STUDY OF SURVEYS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 11

STUDY OF SURVEYS

The Board has decided to set up a technical committee to study the results of urban transport surveys arranged by local bodies. It took this action after the Chief Highways Engineer (Mr F. A. Langbein) said applications to the board for financial assistance towards the cost of the surveys sometimes resulted from proposals by overseas consultants whose

recommendations on the conduct of them were not necessarily the best. “Unfortunately, the local authority, through inexperience, may accept the consultant’s advice and become part committed to a type and Mr Langbein said quite apart from the cost of the surveys any plan adopted was likely to have far-reaching repercussions and to involve considerable expenditure of board funds. “Consequently, the board has a considerable Interest in the type of survey and the way in which it is conducted.” If local bodies were encouraged to produce their own transportation surveys without reference to the board any subsequent criticism was not likely to be well received and “real difficulties are likely to arise with every change of strained relations between the board and the local authorities concerned.” The type of survey needed, Mr Langbein said varied with the size and characteristics of the particular area and it was vital that before any steps were taken to adopt a particular type, a thorough examination of the problem was carried out. “This can best be done by a committee consisting of local authority engineers, a Ministry of Works district engineer, the local planning officer, and a roading division engineer. The local government representation should predominate.” The committee, Mr Langbein said, could then control the survey through its various stages to completion, whether it be by contract or conducted with local resources. “It is not possible to be rigid regarding which urban areas deserve a survey more comprehensive than the simple type involving only the roadside interview method but, generally, unless there are very special circumstances, all urban areas with a greater population

• than 20,000 are considered ■ worthy of more detailed methods.” These areas included Wha- , ngarei, Hamilton, Rotorua, ’ Tauranga, Gisborne, New ’ Plymouth, Wanganui, Nelj son, and Invercargill, The board accepted Mr ! Langbein’s proposal with ! little comment except that 1 members agreed a Transport ! Department representative ; should be on the committee and that another local body member should be added. ,