Regional Transport Committee Approved Organisation Update March 2016 ORGANISATION NAME: Horowhenua District Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Mayor Brendan Duffy 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS The 2015-16 renewals and minor improvements work have progressed well with the onset of the warmer weather. Over half of the annual reseals were completed in January with the remainder planned for completion in early March. The AWPT on Tane Road is nearly complete and the AWPT on CD Farm Road has progressed well with the overlay aspect due to start shortly. Emergency Works the final remedial work from the weather event of the 19/20 June, that caused damage to parts of the roading network, is being completed. The final cost will be below the initial estimate. Joint Roading Maintenance Contract - The contract with Higgins is going well. Regular meetings and workshops between the three councils and Higgins staff are being held to provide continuous improvement to the delivery of the contract and to ensure that expectations are aligned. The Tane Road AWPT includes improvements to the Tane Rd / Linton Drain Road intersection, to move it further from the single lane bridge. The bridge has been struck multiple times by trucks and milk tankers turning out of the intersection onto the bridge. Foxton Main St Redevelopment has progressed with the final design due in March. The final project dates are subject to change but planning at this stage is around an August 2016 start date. 2. WALKING AND CYCLING The footpath renewal work has continued. McKenzie Street from Makomako Road to Keepa Street is to have a full footpath renewal on both sides of the road. Construction of the new pedestrian refuge planned in Salisbury Street, adjacent to Reevdon Home, has been pushed out and will now be constructed in the New Year. LTP submissions highlighted pedestrian issues around the Queen Street and service lane intersection. Safety initiatives were investigated, including making the service lane one way, and consultation is being carried out with affected businesses that back onto the service lane. 3. ROAD SAFETY The Horowhenua Road Safety Action Plan committee continues to meet on a regular basis. The Horowhenua Road Safety Group, a forum for community groups/organisations to come together, is now meeting regularly and is being chaired by Councillor Tony Rush. 4. PLANNING Discussions/consultation between Horowhenua District Council and the Transport Agency continue around the Otaki to Levin section of the RoNS. Discussions have centered on the Waitarere
Curves section and route options around the Manakau area. The Transport Agency is planning to carry out further consultation within the next two months. Boffa, with assistance from Beca, are working on a study of the transport requirements around Levin, its interactions with the State Highway network and the effect of the RoNS. ORGANISATION NAME: Horizons Regional Council RTC REPRESENTATIVES: Cr. Bruce Gordon, Cr. Rachel Keedwell 1. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Work is advancing on implementing a number of new trial services to commence during the 2016 calendar year, including a Wanganui to Palmerston North commuter service, the Levin Day Out In Town service, a new service covering the Summerhill area in Palmerston North and a regular weekday service between Ashhurst and Palmerston North. Work is also underway on the business case for the enhancements to the Palmerston North urban bus services. The business case is expected to be complete by April-May 2016. Tender documents have been released for the re-tender of the Levin to Palmerston North commuter service and a review is underway of the Marton to Palmerston North service to see if this can be incorporated into the Wanganui to Palmerston North trial service. In February 2016, the Passenger Transport and Strategy and Policy Committees endorsed a submission on the Small Passenger Services Review consultation paper. The small passenger services sector includes taxi, private hire, shuttle, dial a driver and ridesharing services and will have some impact on the delivery of the Total Mobility Scheme. 2. ROAD SAFETY Work continues on implementing the regional Road Safety programme for the current year. Further detail can be found in the Road Safety Update report contained elsewhere in the agenda. 3. PLANNING Planning has begun for the Regional Land Transport Plan 2018-21. A separate report on this is included elsewhere in the agenda. ORGANISATION NAME: Manawatu District Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Mayor Margaret Kouvelis 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS The new road maintenance contract is now in its eighth month. There have been some settling in issues, notably problems experienced by the contractors ability to deliver rural roadside mowing operations. Several factors added to this issue including poor subcontractor support and lack of available replacement plant, now with a district wide fire ban in place this has further delayed mowing. Despite these settling in issues the relationship between Higgins Contractors Limited (Higgins) and Manawatu District Council is good. The annual reseal programme is progressing well and is approximately 25% complete. Higgins are undertaking annual resealing for all three councils under the collaborative maintenance contracts, all programmes are on track to be completed within the expected time frames. The new streetlight maintenance contract is also in its eighth month. This contract involves a collaborative approach but unlike the road maintenance contract it is a single contract which covers
