QTS-018 · Engagement report · 2019

Smarter journeys, together. Community Engagement Summary

A 12-page summary of the first Wakatipu Way to Go community engagement campaign (1-22 April 2019), run by QLDC, the NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) and Otago Regional Council. The campaign presented the partnership's projects: Frankton to Queenstown Town Centre business cases, the Wakatipu Active Travel Network, the Frankton Masterplan and Integrated Transport PBC, Grant Road to Kawarau Falls Bridge, and the Wakatipu ferry business case. Responses included 246 online surveys, 374 post-it ideas and conversations with over 700 people; 97% of those surveyed were local. Results: 71% usually travel by private car and 75% said subsidised or free transport would encourage change. On high capacity public transport, 58% preferred the existing Frankton Road route and 42% preferred mass rapid transit along Queenstown Hill from Frankton to Queenstown over the other options proposed. 48% rated high frequency as most important. 68% do not use the ferry. The summary also gives results on parking, trails and priorities for Frankton, plus selected comments.

What the document says

Context and purpose: The Wakatipu Way to Go group (QLDC, NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) and Otago Regional Council) ran its first community engagement campaign from 1 to 22 April 2019. It asked people to help plan safe, accessible and connected transport (p.2). The partners' leaders sign a foreword: Mayor Jim Boult, Jim Harland (NZTA) and Chairman Stephen Woodhead (ORC) (p.3).

Scope: The engagement presented the Frankton to Queenstown Town Centre work (the Queenstown Town Centre DBC and the Frankton to Queenstown SSBC), the Wakatipu Active Travel Network SSBC, the Frankton Masterplan and Integrated Transport PBC, the Grant Road to Kawarau Falls Bridge SSBC and the Wakatipu Ferry DBC. It also covered transport modelling, PT demand and capacity analysis and the parking strategy (p.4).

Method and reach: 246 online surveys, 374 post-it ideas, 969 webpage views, a Facebook reach of 33,239, and conversations with over 700 people at presentations, stalls, by phone and face to face. 97% of those surveyed were local and 3% were NZ visitors (p.5).

Findings: 71% usually travel in a personal car (p.5). 75% said subsidised or free transport would encourage them to change; 59% supported reducing on-street parking on Shotover Street to widen footpaths; 55% supported traffic signals on Shotover Street; 51% would pay more for parking if it meant fewer cars in the town centre; 68% use trails daily or weekly; 83% use trails for fitness or fun and 36% also to get to school or work (p.6). On public transport, 58% preferred the existing Frankton Road route for a future high capacity link and 42% preferred mass rapid transit along Queenstown Hill; 48% rated high frequency most important; 68% do not use the ferry and 3% use it to commute (p.7). The top ferry improvements were lower fares, a more convenient stop and a travel card valid on any public transport. The top Frankton priorities were walking and cycling routes, better parks and reserves, and high-frequency local PT (p.7). Pages 8-10 give selected comments.

Mass rapid transit: The summary reports a direct public preference question on the route for a future high capacity public transport link between Frankton and Queenstown. 58% preferred the existing Frankton Road route and 42% preferred 'a gondola along Queenstown Hill from Frankton to Queenstown' (p.7). It does not give the question wording, the options presented or the number of respondents to this question. The summary draws no conclusions or recommendations from the result.

Key figures

246 online surveys; 374 post-it ideas; 969 webpage views; 33,239 Facebook reach; spoke to over 700 people (p.5)
97% of those surveyed were local (p.5)
71% usually travel by personal car (p.5)
75% said subsidised or free transport would incentivise change (p.6)
58% prefer Frankton Road route for high capacity PT; 42% prefer gondola along Queenstown Hill (p.7)
48% rated high frequency most important for high capacity PT (p.7)
68% do not use the ferry; 3% commute by ferry (p.7)

Rapid transit

Mass rapid transit means light rail, gondola/cable car, bus rapid transit and similar dedicated rapid-transit technologies. It does not include ordinary bus services or ferries.

Substantive. Discusses, assesses, recommends or programmes mass rapid transit.

Reports public preference on a future high-capacity public transport link: 58% the Frankton Road route, 42% mass rapid transit over Queenstown Hill; no recommendation.

Page 7 ('Getting around by Public Transport') reports the only quantified public preference data on mass rapid transit in the Way to Go material. '58% prefer the existing route along Frankton Road for a future high capacity public transport link' and '42% prefer mass rapid transit along Queenstown Hill from Frankton to Queenstown to other options proposed' (p.7). The same page reports that '48% said high frequency (i.e low wait times) had the most importance for a future high capacity public transport system' (p.7). The summary does not set out the question wording, the information on each option given to respondents, the other options proposed, or the number of respondents (the campaign total was 246 online surveys, p.5). It draws no conclusion from the result.

"58% prefer the existing route along Frankton Road for a future high capacity public transport link" (p.7) | "42% prefer a gondola along Queenstown Hill from Frankton to Queenstown to other options proposed" (p.7) | "48% said high frequency (i.e low wait times) had the most importance for a future high capacity public transport system" (p.7)