Emails to from Joel Rowan redactions Redacted.pdf

Joel Rowan
To Kesh Keshaboina
FYI
From: [email address] <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 6 March 2023 8:32 PM
To: Joel Rowan <[email address]>
Subject: gaps
Out of Scope
In terms of Dowse – I know Kiwirail doesn’t like crossings. The problem is that from a big picture
perspective, a pedestrian-rail crossing is (at least as a guestimate) way safer than any other option for
accessing the path – and accessing the path is hugely important. I know two people who have had serious
cycle injuries on Hutt Rd between Petone Station and the Dowse – and who would exit at Dowse. Creating
safe links to a further 15,000 people has HUGE public health benefits. The connections that will be
created at Dowse involve cyclists navigating two multi-lane roundabouts. So the problem becomes one
agency (Kiwirail) taking a narrow view that actually harms people and limits beneficial uptake. We need to
speak up about this sort of silliness, even if they stay silly! Neither you nor I can change Kiwirail – but a
senior manager at Waka Kotahi, when faced with the analysis (which no one has done cause governance
had never been sorted) would be well within their rights to ring up a senior colleague at Kiwirail and do a
deal. That’s how lots of things happen around town.
Hope this gives a sense why we still have these logged as problems.
Cheers
David

Joel Rowan
To Mark Nicholson

From: Emma Speight <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 12:35 PM
To: Joel Rowan <[email address]>
Subject: FW: Requests from cycling groups relating to KiwiRail infrastructure

Hi Joel
Let’s have a chat about how best to communicate this.
E
Emma Speight
Director Regional Relationships, Greater Wellington & Top of the South
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & partnerships
Mobile: s 9(2)(a)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

From: David Gordon s 9(2)(a)

Sent: Tuesday, 12 December 2023 12:29 PM
To: Emma Speight <[email address]>
Cc: Lynne Morton s 9(2)(a)
; Manjot Singh <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Requests from cycling groups relating to KiwiRail infrastructure
Emma
Apologies for delay.
We won’t even be in a position to think about this until March 2024 as we enter our major build season
from 26 December 2023 through to end of February.
However my gut reaction is that there’s no way we’d sign off on a new at-grade X’ing in the Metro area.
The next point is that to the extent any works require signalling design and installation we are going to be
over-whelmed with the need to serve the metro rail commissionings in Auckland and Wellington so
cycleways will of necessity have to take a back seat.
I’m sure you’l  find a way to say it better to the cycling interests – but that’s our current reality.
Regards
David Gordon (Him/He)  Chief Planning & Asset Development Officer
M: s 9(2)(a)

Level 1, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wellington 6011  |  Private Bag 39988, Lower Hutt
5045, New Zealand


www.kiwirail.co.nz

Please consider the environment before printing

The content of this message and any attachments may be privileged or confidential.  If you have received this email in error please
notify the sender and delete the email - unauthorised  use is expressly prohibited.  This email may have been corrupted or interfered
with.  KiwiRail  does not warrant that this email and its contents are free from computer viruses or other defects.
From: Emma Speight <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 5 December 2023 10:59 am
To: David Gordon s 9(2)(a)

Subject: Requests from cycling groups relating to KiwiRail infrastructure

CAUTION EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the
content is safe.
Kia ora Dave
We have received some submissions from cycling groups regarding infrastructure that they would like to
see to better connect and utilise our cycling infrastructure.  I’m conscious that we don’t want to be in a
public “pass the parcel” situation in terms of how we respond to these requests, so am seeking your
guidance on the best way for us to formally pass these requests to you for response.
I’ve attached the two requests (including contextual information from our team) below.  Happy to discuss.
Emma
Context and request for advice
While we don’t have detailed proposals, it will be helpful to understand if there is any prospect of
developing either of them, and if not, to have KiwiRail share their reasoning in a way we can pass on to
the cycling groups. Alternatively we could invite KiwiRail to front these discussions together with us and
share the collective thinking with the advocacy groups.
1.  P2M Level Crossing

Why requested?
The Petone to Melling cycleway was designed and built between the Melling Branch / Hutt Valley
rail line and State Highway 2. This design provides a high quality and safe cycleway where people
cycling have few conflict points (driveways, intersections, pedestrian crossings), however the rail
line and highway limit access on and off the route.
Access on and off the cycleway is possible at the Dowse Drive interchange but this requires users
to bike on the shoulders of the on- and off-ramps of the interchange, and to make tight U-turns
depending on the direction of travel. The interchange connection to Hutt Road on the local road
side also features narrow shoulders.
Cycling advocacy group representatives and members of the public have requested alternative
access be provided and identified a level crossing connection towards Hutt Road as an option to
provide this. This would avoid the requirement to cycle on the interchange (with the safety risks
associated) to access the cycleway. It would improve access for residents in Alicetown and
northern Petone, enabling greater uptake of the new safer cycle route.
This would in turn potentially increase uptake of the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One link which the two
organisations are collaborating on now.
The proposed location would only cross the Melling line which is single track and has a far lower
number of trains than the Hutt Valley / Wairarapa line.
Background
We do not have access to records of prior discussion, but believe it has been raised with KiwiRail
staff in the past via the Waka Kotahi system design team.
We understand KiwiRail are generally not able to approve new level rail crossings and prefer to
maintain a sinking lid on the number of such crossings. Two new underpasses were built as part
of the P2M project, however the opportunity to build an overbridge or underpass near the central
area of the project appears limited by lack of space.
Location

