Dear Ministry for the Environment,

The National Urban Planning Statement 2020 (UPS) includes the following definitions of Rapid Transit:
"rapid transit service means any existing or planned frequent, quick, reliable and high-capacity public transport service that operates on a permanent route (road or rail) that is largely separated from other traffic"

"rapid transit stop means a place where people can enter or exit a rapid transit service, whether existing or planned"

I am interested in the information used by the MFE to support the above definitions of rapid transit service in the UPS.

1) Can the MFE please provide copies of the reports, presentations and/or working papers where the definitions of "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop" were discussed and/or analysed for use in the UPS?

2) Can the MFE please provide copies of the reports, presentations and/or working papers used to support the definitions of "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop" in the UPS?

3) Can the MFE please provide the definition of "quick" it used in deciding whether an Auckland PT service meets the "rapid transit" service speed criteria outlined in the UPS?

4) Can the MFE please provide the definition of "frequent" it used in deciding whether an Auckland PT service meets the "rapid transit" service frequency criteria outlined in the UPS?

5) Can the MFE please provide the definition of "reliable" it used in deciding whether an Auckland PT service meets the "rapid transit" service reliability criteria outlined in the UPS?

6) Can the MFE please provide the definition of "high-capacity" it used in deciding whether an Auckland PT service meets the "rapid transit" service capacity criteria outlined in the UPS?

7) Can the MFE please provide the definition of "a permanent route (road or rail) that is largely separated from other traffic" it used in deciding whether an Auckland PT service meets the "rapid transit" separated from other traffic criteria outlined in the UPS ?

8) Can the MFE please provide copies of the correspondence with Auckland Transport and/or Auckland Council or any other local government councils or agencies where there was discussion on whether the Onehunga Line would or would not meet the definitions of being a "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop”?

9) Can the MFE please provide copies of the correspondence with Waka Kotahi or any other government ministries, departments or agencies where there was discussion on whether the Onehunga Line would or would not meet the definitions of being a "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop”?

10) Can the MFE please provide copies of the correspondence with the Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council or any other local government councils or agencies where there was discussion on whether the Johnsonville Line would or would not meet the definitions of being a "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop”?

11) Can the MFE please provide copies of the correspondence with Waka Kotahi or any other government ministries, departments or agencies where there was discussion on whether the Johnsonville Line would or would not meet the definitions of being a "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop”?

12) Can the MFE please provide copies of the correspondence with Waka Kotahi, The Road Efficiency Group or any other government ministries, departments or agencies where there was discussion on the One Network Framework and its alignment with the definitions of being a "rapid transit service" and/or "rapid transit stop” in the UPS?

If the requested information is held in electronic form, it is preferred that it is provided in its complete and original electronic format.

Yours faithfully,

Tony Randle