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 $250,000 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 .  Note that for the 2015-18 NLTP the maximum total cost for approval per project will be $300,000. Any mention of the $250,000 limit on the P&I Knowledge Base should be applied to the 2012-15 NLTP, with the limit assumed to be $300,000 for the 2015-18 NLTP Minor Improvements programme.

This definition applies to 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 .  For the 2015-18 NLTP please refer to the updated definition for work category 341.

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, costing in excess of $10,000
• 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
• stock access structures
• formation of ‘trailer parks’,
• minor engineering works associated with community programmes, and
• property and professional services Technical inputs to an activity undertaken by persons skilled in fields relevant to that activity. costs associated with the Minor Improvement.

Other potential activities not shown above should be discussed with the NZTA for eligibility.

Exclusions

Exclusions include:

• any project with an estimated total cost for approval (after deducting third party/supplementary funding from the total cost) of over $250,000 – these must be developed as small or large 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 , and
• the installation of new traffic signs in association with a road renewal project and minor improvements in traffic management Activities/devices that facilitate management of the road network equipment and facilities costing up to $10,000 - these may be programmed in Work category 231:  Associated improvements.

Conditions of funding

If an Approved Organisation puts a project with an estimated total cost of over $250,000 forward as a Minor Improvement, the NZTA will only financially assist such a project to a cap of $250,000 and any amount over this cap will be treated as third party/supplementary funding, which the Approved Organisation must fund itself. For example, during 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 a project of $350,000 total cost will be assumed to have $100,000 third party/supplementary funding and the NZTA will assist funding only to the $250,000 total cost for approval maximum.

The $250,000 total cost for approval maximum includes professional services Technical inputs to an activity undertaken by persons skilled in fields relevant to that activity. , 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 $250,000 total cost for approval limit.

The total cost for approval of any multi-party funded Minor Improvement project must not exceed the $250,000 limit across all funding parties.

If the tender price for a planned minor improvement project means that its total cost exceeds the $250,000 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 NZTA (state highway) projects) or it remains as a minor improvement and any amount over the limit will be treated as third party/supplementary funding.

Where the actual outturn total cost for approval exceeds the tendered cost and exceeds the $250,000 limit, the project may remain as a minor improvement and receive funding assistance against all of the total for approval, provided the NZTA regional representative agrees that the reasons for the increased cost are justified and that the increase is reasonable.

The NZTA requires, as a condition precedent of funding, that each Minor Improvements programme is supported by a list of projects, which will be updated regularly (quarterly). An NZTA template is available and must be used where the Approved Organisation's Minor Improvements programme exceeds 5% of the total approved cost of its Maintenance, Operations and Renewals programme.

The latest template is available on 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 Minor Improvements page.

Funding assistance rate

The usual funding assistance rate for 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 is:

• the Approved Organisation’s construction rate,
• the Approved Organisation's special purpose roads construction 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. Table 4), and
• 100 percent for the NZTA (state highways).

End of year carryover

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.