TRANSPORT COMPONENTS in CHRISTCHURCH RECOVERY

TRANSPORT COMPONENTS in CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY How can Christchurch take this opportunity to rebuild and refashion itself along sustainability lines that reflect 21st century values and technology?

Christopher Kissling Professor Emeritus Lincoln University Kissling Consulting Ltd

KEY POINTS • BUILD AND USE ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS • USE TRANSPORT NETWORKS TO HELP SHAPE OUR URBAN FABRIC AND LAND USES • DEVISE ATTRACTIVE, INTEGRATED, and EFFECTIVE MULTIMODAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT • USE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO HELP USERS AND TO OPTIMISE SERVICES

LAND USE & TRANSPORT • Transport systems can be used to help shape development. Transport is not simply a derived demand as some Economists suggest. • The disposition of land uses and the nature of transport access has profound implications for use of energy.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES (a) • Accommodate a variety of transport options for resilience, and efficient use of energy.

• Reduce emphasis on cars but not exclude them (they are convenient).

• Provide transport corridors that enhance accessibility and the environment using greenways and the Garden City image.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES (b) • The nearer to the centre, the slower the road traffic speed should be and the greater priority should be given to pedestrians (Design). • Use high capacity free-flowing ring routes to discourage through traffic from the city centre (Requires modifications to street intersections on the main Avenues).

PUBLIC TRANSPORT (Rail) (a) • Use Public Transport to help create the desired city layout.

• Integrate rail, bus and ferry service connections and ticketing • Encourage park and ride.

• Encourage cyclists on rail services.

• Compare costs on a per capita/km and energy consumption basis besides capital costs of construction.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT (Rail) (b) • Use mainline rail corridors for passenger services to connect satellite settlements identified in the Urban Development Strategy (UDS).

• Deploy Train-Trams on mainline rail track and for on-street-running to give regional access between the central city, outer suburbs and satellite settlements.

• Identify and designate light rail routes now.

A key objective is to provide integrated and environmentally friendly public transport services that satisfy needs of the Central City, along with good connections and services to other districts in the Greater Christchurch area.

Given the likelihood of continuing uncertainty over access to world oil supplies, one important concern is that greater reliance will need to be placed on the use of more energy-efficient intermodal public transport services. Train/tram links to/from the main line railway system, could enhance development opportunities along corridors between the City and established/planned “satellite� communities.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT (Bus) (a) • Use BUS RING concept rather than single central bus exchange e.g. Kilmore; Manchester; Lichfield; Montreal Streets.

• Locate sheltered bus exchange structures around the BUS RING • All routes complete a clockwise circuit of the BUS RING with a free electric hybrid orbiter in the opposite direction.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT (Bus) (b) • Electric Hybrid Bus Shuttles service the area inside the BUS RING (like Melbourne trams).

• Buses be given priority over other traffic.

Change the current courtesy “give way to buses” as they re-enter the traffic stream and make it mandatory.

Additionally, a two-route hybrid electric shuttle bus system, (expanded from the existing free shuttle buses that currently circulate around the inner city) could enhance point-to-point access mobility for inner city access.

CAR PARKING • Provide car parking around the edge of the BUS RING. • All parking buildings first 2 hours free, with escalating charges for long-stay parking. (encourage use of PT for commuters) • On-street parking at Council metered spaces 1st hour paid by 10 cent coin • Require all providers of inner city off street parking to join in the electronic message sign system to assist with search for vacant parks.

THE ONE WAY STREET PAIRS • Should no longer be used for cross town driving as that function provided by the main avenues ring route • Emphasise easy access to the centre but not through the centre.

TRUCKS • Improve access to premises for urban goods pick-up and delivery. Commerce needs trucks.

HIGHWAYS

• When building major highways, ensure sufficient corridor space for landscaping and multimodal use.

• When building new highway capacity to alleviate commuter induced congestion, make one lane a high occupancy (HOV) lane, but permit toll paying entry to other traffic to make best use of any spare capacity short of jeopardising free flow movement. Case can be made for allowing trucks.

• This should be included NOW in the construction of Christchurch’s northern and southern motorway extensions as retrospective toll charging is not allowed in NZ.

LAND OWNERSHIP & REDEVELOPMENT • Redevelopment of the shattered inner city may necessitate compulsory land acquisition to assemble parcels of land at scales needed. • The Hong Kong method of assembling the land parcels for residential and transport developments is worth considering. Owners surrendered their land for some monetary compensation plus shares in the development and did not have to contribute capital but gained an assured income.

WATERWAYS • Emphasis the Garden City image • Open up some of the old waterways that are now piped and landscape them to add to the waterway complex in the inner city to supplement the Avon River.

• These connected waterways become walking and cycling routes.

LAND REDEVELOPMENT • Retain iconic Heritage buildings (public private partnerships may be needed).

• Create exclusive corridors for cycleways.

• Create exclusive corridors for train-trams.

It is not necessary that these be confined to existing streets.

• Designate routes in a masterplan.

• Create roof top gardens and walkways including air bridge connections between buildings properly engineered for safety and security.

Common building heights would assist.

MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL /COMMERCIAL • Encourage more inner city living in well designed 4-stories maximum buildings.

• Stratify land use vertically in these buildings with commercial/retail on ground floor, offices second floor and residential top two floors (roof top gardens).

• The areas abounding my proposed BUS RING and adjacent to waterways, parks and gardens, would be attractive sites.

• Expand student living options around CPIT.

Type of cities Traditional City ‘Meeting & socialising place, marketplace and traffic continue to coexist

Invaded City ‘A single use, usually car traffic, has taken over at the expense of the other uses

Abandoned City ‘Public space and public life have disappeared’

Reconquered City ‘Balance between meeting place, marketplace and traffic space’ 20

CITIZENS & LEADERS of

CHRISTCHURCH

PLEASE GRASP THE POST EARTHQUAKE OPPORTUNITIES