PUBLIC TRANSPORT | Projects + News + Gallery

[timnz2000]

Haha yep that's the biggest thing wrong with our train network. Fair point though

[eastadl]

Originally Posted by mathlete

Hah, the state of NZ's tourist trains is pretty laughable.

Can someone tell me why they insist on having the luggage carriage at the back and the viewing carriage up the front? Surely the best place for the viewing carriage is at the back so you get a near 360 degree view.

I didn't think it was a tourist train. I thought it was a daily service each way that connects Christchurch with Wellington. I used it a couple of years ago but those carriages look new compared to the ones I was in. And atleast NZ trains have a viewing carriage.

Is the train between Christchurch and Greymouth running again? That one could be classed as a tourist train

[Indictable]

Yes it is still running.

[timnz2000]

Looks like light rail is out the window:

Light rail shelving disappoints Greens

The Government is missing a chance to future-proof Christchurch by shelving plans to construct a light rail system, the Greens say.

The Christchurch City Council argued for a light rail system in the Central City Plan it presented to Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee, claiming it could make a significant contribution to the recovery.

...

But Brownlee, who as well as overseeing Canterbury's recovery as Transport Minister, parked the idea, saying he wants to put transport issues aside.

"While it would be nice, the commuter rail service needs greater consideration," he said.

Just another reason for me to dislike Gerry Brownlee. His patronising words are so frustrating. If it needs greater consideration, why isn't there a feasability study or anything like that included in the plan? It doesn't seem like there's going to be any further consideration at all.

Light rail was one of the MAJOR things the people of Christchurch indicated that they wanted...

[IThomas]

Christchurch Bus Exchange

(completion 2014, client: Christchurch City Council)

The Christchurch Bus Exchange is a central city facility providing airport standard lounge facilities and access to route-crossover for all buses travelling through the central city quadrant. As part of a wider program, the project will promote greater use of public transport, improve network efficiency and image, and provide higher levels of capacity and performance in the overall network.

The design features 26 independent underground stands and a large central top-lit waiting and circulation space. The underground facility was carefully considered in the context of pedestrian safety, future development potential, conflict between bus traffic and other vehicles, and general system flow.

The project has the potential to make a major contribution to the regeneration of the south west corner of Christchurch. The development will feature a new plaza and recreational green space between Colombo and Lichfield Streets as a major public amenity.

[KaneD]

Originally Posted by mathlete

Hah, the state of NZ's tourist trains is pretty laughable.

Can someone tell me why they insist on having the luggage carriage at the back and the viewing carriage up the front? Surely the best place for the viewing carriage is at the back so you get a near 360 degree view.

It is on some trains... I wen't on the train before it was refurbished and the luggage van was behind the engine.

[KaneD]

Originally Posted by timnz2000

Light rail was one of the MAJOR things the people of Christchurch indicated that they wanted...

Actually that isn't quite true timnz and the surveys that were done are flawed at best... (like most such emotive surveys).

The problem with these sorts of surveys and petitions is that the statements used are almost always unqualified and unbalanced.

Take for example you are walking down the street and some research person comes up to you and asks "Would you support a passenger rail service being started in Christchurch?"

Most people will logically say yes to this because people can generally see and recognise and understand the obvious benefits in having a passenger rail system over not having one.

But change the question to a more balanced one which might be "Would you support a passenger rail service being started in Christchurch for an increase of rates by $100/year?"

If you asked that, I can almost guarantee that the percentage of support would suddenly drop significantly.

A better survey/petition option would be to give a few options such as:
What option would you prefer for a public transport improvement for Christchurch?
1) Passenger Rail at a annual rates cost of $100/year
2) Light Rail at a annual rates cost of $80/year
3) Trams at a cost of $60/year
4) Buses at a cost of $20/year

An option like this is more likely to guage a realistic level of support that requires the person to consider the benefits as well as the cons when deciding what level of support they would make.

I recall many years ago NZ did a referendum on "Should hard core crims be given longer prison sentences?" - The referendum gained an overwhelming majority of something like 98% but the govt dropped the idea after a further study found that support dropped markedly when it was revealed how much extra tax NZ'ers would have to pay to implement it... something like $1bn/year.