Out of Scope

Out of Scope
Emma Speight
Director Regional Relationships, Greater Wellington & Top of the South
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & partnerships
Email: [email address]
Phone: s 9(2)(a)

Mobile: s 9(2)(a)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141, New Zealand
Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Selwyn Blackmore
To Joel Rowan
Great, thanks

From: Joel Rowan <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2023 2:47 PM
To: Selwyn Blackmore (Stantec) <[email address]>
Subject: Fwd: KiwiRail topics (Dowse level crossing, Ngauranga underpass)
In case this helps, info given to support Emma

From: Joel Rowan <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2023 4:39 PM
To: Emma Speight <[email address]>
Subject: KiwiRail topics (Dowse level crossing, Ngauranga underpass)
Hi Emma,
Let me know your thoughts on this. Hopefully these paragraphs set out the key points of why these two
different rail-related options have been the topic of stakeholder interest.
My view is that each of the ideas has merit from a cycle network perspective. While we don’t have
detailed proposals, it will be helpful to understand if there is any prospect of developing either of them,
and if not, to have KiwiRail share their reasoning in a way we can pass on to the cycling groups.
Alternatively we could invite KiwiRail to front these discussions together with us and share the collective
thinking with the advocacy groups.

1.  P2M Level Crossing

Why requested?
The Petone to Melling cycleway was designed and built between the Melling Branch / Hutt Valley
rail line and State Highway 2. This design provides a high quality and safe cycleway where people
cycling have few conflict points (driveways, intersections, pedestrian crossings), however the rail
line and highway limit access on and off the route.

Access on and off the cycleway is possible at the Dowse Drive interchange but this requires users
to bike on the shoulders of the on- and off-ramps of the interchange, and to make tight U-turns
depending on the direction of travel. The interchange connection to Hutt Road on the local road
side also features narrow shoulders.

Cycling advocacy group representatives and members of the public have requested alternative
access be provided and identified a level crossing connection towards Hutt Road as an option to
provide this. This would avoid the requirement to cycle on the interchange (with the safety risks
associated) to access the cycleway. It would improve access for residents in Alicetown and
northern Petone, enabling greater uptake of the new safer cycle route.

This would in turn potentially increase uptake of the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One link which the two
organisations are collaborating on now.

The proposed location would only cross the Melling line which is single track and has a far lower
number of trains than the Hutt Valley / Wairarapa line.

Background

We do not have access to records of prior discussion, but believe it has been raised with KiwiRail
staff in the past via the Waka Kotahi system design team.

We understand KiwiRail are generally not able to approve new level rail crossings and prefer to
maintain a sinking lid on the number of such crossings. Two new underpasses were built as part
of the P2M project, however the opportunity to build an overbridge or underpass near the
central area of the project appears limited by lack of space.

Location

Out of Scope

Out of Scope

Joel Rowan (he/him)
Communications & Engagement Team Lead
Greater Wellington & Top of the South

Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
Email: [email address]  | Mobile: s 9(2)(a)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Wellington Office, 44 Bowen Street, Wellington 6011
twitter | youtube | facebook


Simon Kennett
To: Grant Fletcher, Luke Troy, Selwyn Blackmore, Kara Puketapu-Dentice, Kesh Keshaboina
Cc: Matt Hunt, Joel Rowan, Will Wallace, Mandy Arora, Jon Kingsbury, Mark Nicholson

13/12/2023
Kia ora Grant and Luke

I’ll try Kiwirail.
The electronic gates close well before a train reaches the crossing, and there are fences either side of the
barrier, so people can’t run across just in front of a train or go around the gate. Here’s one of the ones on
the Beltway The motor in the metal boxes control the gate – https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-
41.2091281,174.9275921,3a,25.3y,147.62h,85.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seOBY2W2C25lX82DN7cedOg!
2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Given the cost (approx. $500K) I’d like to think the electronic gated crossings are very effective at
addressing al of Kiwirail’s concerns.
The alternative solution at Dowse interchange (widening the on and off ramps to include cycle paths) was
costed at $3M and would still required riders to negotiate an uncontrolled crossing at the top of the
interchange.
For those unfamiliar with the Scales Lane site, here’s the old level crossing before the maze was removed
- https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-
41.2167654,174.8820613,3a,75y,338.33h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s255ZWWUhFPbyZokwwKKIPA!2e0!
5s20091101T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

