Mark Wassung

Tauranga CONNECT

DATE: 21 October 2016

DESIGN: Mark Wassung – Registered Architect & Urban Designer

PROJECT: Tauranga CONNECT Multimodal Transport Network – VISION 2020 to 2030 – THE CONNECTED FUTURE OF TAURANGA

VISION: The time has come for a City changing piece of infrastructure for the people of Tauranga and Tourists.

GOAL: “Transport as a service for the people of Tauranga with smart, sustainable, solutions to congestion NOW and for future generations”.

OBJECTIVES: Decongestion, Safe, Accessible, Simple, Sustainable, Legible, Fun, Tourism, Futuristic, Colourful, Engaging.

INSPIRATION: G-LINK Gold Coast Australia and The Hague Netherlands, the Election Campaign 2016 standing for Councillor at Large for Tauranga City Council 2016, talking to people, congestion is the biggest problem, particularly in Cameron Road and Turret Road. This motivated me to come up with this Concept Design.

DESIGN DESCRIPTION: This would be a Transformational, Progressive and Futuristic piece of Infrastructure for Tauranga. The RED Cameron Road Light Rail Line is proposed as Stage 1 with the other Lines being supported by Bus Service until future Light Rail Line Stages could be considered. Park and Ride Parking Terrains on the end of the Lines would be essential to designate now for sufficient space allocation to allow for this Future Vision. Maori Culture is an integral part of this Multimodal Transport Network by including 7 existing Marae on the Lines. The New Light Rail Bridge structure to Matapihi could provide Structural Support to the Existing Rail Bridge to bring this up to current Earthquake Seismic Structural requirements. I propose a Future Ocean Terminal with a Light Rail Line that clips onto the Harbour Bridge, Line connections to the Airport and City plus Heritage Sites like the Elms and Historic Village, as well as the Hospitals and Schools. The primary goal here is to take the traffic congestion away from Cameron Road. The G-Link Trams example has capacity for 300 people per Tram with 10 Trams on a Line. This would result in 3000 people being able to be moved at once. This means that the 3 Schools in Cameron Road could have all the students catch the Trams and be moved to the end of the Cameron Road Line and remove the congestion from parent pickup.

DELIVERY: The RED Cameron Road Line – Light Rail could be provided as a backbone to this Network, this could be looked at like investment in Sewage or Water Infrastructure ie. generational borrowing but providing for future generations. This RED Cameron Road Line could be done in smaller stages, kilometre by kilometre or block or block.

FLEXIBILITY: This Network allows for flexibility and different modes of transport as well as working over time in a way that fits rates base as the population increases. This will grow as the City grows but is a PLAN for the Future 2020 to 2030 for delivery. This Network could be staged.

GENERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE: The RED Cameron Road Line – Light Rail could be provided as a backbone to this Network, this could be looked at like investment in Sewage or Water Infrastructure ie. generational borrowing but providing for future generations. This RED Cameron Road Line could be done in smaller stages, kilometre by kilometre or block or block.

COSTS: I am getting Costs for overhead lines, trams, concrete, lines and stops per km from a Quantity Surveyor using precedent of the G-Link Gold Coast and Auckland Light Rail.

WORKING GROUP: I propose a Working Group of 12 people.

  • Project Champion
  • Bay of Plenty Regional Council – Councillor
  • Tauranga City Council – Mayor or Councillor
  • Port of Tauranga Representative
  • Tauranga Business People – Maori and Pakeha represented
  • Tauranga Maori Iwi – 3 Tribes
  • Priority One
  • Biking Tauranga
  • Tourism Tauranga
  • Mark Wassung – Registered Architect and Urban Designer
  • Member of Parliament
  • NZTA New Zealand Transport Agency

I propose regular Workshop touch points with the Public, Key Stakeholders, an integrated and community based approach so that the people of Tauranga take ownership of this Bold New Vision.

Tauranga CONNECT Multimodal Transport Network – LINES

CAMERON RD RED LINE:

Bus Route or Driverless Bus of Light Rail

The RED LINE establishes a connection between the Racecourse in the South of Tauranga all the way North to the Mount and the beaches provide many solutions to current congestion issues being faced along our cities most important spine. People living outside of the CBD can take advantage of the FREE Park & Ride facility at the end of the line and ride the different modes of transport and head up the line. It may be school kids on their way to Tauranga Primary, Tauranga Girls’ College or Tauranga Boys’ College as this line connects them all. Perhaps they are students travelling to the Polytech or the New Waikato University City Campus, they will no longer require a vehicle to transport them. On the weekends there will be no need to contend with traffic at the beach, simply grab your surfboard, jump onboard the Tauranga CONNECT and you’ll find yourself at the beach in no time, leaving you with time to connect with friends and family during the trip rather than getting worked up, hot and bothered driving in circles only to find a car park miles away from where you want to be.

