Greater Wellington News

Otaki bus changes from 5 June

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:05:00 +1200

From Tuesday 5 June 2012 Otaki residents will have a direct service each weekday to and from Coastlands and new Sunday bus services between Otaki and Waikanae.

The changes are the result of a review of public transport services in Otaki, Peka Peka and Te Horo after the extension of the commuter rail line to Waikanae.

Peter Glensor, Chair of Greater Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Committee, which oversees public transport, says the changes were based on feedback people gave late last year on timetable options.

“From the 117 responses we received, the clear preference was for a direct service to and from Coastlands and some bus services on both days of the weekend. Currently there are only services on Saturdays.

“Because our funds are limited, the changes had to be made within existing budgets so some poorly used early morning services have been removed to enable the new services to be run. From 5 June the first weekday service from Otaki will be at 6.45am and the first from Waikanae to Otaki will be 7.25am.”

The direct service to Coastlands will leave from Otaki at 9.15am each weekday and arrive in Coastlands around 10am. It will leave Coastlands at 12.15pm.

At weekends, starting from Saturday 9 June, there will be four services every Saturday and Sunday, two from Otaki and two from Waikanae. The first service from Otaki will be at 8.45am and the first from Waikanae will be at 12.20pm.

Cr Glensor says services on most of the Otaki route, apart from State Highway 1, will be hail and ride. “This means that if you see the bus coming but you’re not at a stop, you can wave out to the driver and the bus will pick you up. This will make it easier and less stressful for people who may have been delayed or lost track of time – they won’t have to hurry to the bus stop, they can just catch it from wherever they are.”

Copies of the new timetable will be available soon on the Metlink website, www.metlink.org.nz or from local Metlink timetable stockists.

From Tuesday 5 June 2012 Otaki residents will have a direct service each weekday to and from Coastlands and new Sunday bus services between Otaki and Waikanae.

The changes are the result of a review of public transport services in Otaki, Peka Peka and Te Horo after the extension of the commuter rail line to Waikanae.

Peter Glensor, Chair of Greater Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Committee, which oversees public transport, says the changes were based on feedback people gave late last year on timetable options.

The direct service to Coastlands will leave from Otaki at 9.15am each weekday and arrive in Coastlands around 10am. It will leave Coastlands at 12.15pm.

Copies of the new timetable will be available soon at Metlink or from local Metlink timetable stockists.

For more information contact our media team.

Wellington Local Government Review Panel announced

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:38:00 +1200

Porirua City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council today announced the membership of a Review Panel appointed to recommend a possible new structure for local government in the Wellington region, and also released the agreed terms of reference for that Panel.

Mayor Nick Leggett from Porirua City and Chair Fran Wilde from Greater Wellington said that the day’s decisions made by both councils were an important part of starting what will be significant discussions with the Wellington region’s communities about local government arrangements.

“This process is not just about structures, although a recommendation from the Panel about a preferred structure will be an outcome,” Nick Leggett said.

“More important is the opportunity for community engagement that this Panel will unlock. The Panel, and indeed both Councils, will be very interested in the discussion that is generated. Community preferences and concerns are important and need to be identified and carefully considered,” he said.

The four person panel is The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Ms Sue Driver, Sir Wira Gardiner, and Mr Bryan Jackson.

Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer

Sir Geoffrey Palmer is the Panel’s Chairperson. He has had a wide range of roles in law, diplomacy and the public sector. As well as serving as Prime Minister, he has chaired many panels, advisory committees and commissions, both here and overseas. He has wide experience of public sector issues, including constitutional and resource management law.

Sue Driver

Sue Driver brings considerable experience in local government as both a former city and regional councillor. She has extensive connections to the Wellington region’s community and NGO sector and is an experienced RMA Commissioner.

Sir Wira Gardiner

Sir Wira Gardiner (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Whakatohea and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) has held many public and private sector roles. He brings an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and other matters of relevance to the region’s Māori, as well as knowledge of issues related to emergency management, education and a range of social policy areas.

Bryan Jackson

Bryan Jackson is a company director and business person. He is currently a director on the board of the New Zealand Transport Agency and was a director of KiwiRail. He is also on the boards of a number of private companies and was a previous Chairman of Capacity Infrastructure Services, a Council Controlled Organisation owned by Wellington City Council and Hutt City Council.

“We have been fortunate to secure the services of four outstandingly well qualified New Zealanders, all of whom are passionate about the Wellington region and understand the importance of local government,” Fran Wilde said.