[SYDNEY]

Trams back on track by Christmas ?

Christchurch's trams could be up and running by the end of the year if major building demolitions go to plan. The reopening of the tourist favourite would be another boost to the city, but the demolition of two condemned quake-damaged office blocks – the Clarendon Tower on the Oxford Tce-Worcester St corner and the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) building in Armagh St stands in the way. Wood Scenic Line managing director Michael Esposito told The Press if work remains on schedule, the trams could be back operating by the end of the year. The 59-week demolition of the Clarendon has begun, but is not scheduled to finish until January next year. The building must be completely brought down before the tram line is passable. The PwC demolition started in March and is due to finish in mid-December.

Esposito said Clarendon's completion date was likely to include rubble removal, which may not affect the track. "We're of the opinion that it could be made safe before [January]," he said. "There's a hell of a lot of other stuff that has to be done beforehand. Whether that's going to be a December or January opening, I think that's further down the track." Esposito, however, dismissed suggestions repairs to Rydges hotel, across from Clarendon on Oxford Tce, might cause road closures. He said he had heard the work was "nothing too major". The Armagh St bridge and Victoria Square apartments were the only other hurdles, he said. "There's still not a formal decision that the trams are going to reopen. That's got to be part of the central city plan and until it's approved, it's not official. In the meantime, a lot of work has been done in anticipation of its approval." Assessment of damage to the tramline infrastructure had been completed by the Christchurch City Council.

The lines and the overhead wires required work because buildings that held the wires had been damaged, Esposito said. Three trams had been based at the Ferrymead Heritage Park and the company would begin two to three months of repair work on them within the next month. Two city-based trams might have to be taken to Ferrymead for repairs. An extension that included Oxford Tce and Cashel, High and Lichfield streets had been about 100 metres from completion before the February 22 quake. Continuing the extension had not been ruled out and there was "still a bit to see" on the existing loop, Esposito said. "The Square's going to be a bit empty, and Worcester St, but the Art Gallery still looks pretty cool, the Arts Centre is still something to look at even though you can't go in. You've still got Christ's College, New Regent St and Cathedral Junction." New features, including a "couple of things out of the box", would be announced closer to the reopening. "We can't wait. It's been a long, long haul but it's so close now we can almost touch it," Esposito said.

[geoff_184]

Originally Posted by KaneD

1) Passenger Rail at a annual rates cost of $100/year
2) Light Rail at a annual rates cost of $80/year
3) Trams at a cost of $60/year
4) Buses at a cost of $20/year

I think you'll find passenger rail would be the second cheapest because the infrastructure for a basic network is already largely there. The money would be needed to buy some diesel trains from Auckland (soon available) and to establish some stations (and upgrade existing ones). Light rail would require all new infrastructure.

[metroman]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opi...-to-our-hearts

[SYDNEY]

Light rail still on city agenda

The city council is not giving up on its dream of introducing light rail to Christchurch. It has included the possibility of introducing a rapid-transit system in its draft transport plan despite getting a lukewarm response this year from Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee to a proposed $406 million light-rail connection between the central city and Canterbury University. The rail connection would have formed stage one of a citywide network of five key routes that the council priced at between $1.5 billion and $1.8b. But Brownlee parked the idea when he handed over responsibility for drawing up a blueprint for the redevelopment of the quake-damaged inner city to the Christchurch Central Development Unit, headed by Warwick Isaacs.

"While it would be nice, the commuter rail service needs greater consideration," Brownlee said at the time. The council is revisiting the idea through its draft transport plan. Due to be released to the public for consultation this week, the plan maps out how Christchurch's transport network will develop over the next 30 years and includes provision for a major study of options for public transport in the greater Christchurch area, including heavy and light rail. Council environment and infrastructure committee chairwoman Claudia Reid said now was the time to revisit public transport options for the city. Light rail was just one of a host of transport options the council wanted to explore as part of a broader discussion on how it could better move people around the city.