streetlight maintenance for both the Manawatu and Horowhenua District Councils. The contract is tracking well with positive relationships in place between the two councils and the contractor, Alf Downs Streetlighting Limited. Investigation into a district wide LED replacement programme including funding is continuing. A collaborative contract between Manawatu, Rangitikei and Horowhenua District Councils for Annual Pavement Marking was awarded to Road Marking Services Limited at the end of December 2015. Two bridges on Reserve Road have been identified through the bridge inspection programme as being deficient for this HPMV route, renewals are planned for 2016-17. Condition monitoring of these bridges will be undertaken on a monthly basis until they are replaced. The Transport Agency carried out a procedural and technical audit of MDC operations in October 2015, the report is due within the next few months. 2. CAPITAL PROGRAMME Pharazyn Street Stage 2 Arnott Street to Roots Street, growth project. The contract works are well underway and approximately 30% complete, completion is expected by the end of May 2016. Minor safety improvements for the corner on Halcombe Road at the intersection of Fergusson Road are 75% through the design and planning stage. We are currently in the process of land acquisition with physical works completion expected this financial year. Minor safety improvements at the junction of Awahuri Feilding Road and Lees Road are in the design and planning stage with physical works planned for the 2016-17 financial year. Pavement rehabilitation of Taipo Road between Fairfeild Road and Highden Road has been deferred until a bridge within the design area is assessed and is either widened or replaced. Pavement rehabilitation of McKays Line is underway with completion of physical works expected by the end of February. Design of pavement rehabilitation for a 1.4km section of Rongotea Road east of Lockwood Road is complete with construction commencing in early March. We are currently finalising the last 2015-16 pavement rehabilitation site at McDonell Road. Seal extension at Cheltenham Cross Road pavement preparation and drainage improvements were undertaken last year, sealing of the entire length of 4.5km is expected to be completed in two stages with completion in the 2016-17 financial year. Seal Extension at Makoura Road pavement preparation and drainage improvements are in the planning stage and will be started this financial year. This project will be undertaken in two stages, stage one from the Cone Creek Bridge to Makoura Lodge (1km section) is expected to be completed by June 30 2016, stage two from Makoura Lodge to meet the existing seal near Apiti (4.5km section) will be undertaken in the 2016-17 financial year. 3. EMERGENCY WORKS The initial response repairs following the June 2015 weather event have been completed. The majority of the permanent reinstatement work required is repair of underslips, there are multiple sites on multiple roads requiring construction of retaining walls to reinstate a safe road width. There are also three bridges which require extensive repair or replacement, a temporary Bailey bridge is in place on Arapata Road, the other two bridges are passable with restrictions. Contracts for the permanent reinstatement work are currently being prepared. The total cost estimate for emergency works is being refined monthly as contracts are let. The current estimate is $3.8M. There have been barriers to expeditious design and procurement for many of the more complex repairs. This has been due to a significant number of sites throughout the Wanganui, South Taranaki, Rangitikei and Manawatu districts which have put a drain on available professional design services. It is anticipated that this problem may continue into the construction phase as
each authority tries to get the repairs undertaken by a limited number of skilled and experienced contractors. 4. WALKING AND CYCLING Concept planning is underway for the Feilding to Palmerston North cycle way. 5. OTHER Manawatu District Council has recently appointed John Jones as Roading Asset Manager. John joins MDC from the New Zealand Transport Agency and brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous experiences with Transport Agency and other local authority roles. ORGANISATION NAME: Palmerston North City Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Cr Jim Jeffries 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS Resealing contracts for the 2015-16 construction season have now been largely completed. The contract for chipseal and asphaltic concrete (AC) surfacing was for a total of $1,732,559 and was awarded to Higgins Contractors. The contract covers 282,329m 2 of chipseal surfaces and 21,518m 2 of AC surfaces. The latter work includes a section of John F Kennedy Drive which should be completed by March 2016. Area wide pavement treatment to rehabilitate roading pavement in Tremaine Avenue and Railway Road are complete. 