Bus Shelter Hearings Panel AGENDA

Transcription

1 Bus Shelter Hearings Panel AGENDA Notice of Meeting: A Bus Shelter Hearings Panel meeting will be held on: Date: Friday 9 September 2016 Time: 11.15am Venue: Committee Room 1, Level 2, Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street, Christchurch Panel Members Councillor Pauline Cotter Councillor David East Councillor Andrew Turner 5 September 2016 Reporting Officer Brenda O'Donoghue Passenger Transport Engineer Tel: Samantha Kelly Committee and Hearings Advisor samantha.kelly@ccc.govt.nz Note: The reports contained within this agenda are for consideration and should not be construed as Council policy unless and until adopted. If you require further information relating to any reports, please contact the person named on the report. To view copies of Agendas and Minutes, visit:

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Apologies Election of a Chairperson... 4 STAFF REPORTS 3. Proposed Bus Passenger Shelter Installation - 19 Kirk Road Consideration of Objections Deliberations Page 3

4 1. Apologies At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received. 2. Election of Chairperson Page 4

5 3. Proposed Bus Passenger Shelter Installation - 19 Kirk Road Reference: 16/ Contact: Brenda O'Donoghue 1. Purpose and Origin of Report CityStreetsTrafficEngineers@ccc.govt.nz Purpose of Report 1.1 The purpose of this report is for the Bus Shelters Hearing Panel to approve the installation of a bus passenger shelter at an existing bus stop located at 19 Kirk Road. Origin of Report 1.2 This report is staff generated. Section 339 of the Local Government Act requires that resolution of the proposed shelter will require a separate decision of a Council Hearings Panel that will hear the objections of the immediate owner(s) and occupier(s) of bordering properties. 2. Significance 2.1 The decision(s) in this report is of low significance in relation to the Christchurch City Council s Significance and Engagement Policy The level of significance was determined by comparing factors relating to this decision against the criteria set out in the Councils Significance and Engagement Policy The community engagement and consultation outlined in this report reflect the assessment. 3. Staff Recommendations That the Bus Shelters Hearing Panel resolve to: 1. Receive the information in the staff report. 2. Approve the installation of a bus shelter at the following location: a. 19 Kirk Road 4. Key Points 4.1 This report supports the Council's Long Term Plan ( ): Activity: Public Transport Infrastructure Level of Service: Ensure user satisfaction with the number and quality of bus shelters 4.2 The following feasible options have been considered: Option 1 - The preferred option, install a bus passenger shelter at 19 Kirk Road, adjacent to an existing bus stop, as described in Section 6 of this report. Option 2 - Do nothing. 4.3 Option Summary - Advantages and Disadvantages The advantages of this option include: Protection from weather, Item No.: 3 Page 5

6 Seating provided within the shelter, and Increase the visibility and legibility of public transport The disadvantages of this option include: Increase in the number of bus passenger shelters to be maintained by the Council. During the peak times of public transport usage the shelter can only provide shelter for a limited number of people, however this is the case with most bus shelters. 5. Context/Background 5.1 The bus stop adjacent to 19 Kirk Road is an unmarked bus stop that has been in operation since 2001, when it was approved by the Riccarton/Wigram Community Board. 5.2 Note the bus stop is unmarked, and the length of the bus stop that was approved in 2001 measures 12 metres in length, as such it does not adhere to the Christchurch City Bus Stop Guidelines (2009). A separate report has been submitted to the Riccarton/Wigram Community Board (meeting 13 September 2016) to approve the installation of the bus stop road markings to the recommended minimum bus stop length as outlined in the Bus Stop Guidelines. The owner/occupier of 19 Kirk Road has also objected to the bus stop road markings, for the same reason as the objection that is outlined in Section 6.4 of this report. 5.3 A bus passenger shelter is proposed for the bus stop presented in this report due to the average weekday passenger boardings (ave. pax/day) of March 2016, as indicated in the following list: 30 ave. pax/day = 19 Kirk Road 5.4 Environment Canterbury (ECan) is responsible for providing public transport services. The Christchurch City Council is responsible for providing public transport infrastructure. The installation of this shelter is supported by ECan. 5.5 Christchurch City Council has received three requests by bus passengers for a shelter to be installed at the existing bus stop at 19 Kirk Road, since December Council staff propose to install a shelter in the location outlined in the attached bus passenger shelter plan (refer to Attachments A). 5.7 Under s339 of the Local Government Act (1974), the Council may erect on the footpath of any road a shelter for use by intending public-transport passengers or taxi passengers provided that no such shelter may be erected so as to unreasonably prevent access to any land having a frontage to the road. The Council is required to give notice in writing to the occupier and owner of property likely to be injuriously affected by the erection of the shelter, and shall not proceed with the erection of the shelter until after the expiration of the time for objecting against the proposal or, in the event of an objection, until after the objection has been determined. 5.8 Staff confirm the shelter will not prevent vehicular or pedestrian access to any land having a frontage to the road, as a result of the proposed shelter installations. 5.9 Consultation has been carried out with the affected properties of 19 and 21 Kirk Road. The consultation period occurred from Thursday 4 August 2016 to Thursday 18 August During the consultation period feedback was received from the property owner of 19 Kirk Road, Raena Lopas. The reason for objection is provided in Section 6.4. No objection has been received from the owner and/or occupier of 21 Kirk Road. Item No.: 3 Page 6