Ngā mihi
Simon

From: Grant Fletcher <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 13 December 2023 10:11 AM
To: Luke Troy <[email address]>; Simon Kennett <[email address]>; Selwyn
Blackmore (Stantec) <[email address]>; Kara Puketapu-Dentice <Kara.Puketapu-
[email address]>; Kesh Keshaboina <[email address]>
Cc: Matt Hunt <[email address]>; Joel Rowan <[email address]>; Will Wallace
<[email address]>; Mandy Arora <[email address]>; Jon Kingsbury
<[email address]>; Mark Nicholson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Upcoming Hutt Cycling Governance Group Meeting
Hi

I’d say again Kiwirail but some of the footage from trains actively either running barriers or walking round
them suggest they will have a strong view on this.

Grant

Grant Fletcher
Kaiwhakahaere Matua Waka-ā-rohe|Head of Regional Transport
Greater Wellington Te Pane Matua Taiao

M: s 9(2)(a)

100 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Follow us online: Facebook | Twitter | gw.govt.nz

From: Luke Troy <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 12 December 2023 9:57 am
To: Simon Kennett <[email address]>; Selwyn Blackmore (Stantec)
<[email address]>; Kara Puketapu-Dentice <[email address]>;
Kesh Keshaboina <[email address]>; Grant Fletcher <[email address]>
Cc: Matthew Hunt <[email address]>; Joel Rowan <[email address]>; William
Wallace <[email address]>; Mandy Arora <[email address]>; Jon Kingsbury
<[email address]>; Mark Nicholson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Upcoming Hutt Cycling Governance Group Meeting

Probably a question for KiwiRail

From: Simon Kennett <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 12 December 2023 9:54 am
To: Selwyn Blackmore (Stantec) <[email address]>; Kara Puketapu-Dentice
<[email address]>; Kesh Keshaboina <[email address]>; Luke
Troy <[email address]>; Grant Fletcher <[email address]>
Cc: Matthew Hunt <[email address]>; Joel Rowan <[email address]>; William
Wallace <[email address]>; Mandy Arora <[email address]>; Jon Kingsbury
<[email address]>; Mark Nicholson <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Upcoming Hutt Cycling Governance Group Meeting

Kia ora koutou

Good meeting yesterday. I was just left with one nagging question, regarding the safety risk at level
crossings with electronic gates. Does anyone have a record of near misses and death or serious injury
crashes involving cyclists at this type of crossing? The cycling advocates are bound to argue that they are
safer than multi-lane roundabouts (which have a well established track record of DSI crashes). If there is a
similar crash history at level crossings with electronic gates, that could help to put this issue to bed.

Ngā mihi

Simon

Simon Kennett (he/him)
Principal Multi-modal Advisor, Programme & Standards
Transport Services
Email: [email address]
Phone: s 9(2)(a)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Level 5, 44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141, New Zealand
twitter | youtube | facebook

_________  _____________________________________________________________





From: Selwyn Blackmore (Stantec) <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 8 December 2023 10:59 AM
To: Kara Puketapu-Dentice <[email address]>; Kesh Keshaboina
<[email address]>; [email address]; Grant Fletcher <[email address]>
Cc: Matt Hunt <[email address]>; Simon Kennett <[email address]>; Joel
Rowan <[email address]>; Will Wallace <[email address]>; Mandy Arora
<[email address]>; Jon Kingsbury <[email address]>; Mark Nicholson
<[email address]>
Subject: Upcoming Hutt Cycling Governance Group Meeting

Out of Scope

ATTENTION: This correspondence is confidential and intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you are
not the named recipient and receive this correspondence in error, you must not copy, distribute or take
any action in reliance on it and you should delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately.
Unless otherwise stated, any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not
represent those of the organisation.
Joel Rowan
To: Kesh Keshaboina
27/02/2023
Hi Kesh – some notes on the level crossing proposal.

-
A site at Scales Lane has been identified by stakeholders as a possible location for access to the
Petone to Melling cycleway, requiring a new level crossing for cyclists.
-
Waka Kotahi staff have approached KiwiRail staff in the past to discuss a level crossing in this
area. KiwiRail staff have indicated that a crossing would not be approved.
-
A level crossing would enable greater uptake of the Petone to Melling path and reduce the need
to cycle on the SH2 interchange to access the path.
-
The crossing would be on the Melling Branch line which is a single track and serves a relatively
low volume of trains compared to the main Wairarapa/Hutt Valley line.

Joel Rowan (he/him)
Principal Advisor, Communications & Engagement

Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
Email: [email address] | Mobile: s 9(2)(a)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Chews Lane Office, 50 Victoria Street
twitter | youtube | facebook