BEACH ORANGE LINE:

Bus Route or Driverless Bus of Light Rail

This ORANGE LINE is proposed as Stage 2 of the Light Rail mode of transport. This allows people of all ages to access FUN amenities without using a car. The Line starts at the CBD and Waterfront then travels across the picturesque Historic Rail Bridge to Matapihi, engaging with Hungahungatoroa Marae where Maori Culture can be experienced, then ASB Arena Baypark where existing Parking areas could be utilised for Park and Ride Terrains, Also on the ORANGE LINE are Bayfair Shopping Centre and Baywave Aquatic Centre, Ocean Beach Road and Marine Parade. The Beach Line allows for stops at the Beaches protected by Lifeguards at Omanu Beach, Tay Street and The Mount Beach. This Line also connects with the Golf Courses, Mount Maunganui College and the Airport.

HEAVY RAIL GREY LINE:

Passenger Train Service

Stage 1 – the existing single track could be a SHUTTLE TRAIN SERVICE that goes one way between Bethlehem Rd Station and Emerald Shores Station and then return on a regular basis, with minimal intervention of simple raised Platforms with Shelters over Seating and Park/Ride Terrains adjacent. The same SHUTTLE SERVICE could be done from Bayfair to the Port. Stage 2 – new sidings or double tracking to allow Motor Coach or 2/3 Passenger Carriages to operate in conjunction with the existing Goods Train service. The Heavy Rail Network could be modified to have a new section of Rail clipped onto the concrete Harbour Bridge shown in RED RAIL, this would allow the Matapihi Rail Bridge to be freed up for the proposed future Stage 2 – ORANGE LINE Light Rail connecting the CBD/Waterfront with the Beach. CHANGE STATIONS would be added between Baypark and Bayfair as well as in the CBD/Waterfront that allows passengers to change modes of transport. This GREY LINE could be a staged, progressive approach. With increased rates base over time this infrastructure could be provided for future generations. The long-term goal here is to DOUBLE UP the Track between Omokoroa and Te Puke. As Omokoroa develops, a SHUTTLE TRAIN SERVICE could be run between Omokoroa and Bethlehem Rd Station to alleviate some of the Roading pressure from the West. The SHUTTLE TRAIN could park to the side of the main Rail Line while mainline traffic passes unimpeded.

WELCOME BAY BLUE LINE:

Bus Route

The BLUE LINE that allows Senior Citizens from the Bob Owens Village and other facilities nearby to access amenities in the City, Bayfair Shopping Centre, Baywave and the Hot Pools at the Mount. Also on the BLUE LINE are Welcome Bay Shops. We want to encourage local residents to add their local content and creativity by designing Benches, Bins, Bus Stops, Pump Tracks and Playgrounds that are particular to the LINE………sketch and draw, reflect your context and culture. We need to identify existing walking tracks and lanes so we can fill in the gaps and create circuits and a connected network. We propose the establishment of FRUIT TREE GROVES near Park & Ride Stations and Pump Tracks.

MATAPIHI LIGHT GREEN LINE:

Bus Route

The LIGHT GREEN LINE that allows connection from the Racecourse to the Crossing, the Lakes, Grace Hospital, the Polytech, Changepoint Church, ILA Reserve “Rules & Skills” Bike Facility on miniature road and crossings layout, Pump Track, Maungatapu Shopping Centre and Maungatapu Marae. We want to encourage local residents to add their local content and creativity by designing Benches, Bins, Bus Stops, Pump Tracks and Playgrounds that are particular to the LINE………sketch and draw, reflect your context and culture. We need to identify existing walking tracks and lanes so we can fill in the gaps and create circuits and a connected network. We propose the establishment of FRUIT TREE GROVES near Park & Ride Stations and Pump Tracks.

PAPAMOA PURPLE LINE:

Bus Route or Driverless Bus of Light Rail

The PURPLE LINE that starts as a Bus Route and then could be converted to Light Rail in the future similar to the G-Link Light Rail on the Gold Coast Australia, by using the flat, wide space of the grass edge of the sand dunes. Stops would be regular and the carriages allow people to bring on surfboards, umbrellas and beach volleyball. The stops would be regular and allow quick and easy access to the Beach. We want to encourage local residents to add their local content and creativity by designing Benches, Bins, Bus Stops, Pump Tracks and Playgrounds that are particular to the LINE………sketch and draw, reflect your context and culture. We need to identify existing walking tracks and lanes so we can fill in the gaps and create circuits and a connected network. We propose the establishment of FRUIT TREE GROVES near Park & Ride Stations and Pump Tracks.

e-BIKE DARK GREEN LINE:

This DARK GREEN LINE is a 2 way super highway for e-Bikes (Electric Bikes), a safe zone that is separate from the road but parallel with the REDLINE. GREEN HUB STATIONS provide change rooms, lockers, showers, toilets, cafes, bike parks and bike hire. Located nearby are PUMP TRACKS for all ages that encourage your learn and practice I a safe environment how to ride bikes, scooters and skateboards plus learn Miniature Street Layout facilities to help teach the skills and rules of the road. This would encourage more parents and children to use the Line. I am a strong believer in creating CIRCUITS that allow loops of routes and variety. The New City University Campus and the 3 Schools could be encouraged to provide larger Cycle Parking facilities to encourage greater use to alleviate congestion. Future Light Rail should be bike friendly and allow access for rider and bike.