Strategic fit for transport planning

Introduction

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

This section sets out the guidance on assessing strategic fit for activities within the transport planning activity class.

The transport planning activity class includes:

• Work category 001: - Regional land transport planning management
• Work category 002: -  Studies, strategies and models
• Work category 003: -  Activity management plans

Default strategic fit

By default, the strategic fit ratings for transport planning activities are:

• for Work category 001: Regional land transport planning management, the default is high and there is no requirement for further assessment as set out below
• for all other transport planning work categories, the default is low

Requirements for medium rating

A medium rating for strategic fit may be given where the activity applies best practice planning processes either focused on:

• providing long-term local, regional and national planning where there is significant change in transport demand or performance, such as changes in industry, population, technology, energy and climate for:
  • areas projected to experience demographic change or other change pressure not accounted for in existing strategies and plans
  • addressing a Safer Journeys area of high concern or Safer Journeys area of medium concern
  • addressing public realm in urban areas due to changes in transport networks

or focused on:

• areas where there is a high or medium strategic fit under the activity class(es) that are likely to be the outputs of the planning while:
  • ensuring integration between transport, land use and other infrastructure planning
  • creating opportunities for better integration within and between transport modes
  • making better use of existing transport capacity, including services and infrastructure
  • managing adverse environmental effects from land transport
  • adopting a coordinated approach with relevant stakeholders

Requirements for high rating

A high rating for strategic fit must only be given where the activity makes improvements to whole-of-network, long-term local, regional and national planning in response to significant changes in transport demand or performance, such as changes in industry, population, technology, energy and climate, for:

• more efficient freight supply chains, including for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV);
• Tourism;
• major urban areas for maximising access to significant markets, areas of employment or economic growth, and ;
• significant improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of maintaining and operating existing networks and services.

and:

• ensures integration of modes and transport planning issues, and
• addresses two or more of the following:
  • easing of severe congestion 
  • optimised levels of service, operation and management of networks
  • journey time reliability
  • a Safer Journeys area of high concern or
  • a Safer Journeys area of medium concern