CAS-PJ9V2-W3P0R1, Bullock Track Intersection - Crossing Safety
David Harton made this Official Information request to Auckland Transport
The request was successful.
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
I made this safety request three weeks ago, and followed up with an unanswered request for progress one week ago. As this is a high priority safety issue I would have expected some response before now.
The request is about safely crossing the Bullock Track going West on Great North Rd (GNR). I was nearly run down by a driver running the red light at speed after the green man was shown. Because of the hoarding on the corner and the angle the road enters GNR, it is very hard to see up the Bullock Track for any errant vehicles. As I often cross this road with my 3 year old grandchild I consider it very important to improve the safety at this corner. I am therefore making this OIA.
Note that AT recently made a change this intersection that enables INCREASED SPEED for vehicles going from GNR up the Bullock Track.
So please provide the following information:
- Please provide all correspondence relevant to this case, including but not limited to emails, file notes, memos and minutes of meetings.
- Please provide any investigations into the safety of this intersection made within the last five years, and any resultant actions taken.
- Please provide statistics, and the results of investigations, of recorded accidents at this location within the past 5 years.
- Please provide the reasoning for the recent intersection "upgrade" and cost of the work.
I thank you in anticipation.
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
This OIA was due 5th February. I have received no response whatsoever, and would have expected at least an acknowledgment that the OIA was received.
If I do not receive, at a minimum, an acknowledgement by 19th February (2 weeks from the official response date), I will be referring this to the Ombudsman.
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
I have followed this OIA up with a request to the Ombudsman for their assistance to expedite your response.
I will try to upload a copy FYI.
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
See below for email sent to the Ombudsman...
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
"Hi,
I made an information request to Auckland Transport on the 15th December 2023. As yet I have received no response whatsoever, not even acknowledging the request. The request is labelled "CAS-PJ9V2-W3P0R1, Bullock Track Intersection - Crossing Safety", see https://fyi.org.nz/request/25198-cas-pj9....
I chased this request again on the 7th February, as I expected a response, by law, by 5th February. I gave them until 19th February (2 weeks) to respond before I took it up with the ombudsman's office, hence this email.
This is a safety request, and I believe it to be of high importance.
Please would you contact AT and ask them the reason for delay, and when I could expect a response. I believe the response should be expedited.
Thank you for your assistance.
Regards,
Dave Harton"
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
Just FYI, the ombudsman has responded to me, see below
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
"Tēnā koe,
We received your complaint about Auckland Transport on 19 February 2024. Your case reference number is 008271.
Once your complaint is assigned to an investigator, they will contact you.
You can contact us by calling 0800 802 602 or emailing [email address].
Office of the Ombudsman | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata"
David Harton left an annotation ()
AT Official Information (AT)
Wed, 13 Mar, 14:22 (17 hours ago)
to me, AT
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your email. However we never received this request from the FYI site so we now have no ability to respond to the original case. We have on a number of occasions failed to receive requests from FYI, Auckland Transport is not able to respond cases where we have not been notified and we do have the ability to upload responses without the original request.
Coming to us directly is always a preferred option.
Kind regards,
Anna
David Harton left an annotation ()
AT Official Information (AT)
Wed, 13 Mar, 13:39 (18 hours ago)
Kia ora David
I write concerning an official information request received from you regarding crash statistics around Bullock Rd, Grey Lynn.
Under section 12 of the LGOIMA, this part of your request is being transferred in part to Waka Kotahi/NZTA for their response as this question aligns more closely with the functions of their agency. You will be notified by NZTA in due course.
Please provide statistics, and the results of investigations, of recorded accidents at this location within the past 5 years.
Ngā mihi
Anna
LGOIMA Business Partner
Auckland Transport
20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
www.at.govt.nz
David Harton left an annotation ()
Sent to FYI.org.nz:
Hi,
I refer to CAS-PJ9V2-W3P0R1, Bullock Track Intersection - Crossing Safety.
AT say that they did not get this request, and they say they still cannot respond on this website, and request I go directly to them. This may or may not be intentional, so that FOI requests do not get publicity.