“Terms of reference have now been agreed by Porirua City and Greater Wellington Regional Councils. They are designed to let the Panel fully explore all issues that our communities present to them. We have asked Panel members to undertake a public engagement process that will allow individuals and groups to express their views, and they have been given freedom to do that as they see best.

“The Panel will be able to look at anything they think is important, but we have nominated a number of areas that we want them to consider in coming to their conclusions. One key issue we want explored is how communities and neighbourhoods can make decisions on local issues and how we can achieve meaningful citizen engagement on region-wide issues.

“These issues go to the heart of our democracy and the Panel process will enable Wellingtonians to discuss them in a safe and unbiased environment,” Fran Wilde said.

The panel has till the end of October to deliver the two councils a report recommending what they conclude is an appropriate set of organisational arrangements for local government in the region.

The report could then use as the basis of a submission to the Local Government Commission.

For more information, please contact our media team.

Wellington region review panel terms of reference announced

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:49:00 +1200

Draft Terms of Reference have been released for the Independent Panel on Local Government in the Wellington region.

Porirua City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council are jointly setting up the Panel which is to assess possible local government options for the region and identify an optimal approach, which may or may not include structural and/or functional changes.

The Terms of Reference will be before the two Councils on Wednesday 23 May for final approval and membership of the Panel will also be agreed then.

Although the panel will be able to consider whatever it wants, the Terms of Reference include 16 items that the Panel will need to explicitly consider in coming to its conclusions.

Mayor Nick Leggett and Chair Fran Wilde said that their councils wanted to see an outcome that would enhance both neighbourhood decision making and public engagement in wider regional policy decisions.

“The Terms of Reference reflect the importance of community democracy and we anticipate that, whatever the outcome of the exercise, local government in the region will gain some valuable ideas about enhancing citizen engagement,” they said.

“We will also be asking the Panel to consider a number of other issues, ranging from the impact of demographic changes through to achieving more integrated planning and improving alignment of local government with central government, the private sector and the community sector.”

The Panel will be required to undertake a process of public engagement that will encourage individuals and groups to express their views.

The Panel will be supported by Reference Groups and Technical Working Groups, which will be set up in consultation with the Panel.

Fran Wilde said that the fundamental concept underlying the Terms of Reference was the “clean page” approach.

“The Panel is being invited to move round the region and identify issues of concern, then formulate an approach to local government arrangements that will provide the best outcome for the region as a whole,” she said.

“Importantly, they are not being told to at look at any particular structure and, indeed, we would expect any recommendations on structural change would emerge from their investigations of issues.”

Nick Leggett said that although the Government had made it clear that status quo was not an option for local government, the community needed to be able to think about the implications of change before being asked about specific options.

”The Panel will have the opportunity to conduct a public opinion survey if they wish, but we wouldn’t expect them to rush into this while people still have many questions to ask. This is not a political game. The future of the region is at stake and the exercise must be serious and considered,” Nick Leggett said.

For more information, please contact our media team.

Greater Wellington a finalist for two IPANZ excellence awards

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:00 +1200

Greater Wellington Regional Council has been selected as a finalist in two of the Institute of Public Administration in New Zealand’s (IPANZ) annual excellence awards.

“It’s great for some of Greater Wellington’s initiatives to be recognised in this manner,” Greater Wellington Regional Council Chief Executive David Benham says.

“Both have taken a huge amount of dedication, focus and commitment from our staff in partnership with our mana whenua iwi and external stakeholders and contractors.

“Te Upoko Taiao is a Council Committee partnership between Greater Wellington and our six mana whenua iwi. Its purpose is to lead resource management strategy development across our region. It has been chosen as a finalist in IPANZ’s Crown-Māori Relationships award category.

“The second IPANZ award category Greater Wellington has achieved recognition for is Improving Public Value from Business Transformation. Our organisation supplies drinking water for the four cities of Porirua, Upper Hutt, Hutt and Wellington. The work we’ve done reforming this business has been significant and is providing enormous value to ratepayers as well as some of the best drinking water in New Zealand.

“While we’re delighted to be finalists we’re also humbled to be listed amongst several other high quality finalists in each section. Whichever organisation is finally announced as a category winner on Wednesday 27 June can deserve to be very proud of their achievement,” David Benham said.

For more information, please contact our media team.

Your guide to Wellington's best & brightest bike lights

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:16:00 +1200

If you think all bicycle lights are much of a muchness, you may need to think again.

A test of more than 50 front and rear bicycle lights has found a substantial difference in their effectiveness, especially at various angles.

