Support for strategies

Introduction

The NZTA will only consider supporting strategies that are sufficiently developed to allow a robust assessment of the strategic fit - for the 2012-15 NLTP A National Land Transport Programme Interrelated and complementary combination of activities that, when delivered in a coordinated manner, produce synergies – can span more than one work category and more than one activity class, e.g. a programme could include a road improvement and public transport improvement activities. adopted by the NZTA under section 19 of the LTMA, as from time to time amended or varied only.

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

The assessment of the strategy should provide indicative ratings for effectiveness and economic efficiency for the packages/projects that comprise the implementation plan of the strategy.

Type of strategy that may be supported

The NZTA will consider supporting strategies that are:

• Sub-regional corridor or area based strategies, although region wide or inter-regional strategies that meet the criteria below may also be considered; and
• Fully integrated across modes, networks and organisations; and
• Fully integrated with proposed land use; and
• Comprised of large and/or complex packages/projects that have the potential to produce synergies and need to be developed and implemented in a coordinated manner to realise these synergies.

As a rule, the NZTA will not consider supporting uni-modal strategies or strategies comprising simple activities that have little potential to produce synergies.

Criteria for strategy support

When considering a strategy for formal support, NZTA will assess whether the strategy is (or includes):

• evidence-based and informed by well researched, robust and widely held views of the future in terms of likely and desired growth patterns;
• flexible to address uncertainty in the view of likely futures, without the need to re-cast objectives and implementation plans as circumstances or priorities change;
• informed by consideration of alternative options;
• integrated and multi-modal;
• aligned with the long term impacts and investment priorities outlined in the GPS A Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding issued under section 86 of the LTMA and IRS (assessment of strategic fit of activities);
• includes an indicative implementation plan that is developed to the point of demonstrating flexibility in terms of both its affordability and buildability and the likely source, availability and timing of funding;
• has the potential for multi-party funding including developer contributions;
• includes an assessment of risks and opportunities;
• has a plan for monitoring and review;
• is ready for support.

The Application Information Guide for Support of Strategies A strong indication from the NZTA, through its strategic fit assessment, that the direction proposed in the strategy is considered to be aligned to the NZTA's impacts and priorities and that its vision and objectives are supported. The proposing organisation(s) can progress identification and evaluation of the implementation package(s) with a reasonable confidence that funding, if available, is likely to be approved. If an economic feasibility evaluation accompanies the strategy, funding for the investigation of the implementation package(s) may be considered at the same time. Support for strategies does not commit the NZTA to funding them. outlines the information applicants may wish to consider when seeking a commitment to invest from the National Land Transport Fund. The information assists the NZTA in forming a view of the degree of integration, priority, alignment and readiness, in order to invest with confidence.

When to request support

The NZTA (planning and investment) encourages early engagement with Approved Organisations and the NZTA (state highways) to provide early investment signals to inform the development of the strategy and will provide assistance and advice through the development process.

Approved Organisations and the NZTA (state highways) should formally seek support in the final stage of development and prior to the formal adoption of the strategy. This enables the NZTA to provide formal feedback and advise the results of its assessment for inclusion in the final document.

Holistic,

systems approach

The analysis for strategies and plans must consider the current performance and trends of the land transport system and its integration with land use at the regional or district level and not limit itself to one transport mode or one link. It must relate the current performance with the desired performance of the transport system as outlined in government and the NZTA’s policies, objectives and outcomes as set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding, the NZTA’s Statement of Intent and the NZTA’s Investment and Revenue Strategy.

Monitoring

Monitoring is a critical part of strategy development.

The NZTA expects Approved Organisations and the NZTA (state highways) to monitor the development and implementation of the strategy against the strategy’s assumptions and to monitor the performance of the strategy, and its components, following implementation.

The monitoring provides evidence to inform future assessments of the strategy, subsequent revisions or renewals of the strategy and the development of similar strategies.

Support for plans in future

The NZTA wishes to extend the concept of supporting strategies to Activity Management Plans Plans describe the tactics to give effect to a strategy. They are specific in content, action oriented and outputs focussed, resulting in a tangible set of activities to be delivered within a clear timeframe. and Regional Public Transport Plans and intends to investigate assessment processes and methodologies to enable support of such plans to be provided in the future.