There are two things here:
Is this a problem for all AT requests? Are there other requests to AT not getting through to them?
Is there a way that they respond on your website even if they do not get the original request?
Could you please take this up with AT to ensure they get any requests? And could you ensure that AT can respond to any previous requests to them (including this one) on your website?
Thanks,
Dave
David Harton left an annotation ()
From FYI help, short story, emails were dropped by AT:
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FYI.org.nz Help <help@fyi.org.nz>
11:28 (1 hour ago)
to me
Kia ora Dave Harton,
Thank you for getting in touch. This is the first I have heard of an issue with emails sent to AT. We are sending all requests to officialinformation@at.govt.nz which is the address publicised by AT.
We keep comprehensive server logs of all mail delivery attempts. I have confirmed that all your messages to AT were handed over to AT's mail server, which responded each time that it had accepted them for delivery. This means the messages have been lost within AT's mail system after it accepted them. AT should contact their email system administrators to trace these messages.
Note that many organisations' mail systems now drop mail without any notice to the recipient (e.g. the mail is not likely to appear in their Junk Email folder). However, our position is that the agency has received the request and must respond (this is based on Ombudsman guidance and s 214 of Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017). Agencies should be careful not to implement systems which drop mail to OIA/LGOIMA mailboxes without notice, as it may lead to them breaching their OIA/LGOIMA obligations.
I will try to reach out to AT myself to alert them to the problem.
Our logs proving delivery are below. (These times are in UTC. The "smtp-id" is not an email address, but a unique message identifier useful for tracing. The "response" is the exact string receive back from AT's email server confirming it has accepted the message.)
2023-12-15T01:00:16.715Z
response: '250 2.0.0 3uv5kptuch-1 Message accepted for delivery',
'smtp-id': '<ogm-41421+657ba503a96d4-1e6a@requests.fyi.org.nz>',
2024-02-07T00:22:58.884Z
response: '250 2.0.0 3w1ev42e1y-1 Message accepted for delivery',
'smtp-id': '<ogm-+65c2cd4bc4089-564b@requests.fyi.org.nz>',
2024-02-19T00:38:11.596Z
response: '250 2.0.0 3wa7nyhh69-1 Message accepted for delivery',
'smtp-id': '<ogm-+65d2a2ecadd05-180f@requests.fyi.org.nz>',
2024-02-19T00:40:25.975Z
response: '250 2.0.0 3wa6gyhr73-1 Message accepted for delivery',
'smtp-id': '<ogm-+65d2a36d261b0-e79b@requests.fyi.org.nz>',
2024-02-22T23:27:00.199Z
response: '250 2.0.0 3wd20y9h9c-1 Message accepted for delivery',
'smtp-id': '<ogm-+65d7d8304414e-32d6@requests.fyi.org.nz>',
Regards,
--
Oliver
David Harton left an annotation ()
Response to AT:
----------------------
Dave Harton
12:50 (2 minutes ago)
to AT
Hi Anna,
That would have been last year, November or December.
It was two weeks before a fatal accident at the site,
Cheers,
Dave
On Thu, 14 Mar 2024 at 12:47, AT Official Information (AT) <ATOfficialInformation@at.govt.nz> wrote:
Good afternoon Dave,
So that we can furnish you with the most comprehensive response, do you mind confirming when approximately the changes you refer to were made?
Kind regards,
Anna
Anna | LGOIMA Business Partner
Auckland Transport
20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
Private Bag 92250, Auckland 1142
P 09 355 3553 | E ATOfficialInformation@at.govt.nz
www.at.govt.nz
David Harton left an annotation ()
From AT:
Kia ora David
I’m the LGOIMA Business Partner who’s looking into your official information request relating to Bullock Track Rd.
My name is Anna and I’m a LGOIMA Business Partner at Auckland Transport.
We are granting your request in part which means Auckland Transport (AT) holds some , but not all the information you have asked for. We are in the process of gathering the information and it will take us a little bit longer to prepare the information for release. We aim to have the outstanding information ready on 26 March 2024.
We have numbered your questions in the order you have requested.