"What we want to do is open the dialogue," Reid said. Mayor Bob Parker has been a vocal proponent of light rail and advocated for the development of a citywide rail network before the quakes. He said the rebuild provided a rare opportunity to transform the transport system. "Effective transport networks throughout Christchurch will not only be critical for our city to recover from the recent earthquakes but also to grow and attract new business, investment and people," Parker said. Previous councils have considered the merits of commuter rail to link Christchurch and the surrounding areas. In 2005, Environment Canterbury commissioned consultancy firm GHD to look at five potential options for commuter rail, the cheapest of which used existing rail lines. It was conservatively priced then at $55 million, plus $3.7m a year.

The most expensive option involved a central-city underground and double-tracking from Rangiora to Rolleston and was priced at $690m, plus $26m a year. GHD warned at that time that those costs were guesstimates and the actual costs could vary by as much as 50 per cent. The cost of the study, which will be driven by the council in conjunction with Environment Canterbury and neighbouring local authorities under the guise of the Urban Development Strategy, is not specified in the plan, but an estimate rough indication included as a planning guide puts it at between $1m and $20m.

[SYDNEY]

Transport plan puts people first

The Christchurch City Council has developed a 30-year vision for the recovery and sustainable development of the city's transport network. Mayor Bob Parker explains what is planned. An effective transport network is not only critical for Christchurch to recover from the recent earthquakes but also to enable the city to grow and attract new business, investment and people. The Draft Christchurch Transport Plan is a 30-year vision developed by the Christchurch City Council to keep the city moving forward by providing transport choices that connect people and places. It adopts a one- network approach through collaborative planning of all the city's transport networks, increasing efficiency, functionality and ease of use. While it is acknowledged that the priorities for the council during the next decade will undoubtedly be focused on the replacement of the damaged transport infrastructure in the city, the earthquakes have also provided a unique opportunity to shift towards a sustainable transport network for the city that provides greater choice, opportunity and efficiency than currently available. The Christchurch Transport Plan will establish the principles for that long-term vision and shape the council's transport investment in the future.

This approach ensures that Christchurch will have a network of safer street environments, efficient vehicle and freight routes, attractive cycleways, easy pedestrian access and a public transport infrastructure that makes it an attractive and economical travel option for a greater number in the community. The Draft Christchurch Transport Plan is about creating a future for Christchurch where it is easier to move around. This will only be achieved by improving access and providing travel choice to support a vibrant economy, create stronger communities and a healthier environment. The greatest challenges facing our city's transport network are congestion, the city's ageing population, increasing fuel prices, earthquake damage and the change in travel patterns. However, the biggest challenge is funding the investment that is needed to improve the city's transport network. This can only been done if the council and its partner agencies recognise opportunities during the earthquake rebuild and support the long-term commitment to the plan.

To achieve the vision and address these challenges, the Draft Christchurch Transport Plan focuses on four goals to:

1.
Improve access and choice.

2.
Create safe, healthy and liveable communities.

3.
Support economic vitality.

4.
Create opportunities for environmental enhancements.

To improve access and choice, the plan will encourage more efficient use of the road network, greater use of public transport and more walking and cycling for shorter trips, along with the introduction of a road classification system that has a stronger relationship to land use, rather than simply allowing roads to dominate. The council is looking to develop a new classification system that would change the way it manages road space. Better use of the existing road space through design and ongoing operational management will ensure roads integrate better with surrounding land use and recognise that they have a wider function than simply moving vehicles. In essence, the design of new streets would give greater priority to people. For example, where streets pass through retail centres, street design would be used to reduce traffic speed and increase pedestrian crossing facilities. To create safe, healthy and liveable communities, the draft plan is looking to better integrate transport networks into existing and new communities to reduce the reliance on private vehicle use and to improve safety. Good street design will encourage more residents to walk or cycle, particularly where land use and transport planning has been integrated. There is a unique opportunity for Christchurch to develop a safe, connected cycle network which will make it easier for people to cycle.

