Policy Review - Travel Demand Management Summary Report

Context and purpose: Stantec reviewed QLDC policies and plans to strengthen travel demand management, defined broadly to cover pricing, land use, parking management, incentives, information and improved travel options (p5). It notes that the district's growth and infrastructure deficit, with insufficient funding, make TDM particularly relevant (p5). QLDC's preferred user hierarchy places walking and wheeling first and the private car last (p6).

Method: There were four stages (p7). The first screened 23 documents, including the Proposed District Plan, Code of Practice, LTP 2024-34 and Development Contributions Policy, Parking Strategy, Spatial Plan, Mode Shift Plan, Otago Southland RLTP and Otago LTP (Appendix A, p20). The second involved interviews with 32 QLDC staff from 18 teams and three Way2Go representatives. In the third, recommendations were prioritised with an impact/difficulty matrix in the DIRT tracker, and the fourth was follow-up interviews (p7). No elected members or community representatives were interviewed (p16).

Key findings: Only some staff recognised TDM as a way to make best use of assets and delay upgrades (p8). Behaviour change messaging is weak, with no general campaigns (p8). The Spatial Plan and District Plan have relatively strong TDM objectives, but the link to rules, assessment matters, consent conditions and the Code of Practice is weak (p8). The Spatial Plan outcome that PT, walking and cycling are preferred is not translated into delivery documents (p8). A 'persistent and longstanding funding shortfall' means new housing is built without alternative mode connections (p8). Divided responsibilities (NZTA for SH6/SH6A, ORC for public transport) make quick responses difficult (p8, p17). Staff were reluctant to include TDM 'sticks' without quality alternatives (p8-9). Follow-up interviews raised the need for leadership direction and noted that some actions may need owners outside QLDC, such as ORC (p9).

Pricing and funding: The funding shortfall is 'perhaps the most significant factor' (p11). 'Parking pricing is the only TDM pricing strategy mentioned in the documents reviewed, however even the application of this measure is limited to a small area of Queenstown CBD', which is described as a significant weakness (p11). The report recommends investigating development contributions, time-of-use charging (with legislation expected and revenue ring-fenced for QLDC) and a regional fuel tax, alongside wider parking pricing (p11-12).

Recommendations: Cost all public transport and active mode network gaps from the Spatial Plan into ORC, QLDC and NZTA programmes. Fund them through development contributions, a higher funding assistance rate, ring-fenced parking revenue, fuel tax and time-of-use charging advocacy, with ORC differential rating for PT operations in new areas (p10). Update District Plan rules and the Code of Practice to prioritise walking, cycling and PT access (10-minute walk to frequent bus), minimise parking and require travel plans (p11). Establish a Transport Management Association with the Chamber of Commerce (p12). Priority document reviews (Table 4-1, p13-15) cover the Spatial Plan (Priority 1), District Plan plan change (Priority 3), Code of Practice (1), Mode Shift Plan rebranded as a funded TDM Strategy (1), Parking Strategy (1), LTP and DC Policy (high), and Minor Improvements Policy (1). Other recommendations cover live GIS tools (p16), staff, political and community engagement (p16-17), consideration of a unitary authority or transfer of powers (p17), and monitoring with annual progress reports (p17).

Conclusion: Success depends on aligning QLDC and ORC documents into a coherent, actionable framework. That means elevating the Mode Shift Plan, a TDM plan change, travel planning, addressing the funding shortfall, and political and community buy-in (p18).

Mass rapid transit: The report says nothing about mass rapid transit or offline public transport. Public transport is discussed only in general terms (network gaps, funding, the Parking Strategy recommendation to relocate parking to peripheries and park and ride sites).