We have decided to grant your request in part, which means we hold the information you have requested, and we will provide it, namely:
Q1- Please provide all correspondence relevant to this case, including but not limited to emails, file notes, memos and minutes of meetings.
We have decided to refuse your request under Section 17(e) of the LGOIMA as the information does not exist.
Q2_Please provide any investigations into the safety of this intersection made within the last five years, and any resultant actions taken
We have transferred the following questions in accordance with section 12 of the LGOIMA as the information is not held by AT but is believed to be aligned with the functions of NZTA and Watercare.
Q3. Please provide statistics, and the results of investigations, of recorded accidents at this location within the past 5 years.
This question has been transferred to NZTA for their response.
Q4. Please provide the reasoning for the recent intersection “upgrade” and the cost of the work.
This question has been transferred to Watercare for their response.
Ngā mihi
Anna
LGOIMA Business Partner
Auckland Transport
20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
www.at.govt.nz
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
Hi Anna,
It trust that the problem with FYI.org.nz emails being dropped by your system has been solved. In any case I will copy the response to your AT email address.
Thanks for your response. However there is just one question....
It appears that Watercare arranged for the recent changes to the intersection. But your response also states that there have been no safety reviews in the last five years.
Does this mean that the impact of the changes requested by Watercare did not include any review of the effects of the work on the intersection safety? If so this is an awful failure in the process, and this should be rectified immediately. Or if not please pass any reviews done to me.
Thanks very much.
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
David Harton left an annotation ()
See email below received form AT.
Note that this response is not even about the primary reason I complained, which is the danger crossing the Intersection from East to West. This is related to the changes on the Western side of the road. this does, however increase the speed of vehicles turning left into the road. Which is another concern...
--------------------------------------
Kia ora David
I’ve attached the official information you asked for
On 27/02/2024 you asked for for information relating to Bullock Track.
I’ve attached a response from Phil Wratt, Customer Care Engagement Manager.
Should you believe that we have not dealt with your request appropriately, you are able to make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman in accordance with section 27(3) of the LGOIMA Act and seek an investigation and review in regard to this matter.
You can contact the Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you have any further queries, simply reply to this email leaving the subject line as it is. We’ll make sure this information is added to your case.
Ngā mihi
Anna
LGOIMA Business Partner
Auckland Transport
20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
www.at.govt.nz
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
Hi Anna,
Thanks for the response, however it does not cover the primary request I made which is to address the lack of response my complaint to AT, ie CAS-PJ9V2-W3P0R1 Bullock Track Intersection - Crossing Safety. This is actually the title of the FOI request!
The other parts of the request were to determine why the intersection has been made more unsafe with the increased radius of the curve. This you have indicated was at the request of Watercare. However Vaughn Scott (AT) stated: "I have no safety concerns with this latest plan revision", with which I take issue. I believe not enough care of pedestrians and cyclists has been taken into consideration when looking at the design.
However the major concern is the sight line from the East side looking up the road, where pedestrians can not see clearly from the waiting area, as the sight line is blocked by the high fence on the corner. Additionally vehicles run this light often. downhill and very fast, and this is during the pedestrian phase. Two things that make crossing here very unsafe. I do not want my 4 year old granddaughter to be a victim here. Or anyone...
After thinking about it, I believe an improvement could be timing the pedestrian phase before Bullock Track traffic is allowed to go. This would remove the issue of red light running by downhill drivers, but would increase the risk of traffic turning left running the red arrow. But pedestrians would be more aware of the dangers, not withstanding the higher speeds of vehicles turning left due to the recent changes.
I therefore consider this FOI request to have been only partially answered. I await this, and also the other part of the request that you referred to Waka Kotahi.
I cannot, therefore, allow you to close this request.
Please indicate when you can respond.
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
ps - I will send a copy of this message to your normal email address, as it seems that your IT staff have not fixed the problems with your email system, as identified by the FYI.org.nz engineers.
David Harton left an annotation ()
See letter from AT:
Kia ora David,
The information you requested - CAS-867930-R6S0Y6
Thank you for your request for information dated 27 February 2024 regarding Bullock Track.
