Strategic fit for transport planning

Introduction

For the latest information, please see the Assessment Framework for the 2015-18 NLTP.

This section sets out the guidance on assessing strategic fit for activities within the transport planning activity class.

The transport planning activity class includes:

• Work category 001: - Regional land transport planning management
• Work category 002: -  Studies, strategies and models
• Work category 003: -  Activity management plans

Default strategic fit

By default, the strategic fit ratings for transport planning activities are:

• for Work category 001: Regional land transport planning management, the default is high and there is no requirement for further assessment as set out below
• for all other transport planning work categories, the default is low

Requirements for medium rating

A medium rating for strategic fit may be given where the activity applies best practice planning processes either focused on:

• providing long-term local, regional and national planning where there is significant change A significant change in strategic context The Strategic Context represents the alignment of the proposed investment with the business problem owner’s priorities, regional and national priorities, other programmes and strategies and other organisations’ priorities (if relevant).
  
  It includes:
  the assumptions or view of the future, including transport and population growth, economic and industry change statistics, etc. 
  
  
  * underlying/umbrella strategic documents, such as the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport or regional strategies, to position the outcomes sought within the strategic assessment against wider national and regional outcomes.  A problem with perceived significance may be identified in the strategic assessment but, when placed within a wider strategic context, it is acknowledged that it is not of high significance and does not present value for money Selecting the right things to do, implementing them in the right way, at the right time and for the right price. for investment at this time.
  
  * the proposing organisation’s objectives.
  is:
  
  
  * a change in planning assumptions in relation to demographic (i.e. population or age profile changes) projections as a result of the next official census, or
  
  * a change in planning assumptions relating to the nature and shape of dominant industries in the region, or
  
  * a need to alter a region's RLTS or RPS to address impacts of projected sea level rises, coastal erosion or significantly increased flood risk in areas where key networks are at risk, or
  
  * a legislative requirement to renew a region's RLTS or RPS.
  Significant change pressures within the context of regional growth are:
  
  
  * a change in planning assumptions relating to the nature and shape of dominant industries in the region, or
  
  * impacts from sea level rise, coastal erosion or significant flood risk from climate change that threatens or is projected to threaten local and or key state highway networks. in transport demand or performance, such as changes in industry, population, technology, energy and climate for:
  • areas projected to experience demographic change or other change pressure not accounted for in existing strategies and plans
  • addressing a Safer Journeys area of high concern The high priority areas identified in Safer Journeys action plan A action plan to develop and implement initiatives over a specified period for Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx . http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx where the greatest improvements could be made over the period covered by the Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx strategy. These include: - Reducing alcohol/drug impaired driving - Increasing the safety of young drivers - Safe roads and roadsides - Safe speeds - Increasing the safety of motorcycling  or Safer Journeys area of medium concern The medium priorities that need to be addressed but relative to the high priorities require less change in policy or practice to improve safety in Safer Journeys action plan A action plan to develop and implement initiatives over a specified period for Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx . http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx . These include: - Improving the safety of the light vehicle fleet - Safe walking and cycling - Improving the safety of heavy vehicles - Reducing the impact of fatigue - Addressing distraction - Reducing the impact of high risk drivers
  • addressing public realm in urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. due to changes in transport networks

or focused on:

• areas where there is a high or medium strategic fit under the activity class(es) that are likely to be the outputs Goods or services delivered by an activity or combination of activities. of the planning while:
  • ensuring integration between transport, land use and other infrastructure planning
  • creating opportunities for better integration within and between transport modes
  • making better use Making better use of existing services and infrastructure means fully considering and analysing existing services and use of infrastructure and identifying opportunities for change without significant additional expenditure. of existing transport capacity, including services and infrastructure
  • managing adverse environmental effects from land transport
  • adopting a coordinated approach with relevant stakeholders

Requirements for high rating

A high rating for strategic fit must only be given where the activity makes improvements to whole-of-network, long-term local, regional and national planning in response to significant changes in transport demand or performance, such as changes in industry, population, technology, energy and climate, for:

• more efficient freight supply chains Moving a volume of freight at the lowest whole of life and transport system cost , including for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV A truck that carries a divisible load that exceeds a mass of 44,000kg and/or the maximum length dimensions allowed for standard vehicles (As set out in the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002). HPMVs operate under HPMV permits issued by a Road Controlling Authority (RCA The Minister, Department of State, Crown entity, state enterprise or territorial authority that controls the road. ) for access to specific roads that have been determined to be suitable to accommodate the additional mass and/or length. );
• Tourism Increased ability of international visitors to travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes in a safe and efficient manner. ;
• major urban areas Major urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. have the highest concentration of economic activity in employment and firms within the main urban areas Main urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. represent the most urbanised areas with respect to the concentration of employment, firms and population. Main urban areas are centred on a city or main urban centre. They have a minimum population of 30,000 and an above-average concentration of businesses (typically greater than 90 businesses per 1,000 population). Main urban areas are as defined by Statistics NZ.  Under these criteria the main urban areas are represented by Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier-Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. The extent of the main urban areas is depicted in maps which can be found on the Statistics NZ website. . These are currently represented by the major business and employment areas within the main urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. of Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.  for maximising access to significant markets, areas of employment or economic growth, and ;
• significant improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of maintaining and operating existing networks and services.

and:

• ensures integration of modes and transport planning issues, and
• addresses two or more of the following:
  • easing of severe congestion Severe congestion congestion is where the volume to capacity ratio exceeds 80% for 5 days per week over at least a 1 hour time period that affects at least 1.5 km of a route.  For information on the volume to capacity ratio, see Appendix A3 of the NZTA's Economic Evaluation Manual is where the volume to capacity ratio exceeds 100% for 5 days per week over at least 1 hour in a time period on at least 3 km of a route and the average annual daily traffic (AADT) is greater than 20,000 vehicles per day.
    For information on the volume to capacity ratio, refer to Appendix A3 of the NZTA's Economic Evaluation Manual  
  • optimised levels of service, operation and management of networks
  • journey time reliability The reliability of trips on the network, as defined in section A4.5 of the NZTA's Economic evaluation manual. Improvements in journey time reliability Journey time reliability is the reliability of trips on the network, as defined in section 3.5 of the NZTA's Economic evaluation manual, volume 1. Improvements in journey time reliability will reduce the level of unpredictable variations in journey times, which are experienced for a journey undertaken at broadly the same time every day. will reduce the level of unpredictable variations in journey times, which are experienced for a journey undertaken at broadly the same time every day.
  • a Safer Journeys area of high concern The high priority areas identified in Safer Journeys action plan A action plan to develop and implement initiatives over a specified period for Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx . http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx where the greatest improvements could be made over the period covered by the Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx strategy. These include: - Reducing alcohol/drug impaired driving - Increasing the safety of young drivers - Safe roads and roadsides - Safe speeds - Increasing the safety of motorcycling  or
  • a Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx area of medium concern