Simon Kennett, Greater Wellington’s Active Transport & Road Safety Coordinator, tested the lights using a Lux meter – a device for measuring brightness. “This is a good objective way to measure the effectiveness of a light. If you’re trying to suss out lights yourself you can hold them at arm’s length and they might be okay but if you were to get someone to hold them from the other side of the room they might look completely different.”

The test was done as part of the Be Safe Be Seen campaign timed for Autumn when the days are getting shorter and darker. Results of the test and a range of cycle safety information are all on the campaign page.

"The best lights are those that are about the same strength as car lights and those that are brightest at a range of angles. Most accidents occur during turning manoeuvres so being seen by vehicles turning across your path is vital.

“Cars approach cyclists and vice versa at many angles so you need a light that can be seen easily from various angles.

Simon says he was surprised at just how badly some lights performed at an angle. “Some of them went from near-blinding at no angle to almost no light at an angle. The brightness of the light at a 20 degree angle, for example, is really important.”

And he says a good front light is equally important as a good rear light. “Many cyclists don’t put as much value on a front light because they think they’ll be able to see cars approaching even if the cars don’t see them. But you need to be seen just as well from the front as from the back.”

Another safety tip is to make sure you have back up front and rear lights. “It’s always good to have a back up in case the battery dies unexpectedly.”

“As well as having good lights on your bike, reflectors and reflective tape are essential for people cycling when it’s dark. An excellent visibility tip is to attach reflective slap bands to your legs which are moving all the time when you’re on a bike.” Reflective tape and slap bands are available free for all Wellington region residents. You can pick some up from Greater Wellington’s reception area at 142 Wakefield Street.

For more information, please contact our media team.

Possum control in the Rimutaka Ranges

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:38:00 +1200

The Animal Health Board (AHB) and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) will be joining forces later this month to put nearly 30,000 hectares of the Rimutaka Range under possum control.

The pest control operation – scheduled to begin later this month – will help primarily to protect cattle and deer herds from bovine tuberculosis (TB), and improve the health of native forest.

“In order to eradicate bovine TB from a possum population, numbers need to be kept extremely low – around one or two animals over 10 hectares,” said Southern North Island Programme Manager Alan Innes.

“Monitoring within the Rimutaka Range during 2011 has indicated that the possum numbers are up to five times the level required for effective TB control. It is vital to minimise the risk of TB-infected possums sustaining the disease in their own populations and passing it to farmed cattle and deer.”

The possum control operation includes Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Wainuiomata-Orongorongo water collection area, one of three main water sources for the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington. Good forest health plays an important part in maintaining relatively clean and uncontaminated source water for treatment, before supply, which in turn helps to minimise the health risk to the public.

Coordinating AHB and Greater Wellington possum control work in the Rimutaka Range provides potential gains for native plants and animals and cost savings too. The combined operational area covers approximately 28,000 hectares of public and private land. These areas have all undergone aerial possum control operations in the past. The last within the operational area was in 2007.

A helicopter using differential global positioning systems (GPS) – to ensure accurate bait application – will sow cereal baits containing biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate (also known as 1080). This will be done in conjunction with hand-laid baiting in some areas, such as around huts and water intakes. While possums are the primary target of this operation, it will achieve a ‘triple hit’ of the worst conservation pests by also taking out rats and, through secondary poisoning, stoats. Native birds breed more successfully when there are fewer pest animals eating their eggs, chicks and the native forest they feed on.

Sodium fluoroacetate is particularly suited for this operation given the size of the area to be treated and the rugged nature of the terrain. It is a highly effective, cost-efficient and safe method of controlling non-native pests. It is highly soluble in water and biodegradable, so does not persist in water or soil. The water in the supply rivers and streams will be independently monitored and GW will not take water from the Water Catchment Area during or directly after the operation. Over 100 water tests have been carried out within the Wellington Region during previous aerial 1080 operations. None have shown any trace of 1080 contamination. In June 2011, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment strongly endorsed its continued use in New Zealand.

Warning signs will be erected at all main public access points to the operational area and will remain in place for at least six months. Baits and poisoned possum carcasses are extremely toxic to dogs. The AHB and GW strongly advise all dog owners to keep their dogs safe from accidental poisoning by keeping them out of the operational area until all the warning signage has been taken down. Occasionally, poisoned carcasses may be washed downstream into areas outside the operation boundaries – usually after heavy rain. While every effort is made to recover these carcasses, dog walkers are advised to remain vigilant. Free dog muzzles will be provided on request. Please contact Debbie Viner on (06) 353 2712.

