Transport survey starts next week

The largest ever traffic survey in the Waikato officially gets underway next week, involving approximately 50,000 drivers.

Roadside interviews at nine sites around the region during the main Waikato Regional Transport Model survey from 25 February to 13 March will follow very successful surveys at three sites earlier this month on State Highways 39 (Pirongia), 26 (Morrinsville) and SH1 (Huntly).

The survey is being undertaken to help determine how $4.4 billion worth of transport funds will be invested over the next decade, and the information gathered will be of both national and regional significance, given the very high traffic volumes that flow through and within the Waikato.

Data gathered will help with the delivery of major state highway projects, assist local councils and Transit New Zealand to manage their existing infrastructure, and in the planning of public transport in and around Hamilton City

The full survey will involve:

· roadside interviews with motorists at the nine sites

· videoing of licence plates of vehicles passing six of Hamilton’s bridges at different times over one day, with follow-up survey forms sent to around 36,000 owners (there will be a $500 cash prize draw as an incentive to return forms)

The trial surveys earlier this month had confirmed that roadside interviews would only take a few minutes, said the survey’s project manager James Bevan.

“Everything went very smoothly, with people happy to cooperate and no one being held up too long, and we’re confident the main survey will also run smoothly.”

During the roadside interviews, motorists will be asked to stop at clearly marked and policed survey sites and some will be asked to spend about a few minutes answering questions. Participation in the survey is not compulsory, although stopping at the survey site is

These interviews will be followed by a household interview survey involving 2000 households in May, and interviews with public transport users later in the year

“Given the importance of the data we’re collecting, we encourage all motorists to participate if asked. The Road Transport Association have been alerted to the roadside interview process to help ensure no surprises for truckies.”

Mr Bevan said the information to be gathered in the main survey would play a key part in how transport-related spending is carried out in the next 10 years in the fast-growing Waikato region.

“The Waikato region is part of a growth triangle that includes Auckland and Bay of Plenty, and is a powerhouse of population and economic growth in the North Island. Over half of the nation’s road and rail freight is in this triangle so need to get a very clear picture of vehicle movements to help set priorities.”

The project will look at the impact of current and predicted traffic flows on existing routes, but also on major projects such as the Waikato Expressway, Te Rapa Bypass, the Kopu Bridge and other planned improvements.

The project is being led by Environment Waikato, Transit New Zealand and Hamilton City Council with contributions from the Waikato, Waipa, Matamata-Piako, Taupo and Thames Coromandel district Councils. Land Transport NZ is supporting this project, with over 70 per cent of the project costs coming from central Government.

“This project is being made possible by a strong, collaborative approach from local councils and Transit New Zealand,” said Mr Bevan.

Further details at http://www.ew.govt.nz/projects/wrtm.htm or 0800 958 687