Planning & Investment Knowledge Base

Optimise the provision and use of the land transport network

Introduction

To achieve value for money Selecting the right things to do, implementing them in the right way, at the right time and for the right price. , the Transport Agency seeks an integrated, multi-modal network that will optimise the use of and investment in the network.  

 

An intervention hierarchy to optimise investment in land transport network
 
 

The Transport Agency will work with its investment partners in applying an intervention hierarchy to optimise past and new investments in the land transport network. This approach should be fundamental and is applicable to all steps in the planning and investment process. It comprises:

  • Firstly, planning and developing an integrated land use and transport pattern that stages growth to coincide with available capacity on the network
  • Then identifying opportunities to manage traffic growth to utilise the network more efficiently and provide appropriate mode choice.
  • Then optimising the use of the existing network through road marking, signage, phasing of signals, ramp metering, etc
  • And finally, considering investment in new infrastructure, matching the levels of service provided against affordability and realistic need.

 

A whole-of-network approach to investment

The Transport Agency will work with its investment partners to take a whole-of-network approach to land transport investments to maximise the opportunities to improve efficiency and integration across the network.

 

Our network optimisation See Optimise levels of service, Optimised transport solution and Optimising public transport services and infrastructure. Network optimisation considers any changing transport demand, all network components including the contribution across modes and existing infrastructure and services. It aims to make better use of existing networks and services towards a outcome or impact and may require relatively small improvements to achieve this. priorities
 

Optimisation is a core component of the Transport Agency’s State Highway Network Strategy and Network Access and Use Strategy. While the Transport Agency aims to improve optimisation across the whole land transport network, our immediate focus will be on major urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. under growth pressure and key strategic freight networks.

 

Optimisation of the land transport network

Investment that optimises the provision and use of the land transport network will focus on two key areas:   

  • Network provision: Optimising the way the network is provided to users to manage the network more efficiently and improve safety, for example allocating space within corridors to high priority modes at peak times, providing for public transport, walking and cycling facilities, and utilising new and emerging technologies,
  • Network use. Optimising the way the network is used by road users to get the most out of the network, for example providing real-time traveller information, implementing pricing and charging measures, and initiating marketing and education to influence the choices that road users make about their trip making.

 

Planning for network and services optimisation

The Transport Agency will work with its partners to develop whole-of-network and service optimisation plans. The initial focus for these plans will be on major urban areas experiencing 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 (particularly Auckland), strategic freight networks (particularly for the upper North Island) and major routes linking to tourist destinations. Typically, these planning processes will consider:

  • At a strategic level, why the network is important, e.g. key objectives for the operation of the road network and major road user services to be delivered, multi-modal priorities, etc.,
  • At an activity management level, what can be delivered, e.g. levels of service across the network, road hierarchy and other factors such as road function/type, traffic flows, etc.,
  • At an operational level, how to operate the network effectively, e.g. monitor the performance of road networks, identify gaps in performance and service delivery, and determine which measures best address those gaps most efficiently against the needs of a broad range of road users.

 

Multi-modal issues

The Transport Agency actively supports the development of a multi-modal land transport system that integrates road, rail, shipping and other modes. However, the priority for our planning and investment effort is generally road user related but does consider other modes that impact road users, e.g. passenger rail activities.  

 

Investment in public transport services

The Transport Agency expects public transport programmes to reflect the whole-of-network context and to be well linked to long-term planning documents, particularly Regional Public Transport 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 Long Term Plans. These documents should explain the assumptions underlying the programmes and forecasts, and how the proposed activities will contribute to the optimisation of the network.

 

The Transport Agency will prioritise its investments on peak time
Peak vs off-peak hours for public transport are defined as those pertaining to the operation of the Supergold Card scheme
Peak time
Peak vs off-peak hours for public transport are defined as those pertaining to the operation of the Supergold Card scheme
Peak time hours are defined as:


    * The commence of services at the start of the day to 9:00am Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays
    * From 3:00pm to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays
All services commencing outside of these hours and days are considered off-peak services, i.e. 9am to 3pm and beyond 6:30pm on weekdays excluding public holidays and all hours of operation on Saturdays and Sundays. hours are defined as:

    * The commence of services at the start of the day to 9:00am Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays
    * From 3:00pm to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays
All services commencing outside of these hours and days are considered off-peak services, i.e. 9am to 3pm and beyond 6:30pm on weekdays excluding public holidays and all hours of operation on Saturdays and Sundays. public transport patronage in 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.  that experience 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 . It will also support investments that improve fare box recovery rates and optimise public transport services, e.g. by simplifying fares, zones, and ticketing, improving route planning, rationalisation and the ability to transfer between services.  
 

Last Updated: 04/11/2015 8:15pm