The request is about safely crossing the Bullock Track going West on Great North Rd (GNR). I
was nearly run down by a driver running the red light at speed after the green man was shown.
Because of the hoarding on the corner and the angle the road enters GNR, it is very hard to see
up the Bullock Track for any errant vehicles. As I often cross this road with my 3 year old
grandchild I consider it very important to improve the safety at this corner. I am therefore
making this OIA.
Note that AT recently made a change this intersection that enables INCREASED SPEED for
vehicles going from GNR up the Bullock Track.
So please provide the following information:
Q1- Please provide all correspondence relevant to this case, including but not limited to emails,
file notes, memos and minutes of meetings.
Please find all communications relating to your query in the below link.
CAS-867930-R6S0Y6 Documents.zip
Information in some documents has been withheld under s7(2)(a) of LGOIMA to protect the privacy
of natural persons.
Should you believe that we have not responded appropriately to your request, you are able to make
a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman in accordance with section 27(3) of the LGOIMA and
seek an investigation and review in regard to this matter.
Yours sincerely
Phil Wratt
Customer Care Engagement Manager.
David Harton left an annotation ()
Link to documents:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qGOie0c...
David Harton left an annotation ()
Received from Watercare:
link to document:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zkkvytl...
---------------------------------------------------
27 March 2024
David Harton
Via email
Email: dave.harton@gmail.com
Dear David
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND MEETINGS
ACT 1987 (LGOIMA) – CENTRAL INTERCEPTOR ON BULLOCK TRACK
Your request
On 20 March 2024, we received a partial transfer of your below request for information from Auckland
Transport. In particular, the partial transfer was for point 4 of your LGOIMA request (in blue).
The request is about safely crossing the Bullock Track going West on Great North Rd (GNR). I was
nearly run down by a driver running the red light at speed after the green man was shown. Because
of the hoarding on the corner and the angle the road enters GNR, it is very hard to see up the
Bullock Track for any errant vehicles. As I often cross this road with my 3 year old grandchild I
consider it very important to improve the safety at this corner. I am therefore making this OIA.
Note that AT recently made a change this intersection that enables INCREASED SPEED for vehicles
going from GNR up the Bullock Track.
So please provide the following information:
- Please provide all correspondence relevant to this case, including but not limited to emails, file
notes, memos and minutes of meetings.
- Please provide any investigations into the safety of this intersection made within the last five
years, and any resultant actions taken.
- Please provide statistics, and the results of investigations, of recorded accidents at this location
within the past 5 years. This has been referred to NZTA
- Please provide the reasoning for the recent intersection “upgrade” and the cost of the work.
Our response
We provide our response below for point 4 of your LGOIMA request. We understand that Auckland
Transport will provide a response for the remainder of your LGOIMA request.
Part 1: Please provide the reasoning for the recent intersection “upgrade”
The Ghella Abergeldie Joint Venture (GAJV) is constructing the Central Interceptor for Watercare.
In order for GAJV to have its heavy vehicles access the Western Springs site from the Bullock Track, minor
modifications were made, at GAJVs cost, to the eastern side of Great North Road / Bullock Track. This work
was approved by Auckland Transport.
Aerial view of Great North Road and Bullock Track
As noted above, the changes were confined to the western corner of the intersection, shown in blue on the
above map.
The upgrade involved widening the corner so heavy trucks could safely turn left from Great North Road into
the Bullock Track and not run over the kerb, relocating the pedestrian call box for pedestrian safety and
installing a boardwalk for additional pedestrian safety. The traffic signal programming remained
unchanged.
The changes required involved traffic island and kerb/channel re-alignment.
Part 2: Please provide the cost of the work.
The cost of the work was paid for the GAJV and is not being passed on to Watercare.
The GAJV have advised us that the cost of these changes was $146,111.58 + GST.
Some final points
The upgrade to the intersection was confined to the western side of the intersection (highlighted in blue),
and did not relate to the works or hoardings underway on the Northeast corner of the intersection. The
property at that corner is privately owned and has nothing to do with Watercare, or the Central Interceptor
works.
