Roading

TAURANGA CITY TRANSPORT CHAOS Bulletin 9

The following are the views of VOTER EMPOWERMENT TAURANGA (VET).

VET present our viewpoint on the recent TCC Commissioners Long Term Plan 2021/2031 determinations relating to TCC traffic /transport proposals VET’s assessments of the urgency needed on cost-effective traffic/transport solutions that might assist Tauranga motorists are as follows:

PRACTICAL COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS

•   Pressurize NZTA to fix the never ending Baypark traffic shambles– 4½ years with possibly 2 years still to go resulting in some of NZs most expensive disruptive roadworks.

•   Immediately implement 15thAvenue/Turret Road 4-laning on the existing roadways plus construct a new replacement 4-lane Hairini Bridge while temporarily utilizing the old disused bridge structure giving 3 lanes. It is accepted that this work will be expensive costing around $63 million but urgent completion is vital to help secure the roading network. The high escalating costs imposed on ratepayers results from what VET views as the terrible 2015 Route K deal done by TCC with NZTA– good news is that NZTA still have to meet 50% of the cost.

•   Urgently install new practical access from 17th Avenue Extension onto ROUTE K an inexpensive option providing a left turn only access towards The Lakes.

•   Provide many more viable free left-turns at any time particularly at traffic lights urgently without awaiting major intersection upgrades.

•   Actively discourage parents dropping kids off at schools by providing suitable school buses and encouraging walking and cycling to school as other good options. It’s no surprise during school holidays traffic flows smoothly- everyone comments on it.

•   Trucks/tandem trailers, and logging trucks should where possible be kept off roads on weekdays between 7am -9am and then 4pm -6pm unless certified as an essential services. All day and weekend use is acceptable Tauranga Port is a financial powerhouse for Tauranga operating 24/7, so its financial well-being is critical but limiting truck times as above arriving at the Port would have little impact on operations.

Total cost for all the above works is estimated by VET to be way less than $100million - (NZTA will have to pay at least $31.5million) and the cost is nowhere near the obscenely ludicrous $1.9billion floated by TCC Commissioners via Council staff under the current LTP even though that is for all major works.

The above solutions do not include current Papamoa access/interchange proposal which seems ill conceived and overpriced anyway nor any work relating to the Northern Arterial route/ corridor both being NZTA’s responsibility.

NON- ESSENTIALS POT POURI

•   Recent non-essential expensive local roadworks like Concord Avenue, Maunganui Road, Greerton the proposed pointless Elizabeth Street upgrade and now the Govt. initiated Cameron Road upgrade currently underway and causing major disruptions are all in VETS view unnecessary disasters with very lengthy ongoing disruptions for long suffering locals.

•   The ill -conceived Regional Council public bus service (usually empty), travelling at slow speed holds up workday traffic flows. and should be replaced with agile faster 16/20-seaters. VET’s overall conclusion is bus service is an extremely expensive white elephant and not fit for purpose in the opinion of many. Although a Regional Council initiative our rates pay for this lemon and TCC should stop encouraging and accommodating something that VET believes, is seriously flawed.

•   Hairini Street from roundabout to Turret Road must be opened up to all through traffic (other than between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.) weekdays, all day at weekends and public holidays assisting in alleviating any congestion in the Welcome Bay roundabouts. VET understands locals have made strong representations to Council about this aberration.

•   The Elizabeth Street/Takitumu Drive roundabout needs more temporary stop/go traffic lights to control weekday traffic flows early morning 7am to 9am and early evening 4pm to 6pm. TCC must insist NZTA addresses this problem urgently.

HARBOUR CROSSINGS CONNECTING ROADS

Commissioners should also be looking seriously at a new low level Matapihi Harbour crossing via Matapihi Road through to Elizabeth Street to give a 4th crossing directly in to the City CBD. Hours and type of vehicles (cars only) using this could be limited from 7am to 6pm weekdays only. Estimated cost for this crossing in 2010 was around $10 million and will possibly have escalated to around $30million by now.

Pushing through the short 500m unfinished section of Gloucester Road extension from Girven Road to Palm Plaza Papamoa without delay is a priority and looking to upgrade Papamoa Beach Road which has stayed much the same for the past 50 years would also be prudent moves for all Papamoa residents. Question of Papamoa East Interchange and cheaper options available also in VETS view need attention.

REMEDIES

In VETs opinion the way things look currently it seems to be a fundamental mindset of TCC staff and their consultants that traffic flows have to be restricted at every opportunity.

Cycleways and walkways that appear to VET to be rarely used are not necessities while cars and trucks, whether one likes it or not, are going to be very important in the future.

TCC should be removing the decades old bottlenecks and using the existing roads to the utmost and to full capacity. Shouldn’t be any objections to that, as the efficient use will reduce traffic snarl ups and emissions due to traffic grid locks. Not creating new bottlenecks on Cameron Road by inane upgrade proposals initially set to cost $45m now said to be up to $70m would be a good start and Cameron Road should be 4 laned from the Domain to Barkes  Corner.

NORTHERN ARTERIAL SUPPORT

NZTA initially intends to construct this from Takitimu North to Te Puna bypassing Bethlehem at Stage1 then on to Omokoroa at Stage2 constructing an interchange there and also in the mix is a Katikati bypass. Initial cost of the 14km to Omokoroa was estimated at a staggering $933m in 2020 which equates to about $70 million per kilometre an unbelievable $70,000 per metre way in excess of the Australian roading costs. This Northern Arterial vitally concerns and effects all Western Bay residents including Tauranga City people. Looking at an alternative route to Auckland is also warranted.

MATTERS ARISING SUMMARY

VET urge TCC Commissioners to immediately implement practical speedy and focused cost- effective solutions pending the major works.

VET asks “ are the people responsible for transport outcomes happy to run with what VET believes to be fantasyland options that are often impractical and unworkable take an inordinate length of time (years) to implement while costing a fortune.”

VET readily accepts these cost-effective steps are certainly not the total solution but they will buy time and get things moving and will in our view significantly improve the short- term traffic situation.

Tauranga should not be promoting growth when, in VET’s view, TCC cannot accommodate or fund growth and it seems to VET, that it is now generally accepted that growth does not pay for growth but existing TCC ratepayers do. The total figure of $1.9 billion floated is mind boggling and not palatable so for heaven’s sake Commissioners — just do something practical that makes economic sense.

VOTER EMPOWERMENT TAURANGA– BULLETIN 9 •

Contact: vet-tga@gmail.com 80 Turret Road, Tauranga ‘

It is hard to imaginea more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price (and bear no consequence) for being wrong (Sowell)