Similar dog walking opportunities are available at Akatarawa Forest, Belmont Regional Park, East Harbour Regional Park’s northern forest or other local parks. For more information on these see www.gw.govt.nz/parks or your city council website.

Additional information

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a highly-infectious disease that can jeopardise New Zealand’s access to premium beef, deer and dairy export markets.
In high-risk areas, possums are linked to more than 70 per cent of new TB outbreaks in herds.
The project includes the bush clad hills surrounding the Kaitoke Basin and extends to the Rimutaka Summit. South of State Highway 2, the project includes the Pakuratahi Forest and extends into the Wairarapa, including the Rimutaka Rail Trail and up to Pigeon Bush. The project extends southwards along the Rimutaka Ranges to Ocean Beach and also includes the Wainuiomata-Orongorongo Water Collection Area (WCA).
Maintaining a healthy and intact forest catchment ensures the continuation of a high-quality water source for treatment and supply. The roots of the trees bind the soil and help keep sediment out of the water, making it much easier and less expensive to treat. Possum browse damages our forests and makes them less effective at filtering our water.
Possums are targeted in the water collection area because they carry diseases such as bovine tuberculosis, and transmit organisms such as giardia and cryptosporidium, which are a contamination risk to the water supply and may lead to serious illness. International best practice advocates effective catchment management as part of a multi-barrier approach in guarding against contaminated water supplies.
The Wainuiomata-Orongorongo WCA provides about 20 per cent of the tap water for the Wellington metropolitan area.
The Medical Officer of Health requires that any trace of 1080 in water supplies must not exceed a concentration level of two parts per billion parts of water. At two parts per billion, a 60kg person would need to drink 2,300 litres every day for several weeks for any illness to occur.
For more information on how and why 1080 is used in New Zealand, visit www.1080facts.co.nz. You can download the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s 2011 report from www.pce.parliament.nz

For more information, please contact our media team.

Region’s success at “use a bit less”

Thu, 03 May 2012 13:25:00 +1200

Greater Wellington is hailing the efforts of water users across Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington, with summer water use hitting its lowest level in over 15 years.

Water supplied by Greater Wellington to the region’s four cities averaged 144 million litres per day between December 2011 and February 2012. That’s 6.5 million litres per day (or 4.3%) less than the previous lowest summer average since at least 1996/97.

Cr Sandra Greig, Deputy Chair of Greater Wellington’s Social and Cultural Wellbeing Committee, says that with one of our two storage lakes empty for upgrading, low water use had played a major part in the region getting through summer without a water shortage.

“We’d prepared for the chance of a tough summer, with extra publicity and a drought action plan coordinated with the city councils. We were also granted a revised resource consent for up to three years, allowing the minimum flow over the Kaitoke Weir to go from the previous 600 litres per second to 400 litres per second if needed to meet the community’s demand for water.

“As it turned out, the low demand for water meant that we didn’t need to take the minimum flow at Kaitoke down to 400 litres per second and we didn’t need to activate the drought action plan.”

Cr Greig says that although it would be easy to attribute the lower water use to the poor summer weather, analysis shows that users were probably making a bigger water saving effort than in previous years as well.

“We’ve had patchy summers before, but nothing like this summer’s low level of water use for at least 15 years – it’s a fantastic effort from water users and a strong indication that water conservation efforts by Greater Wellington and the region’s city councils are making an impact.”

Other poor summers in recent years include 2001/02, 2003/04 and 2009/10. Average water use in summer 2011/12 was between 4.3% and 8.2% less than in each of these summers.

The preparations for the possibility of a tough summer – the water conservation campaign, drought plan ,and provisions to leave a little less water at the Kaitoke Weir if demand exceeds supply – will be in place for the next one to two summers while the lakes upgrade continues.

For more information, please contact our media team

Don’t spread unwanted freshwater pests this hunting season

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:05:00 +1200

With duck shooting season starting on Saturday 5 May, Greater Wellington and the Ministry for Primary Industries are reminding hunters in Wairarapa of the importance of cleaning their equipment between waterways to avoid the spread of unwanted freshwater pests including the invasive alga didymo.

“Unwanted freshwater pests such as didymo, hornwort, and salvinia pose a serious threat to our rivers, streams and lakes. Once in a waterway they can disperse rapidly and destroy the environmental, recreational and aesthetic values of our waterways,” says Richard Grimmett Greater Wellington Biosecurity Team Leader Plants.

