Tauranga's traffic flows jump 11 per cent, business leaders want action

Traffic flows builds up on 15th Ave over-pass on Takitimu Drive causing delays. Photo/John Borren

City leaders are calling for ''bold action'' as traffic flows in Tauranga jump 11 per cent in one year.

The latest Quarterly Economic Monitor report to March 2017 from Infometrics, commissioned by Priority One, shows the increase was more than double New Zealand's rate of 4.6 per cent and higher than 7.9 per cent for the Bay of Plenty.

Priority One chief executive Nigel Tutt said the impact was obvious in terms of increased congestion and travel times.

''Our view is that bold action needs to be taken across a variety of areas such as roading, public transport and traffic management."

Mr Tutt said traffic issues should be managed by a body such as a council-controlled organisation. He said the current structure to manage transport for the city was "too disjointed".

''Businesses are clearly concerned about traffic congestion and are keen to see strong moves from local authorities to improve this in the future.''

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stan Gregec said transport was one of the areas its members were most vocal about.

There was a perception that Tauranga was fast becoming a "mini-Auckland" because of its increasing traffic.

''It is starting to have an impact on our local economy and I wouldn't be surprised if potential investors and businesspeople have started to factor it into their thinking about the attractiveness of being based here.

''I can't think of another city of similar size in New Zealand where the transport challenge is so fraught."

Mr Gregec said he thought this was partly because of the fragmented nature of responsibility for transport in our city and sub-region.

"You've got everyone involved from the city council to the regional council to NZTA and others, and all manner of vested interests which keep us stuck in a very narrow frame and a very short-term mindset.''

Mr Gregec said a co-ordinated planning group spanning all the modes of transport ''with some teeth'' was needed.

Grace Rd and Avenues Neighbourhood Residents' Association spokesman Phil Green said the group's members were all "totally fed up''.

"Unfortunately when you look to naysayers to solve the problem they are just sitting on the fence and procrastinating."

Tauranga City councillor Bill Grainger said growth had caught up with the city. "How we will keep up with traffic in the future, to me, has got top priority."

New Zealand Transport Agency Bay of Plenty highways manager Niclas Johansson said, with the other SmartGrowth members, the agency had been "tracking and responding positively" to the effects of growth in the region.

Projects already under construction or planned included the Maungatapu Underpass project, the State Highway 2 Waihi to Tauranga programme, the Baypark to Bayfair Link and the Tauranga Northern Link.

''The investment we make across the network . . . includes public transport, bus lanes, walking and cycling connections and local road improvements. We also have to be aware of the opportunities emerging with new technology like driverless cars, electric vehicles and mobility-as-a-service and start to work out how these can help shape and respond to growth in Tauranga.''

Tauranga City Council transport committee chairman Rick Curach said work was under way to identify solutions and plan a transport network ready to best address growth demands.

''We acknowledge that due to significant growth in certain parts of the city, moving around Tauranga has become more of a challenge over the last few years. The Transport Committee are using this as a chance to rethink the way we deliver transport.''

Public engagement was planned during 2017 for several of the projects in the Transport Committee forward plan, he said.

Data was collected at sites including Te Puna, Takitimu Dr (Between Elizabeth St and 11th Ave), Oropi, and Kairua (near the Sandhurst interchange).