2. CAPITAL PROGRAMME Subsidised work Construction of a roundabout at Cambridge Avenue and Mulgrave Street in Ashhurst is complete. The roundabout is at the junction where state highway traffic turns on the alternate route in operation when the Manawatu Gorge is closed. Route signage for the new roundabout junction is being designed and will be implemented early in the new year. Non-subsidised work Council will shortly be going out to tender for the reconstruction of James Line. The Council budget for 2015-16 is $2.247m and involves the section of road between State Highway 3 and the railway line. The work includes installation of services, footpaths, streetlights, drainage channels and new side road connections. The carriageway will be constructed to collector road standard. Construction will allow planned residential growth to occur on both sides of the road. Stage 4 is planned for 2016-17 and will complete the section at the northern end to the intersection with Kelvin Grove Road. 3. EMERGENCY WORKS Work to reinstate roads and pathways damaged in the June 2015 storm event is now complete with the exception of Flygers Line. Reinstatement of that road is more complex and options will be reported to Council in May 2016 for decisions before work is completed. 4. WALKING AND CYCLING Work has commenced on design of the proposed pathway to Linton Camp from the Fitzherbert Avenue Bridge. A Steering Group for the pathway and bridge project has been formed and a
project manager has been appointed. A tender for professional services associated with the bridge project has been awarded to Opus International Consultants. The consultant will be responsible for completing the investigation stages, including the business case, and carrying out consultation with the community. Subsequent phases for consent, design and construction will be contracted out once this work is completed. A Tender for first stage of the path construction is expected to be awarded in February with construction likely to start in April 2016. Stage 1 of the path will follow the river from the Fitzherbert Avenue bridge to the Turitea Stream mouth. The second stage of the path linking to the army camp at Bells Road is still being investigated. Several minor bridge structures will be required. The preliminary budget for the entire project is $9.6 million. As part of the New Zealand Transport Agency programmed intersection upgrade at Rangitikei Street (SH3) and Tremaine Avenue a footpath extension has been completed to the top of the overbridge. By agreement PNCC will complete the remainder of the footpath from the top of the overbridge to Bennett Street through the minor improvement programme. The physical works will be tendered within the next month with the work expected to be completed by 30 June 2016. This will provide a complete facility suitable for pedestrians and cyclists in both directions, providing improved access, particularly for school students accessing three high schools in the area. Budgeted cost is $300,000. 5. PLANNING Council s Integrated Transport Strategy was adopted in November 2015. Work to develop a programme business case will be undertaken in the 2016-17 financial year and will form the basis of an implementation plan for future capital expenditure programmes. Work has started on a strategic business case for the transport components of the Food HQ proposal. Investment Logic Mapping was completed in December 2015 and a draft Strategic Business Case has been received. The next stage for development of a Programme Business Case was approved for funding in December 2015 and is expected to start in March 2016. ORGANISATION NAME: Rangitikei District Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Mayor Andy Watson 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS The maintenance of the roading network of RDC has at times been let down by delays by the contractor to react to the identified situation. This could be applicable to the so called settling in phase. Considerable effort within the roading team to address this fact takes place regularly to ensure a positive forward movement. The mowing of the network s berms especially has suffered due to the lateness of the commencement of the mowing and subsequently the network has been out of the accepted contract standard and basically still is. Higgins at one stage had up to six mowers on the network but due to the height of the grass, progress was very slow. This has caused a major concern not only to RDC management but also the ratepayers. Higgins has been issued a non-conformance. Higgins had reacted most positively to the emergency works work and the majority of the work that has been carried out by them has been carried out to a good standard. Higgins still is carrying out remedial work applicable to the June 2015 event and is doing a relatively good job. The crew based out of Taihape is keeping the northern section of the network fairly well under control. Metaling of the unsealed sections is continuing. Due to the extremely hot weather that is being experienced on the Napier Taihape Road, especially the Gentle Annie, some serious flushing has taken place but is under control. The lighting contract for RDC is about to expire with the new one to commence on 1 March 2016 let to ADSL.
