Collaborative approach to Canterbury’s new public transport plan

This week, the Greater Christchurch Public Transport Joint Committee approved the draft Regional Public Transport Plan 2018-28 (RPTP, PDF File, 1.3MB), with a recommendation to Environment Canterbury to approve the Plan for public consultation.

For the first time, a significant component of the Plan, relating to Greater Christchurch, has been developed by the Greater Christchurch Public Transport Joint Committee agencies.

Joint Committee member and Environment Canterbury chair Steve Lowndes said the approach demonstrates the value of the Joint Committee, formed in 2016 with representatives from across Greater Christchurch, to ensure a continued appropriate focus on a growing urban population.

"This Plan takes the challenges facing public transport in Greater Christchurch, and presents short, medium and long-term solutions with associated environmental and community benefits. It proposes the creation of a vastly different system, one where the frequency is high, technology is efficient, and the vehicles used are environmentally sustainable," he said.

The full RPTP also covers services across the wider Canterbury region, including Timaru, which remain the responsibility of Environment Canterbury.

Lowndes said the draft Plan outlines new ways of thinking about the delivery of public transport in Timaru and provides an opportunity to have a conversation about transport services in the smaller communities within our region.

By approving the draft RPTP, the Joint Committee has started the process of engagement with stakeholders and the public, starting with the recommendation to Environment Canterbury to approve the draft Plan for public consultation at its full council meeting on Thursday 23 August. The consultation will then begin on 17 September.

Greater Christchurch Public Transport Joint Committee

The Joint Committee comprises representatives from Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District Council, Waimakariri District Council and the NZ Transport Agency. It was established in mid-2016 to foster collaborative and decisive leadership regarding the provision of public transport services and infrastructure in Greater Christchurch.