Traffic congestion like this on Turret Rd is a regular sight in Tauranga. Photo / File
New figures reveal fewer people appear to be driving to work, despite Tauranga's ballooning population and congestion woes.
Data obtained by the Bay of Plenty Times shows there has been an overall drop in traffic numbers at 10 of the city's busiest intersections over the past two years.
The data, supplied by Tauranga City Council, analysed the annual average daily traffic at 10 intersections from 2013 to 2020 and at four in 2021.
The data showed drops in traffic at the intersection of Cameron Rd and 15th Ave from 345,399 in 2020 to 337,053 this year - a decrease of 2.42 per cent.
It logged a 2.89 per cent drop at the intersection of Cameron Rd and Elizabeth St, from 212,255 to 206,118, and a 5.58 per cent drop at the Hewletts Rd and Jean Batten Drive intersection from 295,396 to 278,912.
Traffic was up 7.45 per cent at Hewletts Rd and Totara St from 372,090 in 2020 to 399,797 this year.
The changes reflect the 2019 to 2020 trend when most of the 10 intersections recorded a reduction year on year. This included a drop from 398,552 in 2019 to 372,090 in 2020 (6.64 per cent) at the Hewletts Rd/Totara St intersection, a drop from 303,849 to 295,396 (2.78 per cent) at the Hewletts Rd/Jean Batten Drive intersection and a drop from 218,666 to 212,255 (2.93 per cent) at the Cameron Rd/Elizabeth St intersections.
The figures come two years after the Bay of Plenty Times launched its Gridlock series which canvassed city leaders and transport boffins about what was happening with the city's growing congestion issues.
That year, traffic figures were the highest they had been in an eight-year time period.
Since then, the national Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and more people working from home as a result, are believed to have contributed to the overall drop in traffic.
Tauranga City Council acting director of transport Russell Troup said Covid-19 meant a lot more people now work from home.
"Covid challenged preconceptions that you couldn't work from home. A lot of organisations are embracing that now," he said.
"There is a net reduction associated with that and what we are seeing from the data is that being countered by an increase in traffic."
Troup said there had been a notable reduction in the number of car parks being used in council parking buildings on certain days of the week.
"We expect that this relates to working from home and that people are most commonly working from home on Fridays and to a lesser extent on Mondays."
Data showing the monthly occupancy of the Spring St car park illustrated this, indicating Wednesdays appeared to be, overall, the busiest day of the week.
Acting director of Transport System Plan Brendan Bisley said he had not expected the city's traffic to have dropped and in some areas not reflected in the data, there had been more traffic anecdotally.
"If we look at the Pāpāmoa area we've got constant housing development ... so those extra houses that are built lead to extra vehicles on the road so I would expect the Pāpāmoa, Arataki area will be experiencing significant growth."
Tauriko and The Lakes were expected to be in the same situation.
"So even with the working from home [trend], those areas are still probably experiencing quite significant traffic growth just because of the extra housing."
Bike Tauranga chairman Kevin Kerr agreed despite the data.
"Be as it may, we live in a city where traffic congestion is a major problem."
Kerr said investing in better cycling infrastructure was one way to help alleviate congestion.
"We are not saying just 'look after only the cyclists'. That's the mistake people make. But by investing in integrated cycleways you help shift people from cars. And as long as we have traffic congestion, it's costing us. Somehow we have to reduce it."
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said being able to work from home was a big factor for some people choosing between job offers.
"It helps empower staff to fit work around their personal lives. It will help retain staff," he said.
Cowley believed the practice was here to stay.
"Having a work-from-anywhere approach is great for business continuity. If working at the office is not possible, or there are travel delays, at least staff can easily open a laptop and keep working. I know video meetings have allowed me to attend more meetings to stay in the loop whereas previously, I would not have been able to travel to attend them all."
Jen Spence knows first-hand the benefits of working from home.
And she's not surprised such actions might have contributed to a drop in traffic at some of Tauranga's busiest intersections.
The Trustpower employee tries to work from home two or three days a week.
When she doesn't, her commute takes about 45 minutes from rural Te Puke into Tauranga's CBD by car.
"You sure learn to pick your travel times," she said.
"I try to avoid 7.30am to 9am or 4.30pm to 5.30pm traffic, it can add at least half an hour to my travel times. On the plus side, there are some great podcasts out there."
Spence said the ability to work from home gave her a bit more time for personal wellbeing, catching up with people or on projects. Other benefits included saving money on car and parking costs.
"Also, I feel like I'm being a bit kinder to the planet by not driving so much."
Spence saves about two hours each day by not travelling in.
"Over the years, working for different companies it's been super interesting to observe the changes that have come with increased flexibility in how and where we work. The pandemic has highlighted a few key things for me. In some roles and situations it's difficult to work anywhere but in a workplace, so being really aware of my colleagues, and ensuring I'm paying attention to their work-life balance alongside my own is important.
"It's also really highlighted the importance of good mental health and wellbeing and been a gentle reminder to be mindful of daily choices I often unconsciously make when it comes to work, like jumping in the car and driving just because I always have."
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