Abstract
Transport planning has traditionally used a reactive “predict and provide” model in which the main role of public transport (PT) is to move rush-hour commuters to and from the CBDs of large, dense cities. Beyond this, PT is only needed as a “lifeline” service for those unable to access private travel. Contrary to these assumptions, network-oriented planning argues that high-quality, connective PT networks can leverage network effects to serve diverse travel needs and compete with the private car.
In New Zealand, free-market thinking has made network-oriented approaches difficult to implement, but a series of reforms in the last 10–20 years have encouraged networkoriented planning. These reforms were driven by the needs of Auckland and Wellington, but the experiences of other cities under these reforms have drawn little attention. This thesis utilises qualitative methods to investigate changes to PT, often involving elements of network-oriented planning, in small and medium New Zealand cities. This centres on eight key informant interviews and the case study of Dunedin, whose bus network has been reformed along network-oriented lines.
Findings are focused on the future of PT in New Zealand, especially outside of the largest three cities. Reforms at a national level are regarded as successful despite some controversy over elements of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM). Although some commentators have called for responsibilities for PT to be moved from regional councils to city councils, this is not supported due to the importance of achieving economies of scale, especially around efficient use of limited professional expertise. The importance of economies of scale is demonstrated by a positive trend in recent years of increased collaboration between councils around the country. This is not to say the current governance arrangements are satisfactory; there may be a place for some PT functions to be centralised, and/or more specialised regional transport bodies. For small and medium cities especially, the challenges of serving schoolchildren with PT proves to be a complex issue; it is important that a network-oriented framework is not used too dogmatically to prevent solutions that are sensitive to actual local needs, which vary heavily from place to place.
Although factors such as the size of a city, its urban form, or market forces have an impact, this thesis argues that the success or failure of PT in a city is ultimately within the control of decision-makers. Given this, network-oriented planning is a key element of the joined-up, integrated thinking needed to turn good intentions into results.