The footpath renewal programme has six sites planned for this year. The intention is two contracts incorporating the capital element also are planned a northern and southern contract similar to the previous year. Currently on hold. 2. CAPITAL PROGRAMME The resurfacing contract commenced in mid January for RDC with this work being carried out by the Higgins crew from the Wairarapa. The standard of work to date is very good. The only site planned for an AWPT for this year is a site on Wanganui Road within the urban area and this project is a combined one with Utilities. Work has commenced and is well advanced. The capital footpath programme is indicating five sites but currently on hold. 3. EMERGENCY WORKS Stage 1 of the June 2015 storm event, this is the cleanup phase i.e. removal of slips, drainage clean up, clearing of culverts etc., has now been completed. This clean up involved expenditure of approximately $3 million. Some 37 drop out sites have been identified as projects and the intention is to let them in packages, of which three packages have been let and are currently underway (value $580,000.00). Four sites comprising a package are about to be let with the design element completed. The remaining 25 sites are still in the design phase. One road still basically remains closed on the network and this is Mount Curl, although it is open to small vehicles. This site is currently undergoing an intensive investigation and looking at a number of options to mitigate. On going dialogue with the landowners to ensure they are kept well in the loop continues. An experienced bridge consultant is currently working on a bridge design for the replacement of a bridge over the Pourewa stream Rata which is currently serviced by a bailey bridge. The recommendation will go to Council in April 2016. 4. OTHER A new roading engineer has joined the RDC team - Philip Gifford ex MWH who replaced Kevin Whelan. Also changes to the Higgins senior management team RDC where Bryce Balsley has replaced Neil O Hara. ORGANISATION NAME: Ruapehu District Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Mayor Don Cameron 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS Health and Safety The new legislation changes come into effect of 4 April 2016. Staff are receiving training on the new requirements and responsibilities of the legislation as well as how collectively we can support each other improve Health and Safety outcomes. It is proposed that all contractors working in the road environment under the Transport Team have a joint focus on new legislative requirements at regular depot meetings to help ensure all contractors continue to understand their roles and comply with health and safety requirements and responsibilities.
General and Sealed Pavement The Roadmen have spent 876 hours and travelled 8,142km undertaking routine works such as culvert waterblasting and clearing, filling potholes and edgebreaks, repairing signs and sight rails, clearing detritus and fallen trees, cleaned four bridges, sealed 4,880m 2 of seal repairs and picked up dumped offal and rubbish from two sites. Vegetation Control Mulch & Mow undertook arm (high lift) mowing in the Kaitieke Valley and Pipiriki Valley during the month as well as on the unsealed roads south of Raetihi. Water channel spraying was carried out predominantly in the Ruatiti area. Berm mowing on sealed roads took place across the central district. A total of 156kms of arm mowing, 321kms of roadside spraying and 110kms of berm mowing was achieved during December. Unsealed Pavement Maintenance The two maintenance graders continue to work across both the northern and southern regions. Grader driver Francie Collerton retired in December and will be sorely missed for his attention to detail and considerable grading experience. He is succeeded by Peter Hamiora who is determined to continue the same quality of workmanship. The application of maintenance metal to the network roads is minimised during the dry summer months as the lack of moisture prohibits the binding quality of the aggregate. Heavy Maintenance and Improvements The majority of the work during the month has been reinstatement of 16 Emergency Work sites on eight roads. Slips (Minor Events), trees and detritus cleared on 10 roads, carted sealing chip to one stockpile site, water channels cleared on six roads, repaired large softspots on two roads, replaced four culverts, supplied pipes for two large culvert replacement sites and undertook retreats on four minor improvement sites. Pavement rehabilitation 2015-16 Ohakune Mountain Road: Work on Ohakune Mountain Road continued with vegetation removal throughout December, pavement construction is now well underway with first coast sealing expected in late February 2016. Of interest is the harvesting of Toii from the work site by Ngati Rangi and Uenuku. It was decided to harvest the larger Toii and attempt to relocate the smaller plants. The small and medium sized Toii were relocated to the Marae and nearby location on the Ohakune Mountain Road. The below photos show Sara Roberts watering the baby Toii after relocation to the Marae and Jilesen Contractors working with iwi to relocate a medium sized Toii. It is noted that the translocation and growing of Toii is a difficult process and there may be immediate or delayed effects to its health. Poro O Tarao Road Designs are complete with works programmes for late in the season. This site may be deferred if poor weather defers start dates. Whangaehu Valley Road Works were competed in January 2016 Ruapehu Road The site is being established and construction teams will be transferred to the site as the OMR works become complete. The table below is a summary of all pavement rehabilitation sites for the year.