Didymo is widespread throughout South Island rivers and forms thick algal mats that make swimming, fishing and other water activities very unpleasant. It has yet to be found in the North Island.

Mr Grimmett says hornwort is already a big problem in popular duck-hunting areas in the wetlands around Lake Wairarapa.

“Hornwort chokes waterways so that few other animals or plants can live there. It clogs irrigation pumps and in some places grows so thick that gun-dogs can’t get through it to retrieve ducks. We don’t want to see this spread further.”

“We are asking hunters moving between waterways to Check, Clean, Dry any equipment that has come into contact with river or lake water – particularly boots. Some freshwater pests, like didymo, are microscopic and can be spread by a single drop of water. Even if you can’t see the danger you could be spreading it.”

Mr Grimmett says before leaving a waterway, people should check items and leave any debris they find at the waterway.

“All items should then be cleaned for at least one minute with a five percent solution of biodegradable dishwashing solution. That’s about one tablespoon of detergent per 250ml.”

“Water absorbent materials such as boots require longer soaking times to allow thorough saturation.

“Drying will kill didymo, but even slightly moist items can harbour didymo and other microscopic pests for months. To ensure didymo cells are dead by drying, the item must be completely dry to the touch, inside and out, then left dry for at least another 48 hours before use,” says Mr Grimmett.

“Following these simple procedures will help slow freshwater pests like didymo from spreading throughout New Zealand waterways. It’s everyone’s responsibility to try to preserve the environmental integrity of our waterways for future generations.

“Just remember to Check Clean Dry when moving from one waterway to another, anywhere in New Zealand.”

For more information, please contact our media team.

Fare options up for public discussion later this year

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:04:00 +1200

Possible off-peak fares for all Metlink bus, train and harbour ferry services, fewer fare zones and more flexible smartcard features are some of the options that people will be asked for feedback on later this year as part of Greater Wellington’s public transport fare structure review.

The fare structure review looks at how fares are calculated, the methods for paying them and fare concessions or discounts. This is the first such review in six years and is separate from the annual review of fare prices.

Councillors have endorsed a range of fare options that will be further developed before going out to public consultation later this year.

Peter Glensor, Chair of Greater Wellington’s Economic Wellbeing Committee, says one of the options being considered is having off-peak fares for all services. “At present, there are some off peak fares, mainly for train travel. We’ll be asking people what they think about extending this discount to all off-peak services.”

The review also considers changes to the distance-based zoning system on which all Metlink bus, train and harbour ferry fares are calculated. “One idea is to charge fares on a ‘point to point basis’ using smart cards which can very accurately charge for the actual distance travelled. If we went with this option, charging by zones would be used only for cash fares.”

People will be asked if the current 14 zones could be reduced to seven or five. “This would be simpler and easier for people to understand but we’ve got to make sure that it’s a fair system as well.”

Other options for smart or stored value cards are also being developed. “Cards are a way of life for the vast majority of regular bus users and we’re looking at the payment options that could be built into these cards which would give people more flexibility. For example, the cards could charge for the nine or ten most expensive trips you make each week and all other trips could be heavily discounted or free.”

Cr Glensor says the review was focused on integrating the whole regional public transport network. “Our vision is that a person could travel from Wainuiomata to Miramar on a train and two different buses but pay just one fare for the trip.”

Greater Wellington will seek feedback around August on a range of options. Following this, a single preferred option for a new fare structure will be developed and that will go out for consultation early in 2013. The final package is expected to be presented to Council for approval around May 2013. Implementation of the changes will be gradual and will depend on progress with other projects such as integrated electronic ticketing.

For more information, please contact our media team.

Eight public transport options to be further investigated for Wellington

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:18:00 +1200

Eight options, including bus, light rail and heavy rail, will be investigated further as part of the Wellington Public Transport Spine Study.

Long List Evaluation Report

The Spine Study is looking into the merits of long-term, high quality public transport options for the ‘spine’ between Wellington Railway Station and Wellington Regional Hospital. It’s being carried out by consultant AECOM for Greater Wellington Regional Council in partnership with Wellington City Council and the NZ Transport Agency.

An inception and scoping report produced in February identified 88 possible options, combining a range of routes and a range of modes (systems) from heavy rail through to personalised rapid transit ‘pods’.

