Planning & Investment Knowledge Base

Key messages for 2015-18 NLTP

 

Introduction

This section gives advice and guidance for developing local, regional or national land transport programmes for inclusion in the 2015-18 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. (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 ).

 

These messages may be updated as we progress through the development period.

 

Currency of information

These key messages were last updated in September 2014, based on the engagement draft Government Policy Statement (GPS A Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding issued under section 86 of the LTMA ) and draft Investment Assessment Framework (IAF The NZTA framework which identifies the investment priorities and expectations for project assessment. The IAF interprets the strategic priorities and impacts of the government identified in the current Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding. ).

 

Please also refer to the Transport Agency website for the full set of investment signals released through the 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 development period.

 

Candidate project lists for road improvements
The combined effects of the accelerated regional projects, new regional improvements activity class and a higher GPS A Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding issued under section 86 of the LTMA funding range for local roads improvements all signal the need for a substantive volume of candidate road activities for investment within the 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 period. This suggests a wide range of worthy local road and state highway candidate projects is needed for the NLTP development.

 

Maintenance funding is constrained
There is little upward funding flexibility in maintenance activity classes. Despite the increase in both local roads and state highway GPS A Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding issued under section 86 of the LTMA funding ranges, the likely impact of input cost increases mean a constrained funding environment will continue, as will the pressure to deliver efficiency dividends. We expect to target increased funding to areas of those networks where all the desired steps to prioritise expenditure and achieve efficiency gains are being taken.

 

Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM)
 

The government’s goal for PTOM is to grow patronage with less reliance on subsidy. We expect all regions to focus on achieving the goal using the new approaches to planning and procurement as set out in the Transport Agency’s Guidelines for the development of RPTPs and the Procurement The purchase of works, goods or services. Manual. In the short term there may be justified cost increases associated with the implementation of PTOM, but we expect regions will be able to achieve long term improvements in efficiency and effectiveness through optimising networks, partnering with operators and use of the PTOM tools. Regions should be able to show how they intend to achieve these long term improvements through the description of investment proposals.

 

Increase in state highway programme delivery

The combination of state highway improvements, regional improvements, Crown appropriations and debt funding suggests an approximate 25 percent lift in state highway improvements expenditure relative to 2012-15. The State Highway Activity Management Plan (SHAMP) must support the assessment for this investment, and management of the increased expenditure.

 

Regional improvements activity
 

The draft GPS A Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding issued under section 86 of the LTMA signals a desire of Government to invest in regionally important roading projects that address freight, safety, 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. (including lifelines) and tourism issues at a regional level, where these are not well addressed or prioritised through the national funding system. This is a separate activity class that is:

  • a single nationally contestable fund rather than a set distribution across regions
  • designed to allow a regional focus on national priorities
  • restricted to road improvements
  • restricted to defined eligible districts

 

The assessment of regional improvements will use the relevant criteria for road improvements rather than establishing separate criteria. This approach simplifies administration The components of activities that are reasonably provided in administering the delivery of land transport-related activities. and compliance for approved organisations.

 

The regional improvements activity class will allow investment beyond the national threshold for improvements activity classes and enables investment in activities in areas that do not have sufficient national priority. This means that proposals in such areas on routes with lower volumes, or individual rather than collective safety risk, will be raised in priority for investment.

 

Resilience

We seek better clarity on network 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. and reliability in the 2015-18 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 . This encompasses the critical points of the network where the economic and social impact of disruption are greatest, which will be assessed in terms of the likelihood of a disruptive event occurring and the impact on network users. This should include lifeline access in emergencies, exposure to risk, availability of alternatives A strategic option that may encompass a mix of modes and/or high level routes and/or land use options. Alternatives would be considered during strategy development, with the preferred alternative being selected and taken through into package and project development. , and ability to recover from events.

 

Optimised investment through robust activity development

We continue to reinforce the Transport Agency’s planning and investment principles, which are underpinned by the business case approach, hierarchy of interventions, one network approach and an integrated approach to network planning.

 

Funding sources and priority expectations
 

A number of factors during the 2015-18 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 will influence the priority order of activities delivered. These include the usual national funds (N funds The balance of funds in the National Land Transport Fund after accounting for R (regionally distributed) and C (crown) funds. N funds are allocated to the highest priority activities in each activity class across New Zealand, having accounted for R and C fund allocations. ), remaining regional funding (R funds Funds from a 5 cent per litre increase in fuel excise duty and an equivalent increase in road user charges for light vehicles, to be distributed regionally on the basis of population (with Auckland receiving 35 percent of the total collected) for 10 years from April 2005. R funds are to be allocated to the highest priority projects in a region ahead of N (nationally distributed) funds. ), the accelerated Auckland programme, future investment fund, and the new regional improvements activity class. To achieve investment within the funding ranges set in the draft GPS A Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding issued under section 86 of the LTMA and deliver best value for money Selecting the right things to do, implementing them in the right way, at the right time and for the right price. , and meet the requirements of different funding sources, it is likely that different activity classes will have different funding priority thresholds.

 

Transparency of investment decisions

Emphasis will be placed on identifying the reasons behind our investment decisions, and the key drivers for National Land Transport Fund investment. This includes transparency of the key priorities being addressed, and described within the assessment justification.  

 

 

Last Updated: 03/08/2020 8:56am