Hamilton City Council
Hamilton City Council commissioned an analysis of how the newly opened Waikato Expressway (WEX) had affected travel times and route choices, particularly for freight moving through Hamilton. The goal was to quantify the travel time benefits and route changes, providing evidence to assess the expressway's effectiveness and return on investment.
Approach
- Virtual Gate Identification – Defined and implemented virtual gates to precisely isolate trips travelling via SH1 or the new WEX.
- Trip Standardisation – Mapped each trip to OpenStreetMap segments to ensure accurate, consistent measurement across routes.
- Comparative Analysis – Conducted before-and-after comparisons of travel times and route usage to quantify the impact of the WEX on traffic patterns.
Key Findings
- Freight Route Diversion – Significant shift in heavy vehicle movements from SH1 through the city to the new expressway.
- Travel Time Gains – Marked improvements in journey times for WEX users compared to SH1 users.
- Congestion Reduction – Lower freight volumes on city streets, easing congestion within Hamilton's urban network.
Impact
- Validation of Infrastructure Investment – Provided robust evidence of the WEX's positive effects, supporting future infrastructure planning and funding decisions.
- Operational Benefits – Demonstrated improvements in freight efficiency and travel reliability for heavy vehicle operators.
- Evidence-Based Decision-Making – Equipped the Council with credible data for evaluating large-scale transport projects and justifying future investment.