7 6. Option 1 - Proposed Bus Passenger Shelter Installation Option Description 6.1 Install a bus passenger shelter at 19 Kirk Road, adjacent to an existing bus stop. Significance 6.2 The level of significance of this option is low consistent with section 2 of this report. Engagement requirements for this level of significance includes the consultation with occupier and owner of property likely to be injuriously affected by the erection of the shelter. Impact on Mana Whenua 6.3 This option does not involve a significant decision in relation to ancestral land or a body of water or other elements of intrinsic value, therefore this decision does not specifically impact Ngāi Tahu, their culture and traditions. Community Views and Preferences 6.4 The owner/occupier of 19 Kirk Road, Raena Lopas, has objected to the bus passenger shelter for the following reason: I would like the bus stop to be moved further from the Riwai Street Corner. When drivers turn left from Riwai into Kirk Rd, they have difficulty if the bus is parked at the bus stop. Could it please be moved to outside the RSA. I loose car parks in the present situation. 6.5 It is possible that the potential issue of a bus parking too close to Riwai Street, might be due to the bus stop currently being unmarked. Currently the bus drivers are provided with little guidance on exactly where to stop. Installing road markings would provide guidance to the bus driver on where to stop. 6.6 With the proposed road markings (note refer to Section 5.2) the separation between the rear of a bus that has stopped and the intersection would measure about 13 metres. In addition to the traffic engineering preference that bus stops are located to the left of an intersection, the 13 metre separation provides sufficient space for a vehicle turning left from Riwai Street, to safely manoeuvre around the bus. 6.7 The location of the bus stop adjacent to 19 Kirk Road does not negatively impact driver sightlines at the nearby street, Riwai Street. A 10 year crash analysis study was undertaken of the intersection of Kirk Road with Riwai Street, using the NZ Transport Agencies, Crash Analysis System. No crashes were reported during the 10 year crash analysis period. The existing bus stop is located on the left hand side of the intersection, which is the preferred location to site a bus stop. Drivers approaching Kirk Road from Riwai Street, have a clear line of site to firstly observe if a vehicle is approaching from the right. The geometry of the Kirk Road / Riwai Street intersection allows for wide traffic lanes and large corning radii. Such road geometry provides sufficient space for a vehicle to negotiate around a bus that has stopped, and sufficient space for a vehicle to safely judge if there is a gap in traffic approaching from the left. 6.8 The absence of crash records and the suitable road geometry does not indicate that this is an unsafe location to continue to operate as a bus stop. 6.9 The objector s issue with the bus stop is not however an applicable reason for an objection to a bus passenger shelter. The occupant of 19 Kirk Road will not be injuriously affected by the erection of the shelter, and the shelter will not unreasonably prevent access to any land having a frontage to the road No objection has been received from the owner and/or occupier of 21 Kirk Road. Alignment with Council Plans and Policies 6.11 This option is consistent with Council s Plans and Policies. Item No.: 3 Page 7