Work Order Road Name Location (km) Length (km) Status Estimate ($0,000) 1 Whangaehu Valley 6.40-8.02 1.62 Complete $475.0 Road 2 Ohakune Mountain 1.46-2.88 1.42 Construction $472.9 Road 3 Ruapehu Road 0.03 1.32 1.29 Establishment $329.2 4 Ohura Road 35.20 0.56 Design $157.9 35.76 5 Ohura Road 13.25 1.26 Design $359.1 14.69 6 Poro O Tarao Road 2.12 4.32 1.05 Design $294.0 Total Pavement 7.20 $2,088.10 Rehabilitation 2. CAPITAL PROGRAMME Bridge renewals Waitewhena Rail Over Bridge is programmed for renewal this financial year and is expected to be complete by June 2016. Works to date include site survey and design consideration for both a level crossing and single span bridge. Both options will be evaluated prior to the final option being recommended. Negotiations continue with KiwiRail to discuss relaxing the clearance rules to minimise cost. Application of the rules over a mothballed line (Stratford-Okahukura Line) will add significant unnecessary cost should the line not reopen. Council is seeking to commit to additional clearance works in the future should the line reopen and additional clearances be required. Bridge 353 Upokonui Stream culvert on Whanganui River Road about 2.2km south of Pipiriki, suffered deterioration during the 20 June emergency event. The replacement bridge was completed during December and the site blessed and formally opened by Ngati Kurawhatia. The River Road is now fully accessible although there are many sites still to be repaired in both Ruapehu and Whanganui Districts. 3. EMERGENCY WORKS Heavy rain on 20-21 June led to the largest flood in Whanganui for 84 years. Significant damage estimated at $4.86m has occurred to the network, this has risen from $3.8m due to the inclusion of the Upokonui Bridge at Pipiriki in flood damage works. The majority of the initial response clean-up has been completed and site safe initial response is nearing completion. There are 257 major work sites throughout the District as a result of the event. The table below represents the December and Year End estimates. Estimated Expenditure 2015-16 Estimate December 2015 Initial Response Estimate $400,000 $1,376,836 Major Works Estimate $1,611,024 $2,644,306 Professional Services $223,163 $475,268 Total Estimated Expenditure $2,234,187 $4,496,410 4. WALKING AND CYCLING There was limited activity in walking and cycling for the period however funding for the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail has been secured from the New Cycle Trail (MBIE) Great Rides
maintenance and enhancement fund for distance marking, interpretation and way finding. This work is expected to be completed this financial year in association the DoC and Whanganui District Council. Routine trail maintenance is programmed for March - April 2016. 5. ROAD SAFETY The revised 2015-16 joint Road Safety Action Plan between Ruapehu District Council, New Zealand Transport Agency, Horizons Regional Council, NZ Police and other road safety partners has been agreed. The RSAP adopts the Safer Systems approach and aligns with the National Road Safety campaigns and advertising calendar. Road Safety advertising campaigns have been delivered over the festive season with a focus on international drivers (keep left), fatigue and alcohol. 6. PLANNING The Ruapehu District Council has been part of the Local Government Focus Group assisting the Ministry of Transport and Statistic NZ to produce a Transport Domain Plan for New Zealand. The goal of the Transport Domain Plan is to ensure the right transport statistics and information are collected and shared efficiently and effectively to maximise the economic and social benefits of the transport system and minimise harm. Our stakeholder engagement process developed 45 enduring questions, 108 recommendations across 11 topics, and 9 overarching recommendations to help achieve this goal. The Ruapehu District represented low volume networks as part of a local government team comprising Auckland Transport, Southland