QTS-031 · Business case chapter or appendix · 2020
Appendix B8 Technical Note 42: SH6A Bus Signal and Virtual Priority (with B9 Technical Note 11: Queenstown Traffic Demand Management Programme; B10 Bus Lane Interventions; B11 Technical Note 39: SH6 Frankton Southern Corridor Operation and Future Performance; B12 Technical Note 41: South West Frankton; B13 Technical Note 35: SH6/SH6A Operation and Future Performance)
This bundle of technical notes supports the 2020 NZUP Queenstown Transport Detailed Business Case for NZTA (Waka Kotahi). TN42 (3 May 2020) models SH6A Frankton Road bus priority at 2028 under Do Minimum, Managed Demand, Virtual Priority (both directions and eastbound only) and Full Priority scenarios. It finds that full bus lanes save relatively modest time for their cost. It recommends managed demand (holding traffic in Frankton) plus bus signal priority concentrated eastbound. TN11 (September 2019) summarises a Travel Demand Management programme with policy, travel planning, wayfinding and a Transport Management Association (TMA), and lists responsible agencies. B10 lists six proposed SH6A and town centre bus lanes. TN39 (September 2020) assesses signalising SH6 Kawarau Road intersections and recommends considering a northbound Lucas Place bus lane, subject to a PT Services DBC. TN41 (November 2020) supports a Humphrey Street link and signalised intersections at Lucas Place. TN35 (August 2020) compares a signalised roundabout ('Guavabout') with a conventional signalised intersection at SH6/SH6A and recommends the Guavabout.
What the document says
Context and purpose: Appendices B8-B13 of the Queenstown Transport Business Case (NZTA Contract 2018235; Stantec-led consortium) for NZTA (Waka Kotahi), bundled in one PDF. All author and reviewer names are redacted under s 9(2)(a).
B8 TN42 (3 May 2020) uses Paramics to test SH6A at 2028 demand. Managed Demand gates westbound traffic at an upgraded SH6/SH6A intersection to around 80-85% v/c, with bus lanes on the Frankton approaches (p2). Virtual Priority adds bus signal priority (phase extension, bus phase, early termination) (p4). Full Priority has bus lanes for the full length (p4). Two-way signal priority performed worse than Managed because of conflicting calls at 20 buses per hour per direction (p10). Eastbound-only priority improved eastbound times (pp10-11). Full Priority savings (PM: about 150 s westbound, 230 s eastbound) were 'still modest for the infrastructure works required' (p11). The note recommends Managed plus Signal Priority concentrated eastbound (p12). A later TN42 version is APX_B27.
B9 TN11 (18 September 2019) summarises a TDM programme to close the gap between the predicted PT share (30% in 2028, 42% in 2048) and the required 40%/60% alternative mode share (p14). It covers policy, travel planning, wayfinding and a TMA, and its Appendix A assigns responsible organisations by year (pp17-20). B10 (p22) lists six bus lanes. B11 TN39 (28 September 2020) assesses signalising SH6 Kawarau Road. Operation is satisfactory but approaching capacity by 2028, and the pinch point is Shotover Bridge, SH6/SH6A and SH6A (p24). B12 TN41 (4 November 2020) supports the Humphrey Street link and signalised T-intersections on Lucas Place, and notes interdependencies with any airport access link (pp43, 59). B13 TN35 (13 August 2020) compares the Guavabout with a conventional signalised intersection at SH6/SH6A. The Guavabout has higher capacity and better PT travel times but more land take from the golf course (pp61, 74). The note records that 'some stakeholders' prefer a conventional layout, and recommends the Guavabout (pp74-75).
Mass rapid transit: None. These notes address bus priority, intersections and TDM only. The only cableway mention is advocating travel plans for tourist destinations including 'the Gondola' in the TDM programme (p17), which refers to a tourist attraction rather than MRT.