Further options
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Yours sincerely
Shayne Cunis
Executive Programme Director – Central Interceptor
David Harton left an annotation ()
Part of the response from AT (Anna) regarding the original request to look into the original complaint to AT in November regarding the crossing safety. If I had received a response the this there would not have been any need for this FOI.
BTW - this cannot be fixed by the landlord. It is the intersection that is the problem. I have suggested a change to the phasing of the traffic lights so that pedestrians cross BEFORE traffic from the Bullock Track is permitted to go. No request to the landlord can change light phasing
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Good morning Dave,
Thank you for your email. As we have highlighted previously, some FYI emails are not successfully delivered from FYI and your email relating to CAS-PJ9V2-W3P0R1 was one of those occasions.
CAS- PJ9V2-W3P0R1
We have extracted the following from FYI:
As mentioned, we never received this communication. We do however have the case in our system and I have however contacted the staff member who worked on this case and note that a letter was sent to the landlord. I am currently following up with the compliance team on this and will update you when we have some further information...
David Harton left an annotation ()
Further feedback received from AT:
------------------------------
AT Official Information (AT)
3 Apr 2024, 15:39 (22 hours ago)
to me, AT
Good afternoon Dave,
I have spoken to the respective business unit and the following has been requested of the property owner:
To Install Clear Transparent sheets of 3m (width)x 2m (Height) both sides along Bullock Track and Great North Road to improve the visibility of road users.
In relation to your query about traffic light phasing, I will have a case raised with Auckland Transport Operating Centre (ATOC) who are responsible for traffic light phasing across Auckland.
Kind regards
Anna
From: David Harton
Dear Auckland Transport,
Hi Anna,
Thanks for the response.
I have doubts about the effectiveness of clear screens, as they will soon get dirty and graffitied.
I await the response regarding traffic light phasing.
Yours faithfully,
David Harton
David Harton left an annotation ()
Received from AT:
--------------------------
AT Official Information (AT)
13:30 (10 minutes ago)
to me
Kia ora David,
Thank you for getting in touch with us in regard to your request to re-examine the light phasing to see if it can be adjusted to improve the safety of the crossing at the Bullock Track.
We have logged a case for you, and this been assigned to our Transport Operations Team.
They will be in contact with you regarding your request. You can respond to this email, leaving the subject line as is, to get in touch with them.
We are committed to investigating your concerns and what you’ve asked of us. Please note your case has not been logged as a LGOIMA because you have requested for us to conduct an investigation as opposed to requesting information that we hold. If you do not believe this is correct please let us know.
Ngā mihi,
Ane
Customer Care Coordinator
Customer and Network Performance Division
David Harton left an annotation ()
Received from AT. An outcome, not perfect but at least safer than before...
---------------------------
Kia ora David,
Thank you for contacting Auckland Transport regarding pedestrian safety at the traffic lights on Bullock Track and Great North Road.
As a result of your feedback, we have increased the time between the traffic lights turning red for the Bullock Track exit and the start of the pedestrian crossing across the Bullock Track.
We trust the above addresses the issues you have raised and appreciate you taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.
Ngā mihi,
Rattan
Customer Care Case Manager
Auckland Transport
20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
www.at.govt.nz
Things to do with this request
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- Download a zip file of all correspondence
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David Harton left an annotation ()
Received from AT:
AT Official Information (AT) <ATOfficialInformation@at.govt.nz>
Mon, 11 Mar, 17:24 (3 days ago)
to me
Good afternoon David,
I refer to your tweet on twitter dated 19 February 2024 regarding a LGOIMA request that was made via the FYI site which we never received.
We had reached out to you via twitter asking you to provide an email address for us to respond to your LGOIMA.
Through your complaint to the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman has provided an email address today for us to respond to you on.
We anticipate we will have a response to you on 26 March 2024.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Kind regards
Anna
Anna | LGOIMA Business Partner
Auckland Transport
20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
Private Bag 92250, Auckland 1142
P 09 355 3553 | E ATOfficialInformation@at.govt.nz
www.at.govt.nz
Link to this