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Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz |
At its last meeting, the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee signed off the Regional Land Transport Strategy. This document is very important because it sets the transport vision and direction for the region which is integrally linked with our economic development and our land use patterns.
The next step for the strategy is for its signoff by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and then it will be used as an anchor for the development of the Regional Land Transport Programme which prioritises and programmes various regional transport projects and their funding allocations.
This is very linked to the recent Government Policy Statement on Transport which sets funding ranges for the various transport activities that it funds and which are spread across the country based on the government's own set of priorities. The key message being received from the New Zealand Transport Agency is that funding is very constrained at present and will be so for the near future.
Another key document in the transport space which is currently out for consultation is the draft Bay of Plenty Regional Public Transport Plan. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for planning, managing and providing funds for public transport services in the region, and this document describes the council's network approach to public transport service, the levels of service that people can expect, and identifies future priorities for future investment in the public transport system.
Key drivers identified in the plan are the forecast increase in population, the aging population, and the impact of the price of fuel. Issues identified include the withdrawal of government funding for school buses in Tauranga, constrained funding from central government and the need to plan for access and mobility needs of small communities and isolated parts of the region. The plan identifies three main objectives – reliable and integrated public transport services that go where people want them to go; fares, ticketing and information systems that attract and retain customers while covering a reasonable proportion of their operating costs; and high quality infrastructure that supports safe and comfortable travel. Indicative funding levels up until 2017/18 are also included.
If you have an interest in public transport, it would be really worth your time to access a copy of the plan summary – or the full draft plan itself - and make a submission before 4pm on Monday 7th November. You can get a copy online at www.boprc.govt.nz, by emailing transport@boprc.govt.nz or by ringing 0800 884 880. Your comments will be welcome.
If you have any views on this or any other issue, please contact me on neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579-5150. Or you can check out my website at www.janenees.co.nz