Key figures
- 2028 AM peak Frankton Road bus travel time (s): westbound Do-Min 706, Virtual EB-only 711, Full Priority 660; eastbound Do-Min 893, Virtual EB-only 861, Full Priority 738 (TN42, p10)
- 2028 PM peak bus travel time (s): westbound Do-Min 767, Full Priority 617; eastbound Do-Min 928, Virtual EB-only 846, Full Priority 695 (TN42, p11)
- Virtual EB-only achieves 45% (westbound) and 35% (eastbound) of Full Priority travel time savings over Do Minimum, PM peak (TN42, p11)
- Managed demand releases traffic into SH6A at around 80-85% volume to capacity (TN42, p2)
- Required alternative mode share 40% (2028) and 60% (2048); 2018 alternative mode share 4-5%; PT model predicts 30% (2028) and 42% (2048) (TN11, p14)
- SH6A theoretical capacity 28,500 vehicles per day, expected to be exceeded as early as 2020; 70% of Frankton-Queenstown trips are through traffic (TN11, p15)
Files
- Open Main document (PDF, 5.4 MB) Opens in a new tab.
Main document
Actions recorded
Take forward managed demand plus bus signal priority on SH6A as the preferred option, with physical and signal priority concentrated eastbound.
Not assessed · 2028 design year
it is recommended that a Managed plus Signal Priority concept is taken forward as the preferred option
Design SH6A bus stops close to signalised intersections with free-flow egress, and add economically justified eastbound bus lanes between SH6/SH6A and Goldfield Heights.
Not assessed
Where possible this should include: Bus stop positions close to signalised intersections
Provide six new bus lanes: Towne Place-McBride St, Perkins Rd-Marina Dr, Larch Hill-Goldfield Heights, Suburb St-Dublin St, Coronation Drive, and Beetham St eastbound.
Not assessed
Table 1: SH6A proposed new bus lanes
Gain approval of the TDM programme from the Wakatipu Way to Go partners, secure funding, assign ownership of initiatives and establish an interim TMA working group.
Not assessed · Way to Go
Gain approval from the Wakatipu Way to Go Partners; Secure funding for the programme
Develop a sustainable transport vision, car-share policy, park and ride study, travel plan requirements and charging for currently free or cheap parking.
Not assessed · QLDC · Years 1-3
1.1.1 Develop a sustainable transport vision... QLDC; 1.2 Park and ride study QLDC; 1.6 Charging for parking
Promote car-free tourism.
Not assessed · NZTA · Years 1-3
1.1.2 Car-free tourism MBIE, DQ, QLDC, NZTA
Undertake a Queenstown Airport access study and travel plan.
Not assessed · QLDC · Years 1-3
1.11 Queenstown Airport Access Study and travel plan Airport, QLDC
Undertake a self-drive permit study to protect sensitive areas.
Not assessed · NZTA · Years 1-3
1.13.2 Self-drive Permit Study (to protect sensitive areas) MBIE, NZTA, MoT
Show all 14 actions
Carry out a wayfinding and information provision audit and design guide.
Not assessed · NZTA · Years 1-3
3.1 Wayfinding and Information Provision Audit and Design Guide
Establish a Transport Management Association with business plan, membership, staff and programmes (guaranteed ride home, luggage logistics, journey planning app, ridesharing).
Not assessed · Years 1-3
4.1.1 Establish itself (mission, values, brand, set up Incorporated society
Signalise SH6 Kawarau Road intersections at SH6/SH6A, Gray Street (with bus gate), PT hub, Lucas Place and Humphrey Street.
Not assessed · 2028 design year
the preferred scenario layout concepts, which consist of the following changes
Consider a northbound bus lane along Lucas Place in the longer term, subject to a PT Services DBC confirming future bus routes.
Not assessed · Beyond 2028
in the longer term it is recommended that the implementation of a northbound bus lane along Lucas Place be considered
Build the Humphrey Street link with signalised T-intersections at Lucas Place/Humphrey Street and Lucas Place/Hawthorne Drive.
Not assessed · 2028 design year
a signalised T-intersection provides benefits in terms of pedestrian provision
Adopt the signalised roundabout ('Guavabout') as the preferred upgrade of the SH6/SH6A junction.
Not assessed
it is the recommendation of the project team that the Guavabout option is the preferred option
Study cost
A study cost has been requested under the Official Information Act or LGOIMA. No figure has been received.
Citation
NZTA (Waka Kotahi). Appendix B8 Technical Note 42: SH6A Bus Signal and Virtual Priority (with B9 Technical Note 11: Queenstown Traffic Demand Management Programme; B10 Bus Lane Interventions; B11 Technical Note 39: SH6 Frankton Southern Corridor Operation and Future Performance; B12 Technical Note 41: South West Frankton; B13 Technical Note 35: SH6/SH6A Operation and Future Performance) (2020). NZTA Contract 2018235.