Work category 341: Minor improvements

Introduction

This work category A type of activity – not confined to a particular activity class, e.g. new roads (work category 323) appears in:

* activity class 12 – local road improvements
* activity class 13 – state highways improvements provides for the construction/implementation of low-cost/low-risk improvements to the transport system to a maximum total cost for approval per project of $300,000.

Examples of qualifying activities

Examples of qualifying activities include, but may not be limited to:

• small, isolated geometric road and intersection improvements;
• traffic calming measures;
• lighting improvements for safety;
• installation of new traffic signs and pavement The road structure that is constructed on the subgrade and supports the traffic loading.   markings, or upgrading these to the current standard;
• provision of guard-railing;
• sight benching to improve visibility;
• walking facilities that comply with the definition for Work category 451: Walking facilities;
• cycling facilities that comply with the definition for Work category 452: Cycling facilities;
• structures, culverts One or more adjacent pipes or enclosed channels running across and below road formation level having a cross-sectional area less than 3.4 square metres. or stock access;
• resilience The ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. The availability and restoration of each facility when there is a weather or emergency event, whether there is an alternative route available and the road user information provided.  This can be measured through the number of journeys impacted by unplanned events, or acceptable risk where there is no viable alternative access should it be closed by an unplanned event. improvements required to protect the serviceability of roads, road structures and eligible cycle facilities from damage and to minimise the threat of road closure arising from natural phenomena;
• formation for new access or ‘trailer parks’;
• minor engineering works associated with community programmes, and;
• property and professional services costs associated with the Minor Improvement.

Other potential activities that are not in the above list should be discussed with the Transport Agency for eligibility.

Funding is subject to the conditions set out below.

Exclusions

Exclusions include:

• any improvement project with an estimated total cost for approval (after deducting third party/supplementary funding from the total cost) of over $300,000 – these must be developed as individual improvements projects under the appropriate work category A type of activity – not confined to a particular activity class, e.g. new roads (work category 323) appears in:
  
  * activity class 12 – local road improvements
  * activity class 13 – state highways improvements .
• for Approved Organisations, rail level crossing warning devices improvements, regardless of the cost.  As these are funded at 100% FAR The usual contribution in percentage terms, that the NZTA augments funding of an approved organisation, for the delivery of an activity or combination of activities. , they should be submitted as a separate activity under work category A type of activity – not confined to a particular activity class, e.g. new roads (work category 323) appears in:
  
  * activity class 12 – local road improvements
  * activity class 13 – state highways improvements 321: New traffic management facilities.

Conditions of funding

Each Minor Improvements programme must be supported by a list of projects using the Transport Agency's template, as set out below.

If an Approved Organisation does put a project with an estimated total cost of over $300,000 forward as a Minor Improvement, the Transport Agency will only financially assist such a project to a cap of $300,000 and any amount over this cap will be treated as third party/supplementary funding, which the Approved Organisation must fund itself. For example, a project of $400,000 total cost will be assumed to have $100,000 third party/supplementary funding and the Transport Agency will assist funding only to the $300,000 total cost for approval maximum.

The $300,000 total cost for approval maximum includes professional services, property and construction/implementation costs.

A Minor Improvement project cost must not be split or claimed over multiple work categories and activity classes. It must be claimed only under Work Category 341.

A project must not be split into more than one Minor Improvement project to circumvent the $300,000 total cost for approval cap.

The total cost for approval of any multi-party funded Minor Improvement project must not exceed the $300,000 cap across all funding parties.

If the tender price for a planned minor improvement project means that its total cost exceeds the $300,000 limit, either it is withdrawn as a minor improvement and resubmitted as a stand-alone project in Transport Investment Online (this applies to all affected Transport Agency (state highway) projects) or it remains as a minor improvement and any amount over the limit will be treated as third party/supplementary funding, which the Approved Organisation must fund itself.

Where the actual outturn total cost for approval exceeds the tendered cost and exceeds the $300,000 limit, the project may remain as a minor improvement and receive funding assistance against all of the total cost for approval, provided the Transport Agency regional representative agrees that the reasons for the increased cost are justified and that the increase is reasonable.

Minor Improvements Template

The Transport Agency requires, as a condition precedent of funding, that each Minor Improvements programme is supported by a list of projects. The list is expected to be updated regularly and must be updated by 31 August of each year.  The Transport Agency template must be used for all proposed Minor Improvements programmes.  This template has been created in Excel 2007 and that the "Summary of Activities" worksheet will show #NAME? errors if opened in Excel 2003.

Template for upload into TIO.

Funding assistance rate

The usual funding assistance rate is:

• the Approved Organisation's normal FAR,
• the Approved Organisation's special purpose road minor improvements FAR; or
• 100% of the Transport Agency's state highway costs.

Applying for funding approval

Applications for funding approval of proposed projects should be made through the Minor improvements Improvement projects (both roading and PT The carriage of passengers for hire or reward by means of vehicles as defined in section 5 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003.
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0118/latest/DLM226238.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_land+transport+management+act_resel_25_a&p=1 ) of $300,00 (was $250,000 for the 2012-15 NLTP) cost or less than are within the definition of existing improvements work categories. Minor improvements are delivered as a programme with block funding under delegated authority. module in Transport Investment Online (TIO The NZTA's web-based funding allocation system. ).

End of year carryover

For end of year carryovers, Minor Improvements are considered to be programmes of work and treated according to the section on end of year carryovers.

Any unfinished project(s) within the Minor Improvements programme will need to be added to the following year's programme, with the remaining cost taken from the following year's allocation.