Seasonal Transport Models
Seasonal Transport Models are typically developed for Resort, or "Holiday", settlements. They are rural-urban systems that experience extreme, but short, bursts in traffic activity over holiday seasons and close to weekends. They therefore require a unique modelling approach.
These models are especially common in economies such as New Zealand where there has been strong growth in both international and domestic tourism. GPC have built and used several such models:
Queenstown Lakes, New Zealand
Queenstown lakes District is located in the deep south of New Zealand. It normally has a population of around 30,000 but this can swell to 45,000 over summer and winter holiday peaks. This presents planners and decision makers with particular problems:
- Land development has been outstripping the ability of authorities to add transport infrastructure and services;
- Due to mountainous terrain, severe weather, and big lakes transport infrastructure is expensive to develop and maintain.
- Even if infrastructure is upgraded it may be under-utilised for long periods; and
- Many of the drivers are tourists and don't know their way around the towns. This can lead to peculiar route choice decisions and congestion in town centres as a result of parking circulation;
We have been involved in the modelling of Queenstown Lakes since 2003 when we were brought in to construct a model that could account problems expressed above. The model was used in a number of subsequent studies:
- 2004 State Highway 6A Study (Transit NZ)
- 2004 Queenstown Town Centre Parking Management Study
- 2004 Queenstown Lakes Parking and Management Study
We developed a Transportation Model that:
- Covers the entire Queenstown Lakes District (including detailed modelling for the townships of Queenstown, Wanaka, and Arrowtown). It also include a component just outside the district boundary - Cromwell.
- Covers the following daily periods morning, inter and evening peak
- Covers the following seasons: neutral periods over April-June and October-November, a summer peak over December-March, and a winter peak over July-August.
- Covering the following years: 2001 and 2021
- Vehicle Driver only
Rotorua, New Zealand
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Rotorua is a city on the main tourist trail in between Auckland and Wellington. It has a population of 70,000 and has experienced significant growth over the past 20 years. A unique blend of Maori culture and natural thermal attractions have made Rotorua an international destination in its own right. However, when combined with its proximity to Auckland, the "gateway to New Zealand", this popularity has led to both:
- High traffic activity over the summer peak; and
- High traffic activity on Fridays and in the weekends
We developed a TRACKS Transportation Model that:
- Covers the urban area around Lake Rotorua;
- Has a Morning Peak, Inter Peak, and Evening Peak; and
- Is vehicle driver only.
We first started modelling the area approximately 15 years ago and since then we have been involved in many substantial transport studies in the area:
Taupo, New Zealand
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The Taupo District is located in the middle of the North Island by a lake that shares the same name. Taupo lies on the North Island's main transport "spine" and has a direct connection through to the Hawke's Bay. So in addition to being a popular domestic holiday destination, it must cater to a significant amount of through traffic. This presented the Taupo District with unique problems:
- The proportion of traffic travelling though the district is much higher than any other district of similar size. This through traffic is mixing with an increased amount of local tourist and holiday traffic resulting in conflict.
- However, this conflict is uneven. Taupo has experienced a recent upsurge in the number of holiday homes being constructed in the area. These homes are typically accessed in the weekend and over the summer and winter holidays - summer occupation relates to activity on the lake while winter activity relates to nearby ski-fields.
This required a unique traffic modelling solution. We developed a TRACKS Transportation Model that:
- Covers the township of Taupo as well as Kinloch and Wairakai;
- Covers weekday Morning Peak, Inter Peak, Evening Peak, Night time models; Friday Off peak,and Evening Peak; and holiday models
- Models heavy goods vehicles separately from general traffic;
- Is vehicle driver only
We have been involved in the modelling of Taupo's transport network for the past 15 years. In that time we have conducted a number of local transport studies:
- 2006 WEKA Route Modelling (Taupo District Council);
- 2003-2006 Various Impact Assessments modelled (Taupo District Council);
- 2002-2005 East Taupo Arterial Study (Taupo District Council);
- 2005 Taupo Strategic Corridor Study (Taupo District Council);