Community transport fund

Introduction

The NZTA has adopted a funding policy providing funding assistance for

activities, or combinations of activities to meet transport needs for communities in areas of high socio-economic deprivation when these would not otherwise be prioritised for funding from N or 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. .

This funding source is known as the Community transport fund, or T

funds.

Criteria for use of the Community transport fund

The Community transport fund provides funding assistance for activities, or combinations of activities, that are prioritised and approved according to the

following criteria:

• are infrastructure and/or services;
• will benefit established communities in areas with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation as measured by the NZDep2006 Index of Deprivation (and updates);
• are important (that is, they create a noticeable and 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. ) for these communities, but would not be considered a regional or national priority to receive funding assistance from R or 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. ;
• will either
  • benefit these communities that are isolated or under threat of isolation and have unreliable or poor access to the rest of the land transport system due to poor infrastructure or services; or
  • improve access and mobility for the communities' economic well being, where the direct and indirect costs of transport are restricting access and mobility for these communities; or
  • contribute to the other transport objectives of improving safety and personal security Personal security means the reduction of risks or perceived risks for users of land transport services and facilities in respect of their personal wellbeing. , economic development, public health and environmental sustainability transport outcomes for these communities.

Definition of community to be eligible for T funds

For the purposes of this funding, an established community is defined as a long standing community containing a number of primary residences in close proximity to each other and includes shared community facilities (such as halls, churches, schools, marae). The fund is not intended to provide funding assistance to recently established communities (or residential areas) or individual properties and dwellings.

Eligible activities

Activities that will be considered for funding from the Community Transport Fund include the work categories for:

• public transport services (including shared transport initiatives, excluding total mobility) (511, 512, 515)
• public transport infrastructure (531);
• walking and cycle facilities (451, 452);
• coastal transport infrastructure;
• improvements to local roads (renewals or preventive maintenance may be considered for funding where they meet the criteria for the fund) (321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 332, 333).

Funding will only be available for infrastructure activities where the property or infrastructure is in public ownership and used for transport purposes, as set out in NZTA’s Planning & Investment Principles.

Passenger transport services will only be considered for funding on a kick-start basis, provided at a higher level of assistance over a short time to initiate a new service, with a maximum duration for funding assistance of three years.

NZTA Planning & Investment principles

Funding assistance rate

The funding assistance rate (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. ) for activities meeting the criteria for the Community transport fund is halfway between the relevant approved organisation's construction FAR and 100%. For public transport services and infrastructure the funding assistance is halfway between the applicable FAR and 100%.