information request ?

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle

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From: Chris Brown
Wellington City Council

Hello Tony,

 

Further to your conversation with Stephen Harte, I can confirm  that there
are no further documents associated with the WCC BRT Plans.

 

However, as Stephen advised, some of the pages were missing from the
information you were previously provided, as the information had been
superseded. To ensure you have the full information, I have copied the
Council’s ‘Wellington Bus Rapid Transit Lanes – Geometric Assessment –
October 2014’  in it’s entirety and will post this to you. It is too big
to PDF.

 

Kind regards

 

Chris

Chris Brown | Issues Resolution Officer | Governance Directorate |
Wellington City Council
P 04 801 3479
E [1][email address] | W [2]Wellington.govt.nz | [3]Facebook|
[4]Twitter
IMPORTANT: The information contained in this email may be confidential or
legally privileged. It is intended solely for the recipient or recipients
named in this message. Please note that if you are not the intended
recipient you are not authorised to use, copy or distribute the email or
any information contained in it. If you have received this email in error,
please advise the sender immediately and destroy the original message and
any attachments.

 

 

 

 

From: Wellington Commuter [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Tuesday, 3 November 2015 8:00 p.m.
To: Chris Brown; Stephen Harte
Subject: Re: WCC BRT Plans

 

Hi Stephen & Chris

 

Stephen Thanks for the response which is good.  One final point, can you
just add to it confirming that there are no other documents associated
with the WCC BRT Plans ?  

 

Chris, can you please post the response to the FYI web site to complete
the request ?

 

Cheers

 

Tony Randle

 

On 2 November 2015 at 16:27, Stephen Harte <[5][email address]>
wrote:

As discussed, in following up on your request for further information on
WCC’s BRT plans forwarded to you by Steve Spence, these were developed by
me and drawn up by Calibre following a workshop with officers. They were
developed to show a number of options that are largely possible within the
existing corridor. At the highest level the plans show what is possible
given a maximum turning radius of 12.5m and no changes to the built form.
The 12.5m radius was chosen because it could meet the desire for double
decker buses and about 70-80% of the articulated buses available on the
market. We also know that a 12.5m radius caters for the 13m coaches
already in service. The plans also represent consideration of access into
and out of bus stops taking into account the front and tail swing of these
vehicles and the ability of buses to pass at stops. We know that some of
the route has tight corners, especially for two way bus traffic, but these
will operate adequately if restricted to vehicles operating within a 12.5m
radius.

 

You were provided with a full set of drawings and although there were some
plan numbers  missing these were plans superseded by incremental changes
made on earlier ones covering the same option.   

 

The plans were not developed as an exhaustive range of options but merely
a set that reflects a pragmatic approach to fitting BRT into the existing
corridor while considering a range of options for the integration of
cycling.

 

Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks

 

Stephen Harte
Programme Manager:Transport Network Development | Transport Planning |
Wellington City Council
P 04 803 8084 | M 021 227 8084 | F 04 801 3036
E [6][email address] | W [7]Wellington.govt.nz | [8]Facebook|
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From: Wellington Commuter [mailto:[11][email address]]
Sent: Wednesday, 30 September 2015 5:40 p.m.
To: Stephen Harte
Subject: Re: Can you give me a brief update on the Johnsonville Roading
Project

 

Thanks Stephen

Tony

 

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From: Tony Randle

Dear Chris Brown,

Just a note to confirm I received the documented version and thank you for your efforts to provide a complete set of information in response to this request.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Randle

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