To support economic vitality, the draft plan looks to protect and enhance regional and local freight routes, improve access to and between the Christchurch International Airport, Lyttelton Port and freight hubs, as well as the development of a freight strategy to manage growth and improve the reliability of regional freight movement. Strong, reliable freight connections are critical and recognise Christchurch's role as the economic hub for the South Island. The city has an important role to play in this area, particularly in support of the work being done by the Government to upgrade/build the southern, western and northern corridors, which will increase the capacity of the city's roads to handle ever- increasing freight traffic safely and efficiently. The council is looking to respond to climate change and peak oil by seeking environmental enhancement opportunities in the rebuild and design of its transport networks and infrastructure.

To achieve the draft plan's final goal, it is recognised the city needs to increase vehicle occupancy (car pooling and priority parking for car pooling), develop intelligent transport systems, particularly information technology, and invest in attractive, safe networks to increase the number of people walking, cycling and using public transport. The council and UDS partners have spent time developing the draft plan, which will determine how Christchurch's transport network evolves and develops in the future. The focus of the plan is on agreeing the key directions which will help the council and its partners shape and prioritise their transport investment during the medium to long-term. The Draft Christchurch Transport Plan is a big- picture view of what needs to happen in the next 30 years to meet the challenges Christchurch faces to keep the city moving forward.

For more information and details of the community drop-in sessions visit ccc.govt.nz/christchurchtransportplan.

[Indictable]

Riccarton Road needs something serious done to it. Take away all Ric Rd car parking and have a bus lane or a second lane for each way.

[honeybear]

seems to be some serious talk in the town of Ashburton about a feasibility study into a commuter train between the two centres. Seems a little crazy at first however the business people in ashburton who are behind it seem to be very serious and are putting a proposal to Kiwirail. They are planning a daily chch - ashburton - chch service taking city commuters south to ashburton in the morning and back again in the afternoon. I presume they have done their initial ground work and believe there are the numbers.. seems hard to phathom when we cant even get sufficient numbers to warrant a akl - hamilton service and now palmy - wellington is even looking shakey.. and little old Ashburton with a population of what - 15,000 max??? certainly would love to see this sort of service work but not sure if it could??

[mathlete]

Wait, Christchurch to Ashburton in the morning then back in the afternoon? Wouldnt it make more sense to do it the other way around? Cant imagine many Chch folk would commute to Ashburton in the morning.

[nthbeach]

Originally Posted by mathlete

Wait, Christchurch to Ashburton in the morning then back in the afternoon? Wouldnt it make more sense to do it the other way around? Cant imagine many Chch folk would commute to Ashburton in the morning.

That's what I thought too. Any 1 car trains out there?

[metroman]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...transport-plan

[canterburywatch]

Hey fellows cantabs. I see building activity is starting to ramp up out near the airport. Construction of Spitfire Square is about to commence and new buildings at Dakota Park are going up.

Any news on the Memorial Ave/Russley Rd overpass?

Also a bit of news on the Southern Motorway Stage 2... Apparently NZTA is in talks with the Transport Minister to fast track this project due to the huge new subdivisions going in at Rolleston. Land surrounding the proposed SM2 path is also earmarked for new residential and commercial development.

[metroman]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opi...reen-transport

[Milan Luka]

Originally Posted by canterburywatch

Hey fellows cantabs. I see building activity is starting to ramp up out near the airport. Construction of Spitfire Square is about to commence and new buildings at Dakota Park are going up.

Any news on the Memorial Ave/Russley Rd overpass?

I was out there just last week. Lots of work taking place on the southern end of the airport- namely along Avonhead Rd. There's a couple of large warehouse style developments already in place.

Nothing happening with the interchange you mentioned. However work south of this intersection is going gangbusters. I suppose they want to ensure theres smooth traffic flow there before creating a massive bottleneck at one of the cities busiest intersections. You'll agree we are pretty impatient getting around town with constant road closures.

I can confirm work Johns Road in Belfast is underway. The massive line of trees that ran from Main North Rd to the Groynes turn off have been levelled. I can't be arsed trawling through Transit NZs website but it looks as though
the fourlane lane will follow the path of the exciting road.