District, Napier City and Greater Wellington Regional Council transport staff. The publication of the final Transport Domain Plan is expected mid 2016 with the team being assembled in March to review the current draft findings and feedback. ORGANISATION NAME: Tararua District Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Mayor Roly Ellis 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS As targeted our Preseal repairs where completed and 60km of Reseals have been completed prior to Christmas. With previous sealing seasons work has not commenced until January/February of the following years so this has been very positive to complete work prior to Christmas. Work has also continued on the 2015-16 Pavement Rehabilitation with crews currently working on the Weber Road Sections
2. EMERGENCY WORKS Design work has continued on repairing damage following the September 2015 Event. One of the significant sites being this damage which has occurred on River Road located towards the Coastal Area. Estimated work to repair being approximately $ 300,000. 3. SADDLE ROAD UPGRADE Good progress has been made on sites on Saddle Road along with the Ashhurst Roundabout nearing completion. Sites which have been completed are the sections nearest the Saddle Road Bridge on the Manawatu Section with sealing completed and overlays completed to the Tararua District Council Boundary. The section from the Tararua District Council Boundary is currently under construction with Pavement being constructed and earthworks nearing completion to remove the very narrow winding section of the road. A further completed section is also the section of road near the Meridian Headquarters.
Site three completed cut batters Sealed Meridian entrance (Site three) Site three completed seal looking toward Cook Road
Site seven completed seal Site Three completed Beginning of site five works
ORGANISATION NAME: Whanganui District Council RTC REPRESENTATIVE: Mayor Annette Main 1. MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS AND RENEWALS Road maintenance delivery continues to be delivered through the Whanganui Alliance, a Private- Public performance tensioned shared-risk contract with Downer, with specialist support from specialist consultants. 2. CAPITAL PROGRAMME This year two key projects will be commencing: o LED Street Lighting upgrade o Whanganui Urban Shared Pathway Project (refer to Walking and Cycling below) 3. WALKING AND CYCLING Council is currently preparing tender documents for the first stage of the Urban Cycleway Programme. This will be a shared pathway from the Whanganui City Bridge, under Cobham Bridge and on to Bedford Avenue. 4. EMERGENCY WORKS Emergency Works arising from the October 2013 event has been estimated at $3.6M, with $2.7M having been repaired by 30 June 2015. The remaining $900,000 (earthworks) have recommenced and be completed during this construction season. On the 20 June 2015 another emergency event impacted on 79% of Council s rural roads and 7% of the urban roading network. Over a thousand major slips and dropouts have been identified and the reinstatement of our roading network has been estimated at $25M, with just under $9.5M along the Whanganui River Road alone. The Transport Agency has resolved to enhance the reinstatement of the Whanganui River Road at 100% FAR and the remainder at the standard rates. 5. ROAD SAFETY The Road Safety Action Plan (RSAP) group, consisting of Council, Horizons, Police, ACC, DHB and the Transport Agency, will be meeting again in late February 2016. This working group has a good understanding of each other s goals and programs.
6. OTHER Roading managers are currently working on the transition process to the One Network Road Classification (ONRC) system and its full integration by 1 July 2018. Council s significant 10-year roading issue remains the need to reinvest an additional $18M to reinstate the roads damaged by the hauling of 15 million tonnes of timber (worth $1.5B) through its rural roads.