What is the Arterial Traffic Study?

In considering how it will achieve the Community Outcomes in the 2009/19 Nelson Community Plan, Council has identified the arterial traffic study as one of its key initiatives.

In 2010, Council commissioned a study into the effects of arterial traffic flows to determine the best transport configuration between Annesbrook and the QEII/Haven Rd roundabouts that will improve the city as a whole in the long term. 

Council has engaged a consultant to undertake the study. The consultant will work with Council and New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) to ensure both are satisfied with the process and the deliverables at key stages.

Community engagement

Community engagement is a key element to the study. Communications with the public at large are to be of the highest standard. Throughout the study timeframe, the community will be presented with information to enable it to clearly understand the decisions made and to be measured and that all the issues have been adequately addressed.

Process timeframe

Between February and November 2010, the study will evaluate existing arterial traffic routes, select and evaluate the best arterial route options, and determine a preferred arterial transport configuration, for comparison with existing arterial traffic routes. NZTA will be included in the process, with their sign-off at the completion of each stage.

Why now?

In December 2008 the Regional Transport Committee completed the draft Regional Land Transport Strategy.  The strategy proposed a significant improvement in passenger transport services between Nelson and Richmond and acknowledged that if there is a need for additional roading capacity, the corridor along the railway reserve linking to the Annesbrook Drive roundabout is the logical potential route.  The strategy proposed to monitor/review the need for a new road along the “Railway Reserve” or high occupancy vehicle (HOV) clearways on SH6 and Waimea Rd/Rutherford St routes annually.

In February 2009, Council further identified that the potential benefits to the city of enhancing the waterfront area of Nelson required further consideration. Council also advised the Regional Transport Committee of its intention to commission a study into the effects of arterial traffic flows between the CBD/Port and Annesbrook roundabout.

The study was budgeted into the 2009/10 and 2010/2011 fiscal years of the Nelson Community Plan.

Terms of reference for the Arterial Traffic Study

Terms

PT = public transport

Objective

To determine the best transport configuration between Annesbrook and the QEII/Haven Rd roundabouts that will improve the city as a whole in the long term.

1 Evaluation of existing arterial traffic routes

  1. Model future traffic flows for 2016 and 2036 on the existing arterial routes between Annesbrook and the City assuming no additional roading capacity.
  2. (X) Model future traffic flows for 2016 and 2036 on the existing arterial routes between Annesbrook and the City assuming no additional roading capacity is made available except indirectly through the public transport improvements identified in the 2009-19 Community Plan for commencement in 2012/13.
  3. Ensure the model is peer reviewed and signed off by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
  4. Carry out a cost/benefit assessment of the existing arterial traffic routes for the city and region as a whole, in the long term, in terms of the impacts identified in 3(ii), for both the base model (1(i)), and the base with PT model (1(i)(X)).

2 Selection of best arterial route options

  1. Review and summarise all transport route options between Annesbrook and the City, including those options raised as part of the Nelson to Brightwater Corridor Study.
  2. Select those options likely to deliver the optimum transport route configurations for the city as a whole in the long term considering access to the CBD, waterfront, Port and State Highway.
  3. Obtain sign-off from NZTA that it is satisfied with the selected options.

3 Evaluation of best arterial route options

  1. Model these options for 2016 and 2036 traffic flows.
  2. Carry out a cost/benefit assessment of the options for the city and region as a whole in terms of, but not limited to:
    1. Economic impacts – transport efficiency, travel time reliability, safety, land values, capital investment, and economic and employment activity from retail, marine and tourism opportunities in the city,
    2. Social impacts – on community dislocation and severance, schools and preschools, local facilities, parks and community areas, housing, tourism and amenity activity,
    3. Environmental impacts – noise, air and water pollution, and
    4. Cultural impacts – archaeological and heritage sites.
  3. As part of the evaluation the future potential of Nelson’s Waterfront and the Victory Urban Village, with and without arterial traffic flows, and the consequent Waimea Road and Tahunanui/Annesbrook Drive traffic flows, will be considered.
  4. Where additional arterial transport routes are proposed, preliminary designs will be required to consider intersection treatments and any measures necessary to adequately address the direct and indirect environmental effects of those designs to ensure accurate cost estimates are used.  Liaise with the NZTA and obtain their sign-off for the preliminary designs.
  5. The assessment is to include interviews with all key stakeholders and open days for the affected communities to ensure all views and concerns are addressed and all benefits/disbenefits identified.
  6. On completion, obtain sign-off from the NZTA that it is satisfied with the cost/benefit assessments.

4 Determination of preferred arterial transport configuration and comparison with existing arterial traffic routes

  1. From the evaluation in 3 above, determine the preferred future transport route configuration that will improve the city as a whole in the long term.
  2. Compare this configuration to the existing arterial traffic routes (with and without PT) in terms of the future well-being of the region and its communities, and develop recommendations for consideration by Council.
  3. Consult with the NZTA on the recommendations and seek its approval.
  4. Present the study to Council in 2010.

Reference documents/studies and strategies

  • North Nelson to Brightwater Corridor Study
  • Gabites Porter Macro traffic model
  • Nelson City Council LTCCP
  • Nelson City Council Sustainability Policy
  • Nelson Urban Growth Strategy 2006
  • Draft RLTS and RLTP
  • Heart of Nelson - Central City Strategy
  • Tahunanui Structure Plan
  • Nelson Resource Management Plan, including the Air Quality Plan
  • NZTA Cliff Management Strategy
  • NZTA economic evaluation manual
  • Environment Court decision on Southern Link
  • Social Wellbeing Policy
  • Pedestrian and Cycle Strategies

Read more on the reference materials for the Arterial Traffic Study.

Key Stakeholders

  • Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce
  • Port Nelson Ltd.
  • NELSUST Inc.
  • NZ Road Transport Association
  • Victory Community Association
  • Automobile Association
  • Bicycle Nelson Bays
  • Nelson Marlborough District Health Board
  • Tahunanui Business Association Incorporated
  • Waimea Road and Rutherford Street Businessmen’s and Resident Incorporated Society
  • Ministry of Education and relevant school and pre-school principals
  • Nelson Tasman Regional Economic Development Agency
  • Nelson Tasman Tourism
  • Save Nelson's Waterfront and Rocks Road Association
  • Motel Association of New Zealand
  • Nelson Heritage Advisory Group
  • Nelson Forests Ltd.
  • SBL Group Ltd.
  • Friends of Nelson Haven
  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
  • Sustainable Transport Futures
  • Local MP’s
  • Police
  • Fire Service
  • Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management Group