8 Financial Implications 6.12 Cost of Implementation - The estimated cost to supply and install the one bus passenger shelter, plus additional bus stop upgrade work will cost about $9, Maintenance/Ongoing Costs - Costs will be met from the Passenger Transport Maintenance budget Funding source - The cost will be met from the Passenger Transport Infrastructure budget available for the installation of shelters. Legal Implications 6.15 Where an objection to the shelter has been presented by the owner or occupier of an affected property, the delegated authority to make a decision to install a bus passenger shelter resides with a Council hearings panel. Risks and Mitigations 6.16 The shelter is not installed, leading to a poor level of service for passengers waiting for a bus Increased street clutter. Where street clutter has been identified through site assessments (e.g. rubbish bins located by the kerb edge (i.e. in less than ideal locations), excess number of public transport related poles, etc.), these footpath obstacles will be relocated to an appropriate location in close proximity to the shelter (e.g. the rubbish bin), and the number of poles reduced by maximising the use of the shelter (e.g. attaching the Real Time Information device 'bus finder' to the shelter). This will help provide a de-cluttered footpath environment by the bus stop and improve the level of service for pedestrians passing the shelter and for passengers waiting for a bus. Implementation 6.18 Implementation dependencies - approval by the Council hearings panel Implementation timeframe - dependant on the contractor's workloads, but the shelter should be installed within three months of being approved. Option Summary - Advantages and Disadvantages 6.20 The advantages of this option include: Protection from weather, Seating provided within the shelter, Additional seating provided outside shelter, Increase the visibility and legibility of public transport, and Provide a positive contribution to the overall streetscape The disadvantages of this option include: Increase in the number of bus passenger shelters to be maintained by the Council, During the peak times of public transport usage the shelter can only provide shelter for a limited number of people, however this is the case with most bus shelters. Item No.: 3 Page 8

9 7. Option 2 - Do nothing Option Description 7.1 No bus passenger shelter is installed at the location identified in section 3 of this report. Significance 7.2 The level of significance of this option is low consistent with section 2 of this report. As there is no bus passenger shelter proposed, the engagement requirements for this level of significance does not involve any consultation. Impact on Mana Whenua 7.3 This option does not involve a significant decision in relation to ancestral land or a body of water or other elements of intrinsic value, therefore this decision does not specifically impact Ngāi Tahu, their culture and traditions. Community Views and Preferences 7.4 Not applicable. Alignment with Council Plans and Policies 7.5 This option is inconsistent with Council s Plans and Policies Inconsistency - It does not ensure user satisfaction with the number and quality of bus shelters Reason for inconsistency - Bus passengers will not be provided shelter to wait for a bus Amendment necessary - No amendment needed to the Council's Plans and Policies. Financial Implications 7.6 Cost of Implementation - not applicable. 7.7 Maintenance/Ongoing Costs - not applicable. 7.8 Funding source - not applicable. Legal Implications 7.9 Not applicable Risks and Mitigations 7.10 The existing passenger waiting facilities remain, leading to no improvement to the level of service for passengers waiting for a bus It may reduce bus patronage on wet days, as passengers may choose another mode of travel as there is no shelter provided at the bus stop. Implementation 7.12 Implementation dependencies - not applicable 7.13 Implementation timeframe - not applicable. Option Summary - Advantages and Disadvantages 7.14 The advantages of this option include: No advantages to this option The disadvantages of this option include: It is inconsistent with Council's Plans and Policies. It would undermine the approval of the adjacent property owners who have indicated approval to the installation of the bus passenger shelter. Item No.: 3 Page 9

10 Attachments No. Title Page A Bus Shelter Plan for Approval: 19 Kirk Road 11 Confirmation of Statutory Compliance Compliance with Statutory Decision-making Requirements (ss Local Government Act 2002). (a) This report contains: (i) sufficient information about all reasonably practicable options identified and assessed in terms of their advantages and disadvantages; and (ii) adequate consideration of the views and preferences of affected and interested persons bearing in mind any proposed or previous community engagement. (b) The information reflects the level of significance of the matters covered by the report, as determined in accordance with the Council's significance and engagement policy. Signatories Author Approved By Brenda ODonoghue - Passenger Transport Engineer Steve Parry - Manager Traffic Operations Steffan Thomas - Operations Manager Item No.: 3 Page 10

11 Attachment A Bus Shelters Hearing Panel Item No.: 3 Page 11

12 4. Consideration of Objections The Hearings Panel will consider the staff report and all written and oral presentations from objectors. Item 4 5. Deliberations Page 12