The list of 88 was then broken down into six possible public transport modes and five possible alignments. These were assessed against specific criteria including accessibility, attractiveness to users, ability to meet future passenger demand, and engineering and financial viability. Compatibility between various combinations of modes and possible alignments was also tested, and a ‘medium list’ of eight options were identified to take forward to the next stage of evaluation.

The eight options are:

Two high quality on-street bus options along a central alignment (essentially the Golden Mile) or along a waterfront alignment (essentially following the Quays), with both options then continuing south along Kent/Cambridge Terraces, through to Adelaide Road.
Two bus rapid transit options along the same two alignments as above. Bus rapid transit involves buses running in an entirely separate space on the road from other traffic
Two light rail options along the same two alignments as above.
A heavy rail extension underground along an alignment to be determined.
A heavy rail extension at street level along a waterfront alignment.

Fran Wilde, Chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council, welcomed the latest step in the study. “We’ve now got some tangible options and it will be interesting to see how they stack up in the next round of more detailed assessment. High quality, highly efficient public transport along this crucial spine is imperative, not only for the future of Wellington City but for the entire region. Excellent public transport means less reliance on cars and less congestion, making it a lot easier to get to regional destinations such as Wellington Station, Wellington Hospital and the airport.”

The study milestone was also welcomed by Jenny Chetwynd, NZ Transport Agency’s Regional Director Central “We're very pleased at the noticeable progress the study has made in creating a medium list of options for consideration. The study team is keeping an open mind and has looked at dozens of overseas examples of public transport systems. We're confident this will help us and our council partners to identify the best potential long-term solutions that provide good value for money and fit well with the needs, the opportunities, and the constraints of our city."

Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington, says she’s very interested in how the eight options will be assessed to improve transport choices and urban form. “Good transport choices must include economical, efficient and pleasant public transport. Wellington’s compact form combined with its population already sympathetic to walking and catching public transport provides a great opportunity for future investment.

“Improving the public transport links between the Hutt Valley, the Western corridor and Wellington’s CBD and beyond to the eastern suburbs and the Airport is important for economic and environmental success.”

For more information, please contact our media team.

Spine Study - Q & As

Q: What is light rail?
A: Light rail is a form of electric rail transport. It normally runs on a separate track and route from other road traffic but it can share road space with other users. Light rail is also referred to as Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the study documents.

Q: What is heavy rail?
A: Heavy rail runs on a separate corridor from other forms of transport. Within city centres trains can run at very high frequencies through underground tunnels or on elevated tracks. In the Wellington context the heavy rail options would be extensions of the existing heavy rail network. Heavy rail is also referred to as Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in the study documents.

Q: What is bus rapid transit?
A: Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a bus system where buses run in a separate space from other traffic, like the northern busway in Auckland.

Q: What does Transit Supportive Development mean?
A: Transit Supportive Development is about coordinating transport planning and urban planning so transport projects complement land use and vice versa. In the context of the Wellington Public Transport Spine Study, evaluation of the Spine options includes identifying parts of the study area where there are opportunities for residential and commercial development that could further encourage people to use public transport instead of the car. The effectiveness and value of a high quality public transport spine depends on as many people as possible being able to access it, so it makes sense to locate it in areas where there’s the most potential for growth and development.

Q: The on-street bus options look exactly like what we have now, would they be different in any way?
A: The study to date has considered only modes and route alignments. From now on the evaluation process will start to flesh out specifically what the options may look like so the bus-on-street option could be quite different from what we have now or it could be reasonably similar.

Q: What options have been ruled out so far?
A: Mini-buses and personal rapid transit or ‘pods’ have been ruled out for further assessment, largely because of their limited capacity to meet peak-hour demand. Two alignment options, a northern one via The Terrace and a southern one via Taranaki and Wallace streets, were also ruled out for further investigation because of their gradients, accessibility issues and a lack of opportunity for land use development and increased public transport use. However, the findings indicate that The Terrace could be used for supplementary services.

Q: What happens next?
A: The ‘medium list’ of eight options will now be further assessed by AECOM, the study consultant. They will identify a short-list of up to four options for further comprehensive costing, modelling and evaluation. The short-list is expected to be finalised around the middle of this year. These short-listed options will be developed in detail including specific alignments, engineering requirements, environmental and land use impacts and costs. The evaluation will be completed by early 2013.

Q: What happens after the study?
A: The study will not identify a preferred option. Following on from the study the Wellington Regional Transport Committee will take the short-listed options, along with the results of the final evaluation, out to public consultation in early 2013. The Committee will hear submissions and make recommendations about which option should be included in the region’s transport planning from here on.