Regional Land Transport Programme 2009 - 2010 (2MB) - Auckland ...

Other short to medium-term impacts
2. Linking to the global economy
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Reductions in deaths and serious injuries as a result of
road crashes.
More transportation choices, particularly for those with limited
access to a car where appropriate.
Reductions in adverse environmental effects from land transport.
Contributions to positive health outcomes.
Auckland’s transport network is an integral part of the door-to-door
global chain – large volumes of exports and imports are carried
through our air and sea ports, and on the region’s roads and rail
network. In this global logistics chain, Auckland’s transport system
needs to be a competitive, modern and integrated freight network
hub and distribution centre, servicing both international and
domestic customers.
The GPS lists seven roads of national significance, which the
Government considers New Zealand’s most essential routes, requiring
significant development to reduce congestion, improve safety and
support economic growth. The GPS requires that these roads are
given priority when the NZTA develops the National Land Transport
Programme. The seven roads of national significance are:
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Puhoi to Wellsford – State Highway 1.
The completed Auckland Western Ring Route – State Highways
20/16/18.
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Auckland’s Victoria Park bottleneck – State Highway 1.
Waikato Expressway – State Highway 1.
Tauranga Eastern corridor – State Highway 2.
> Wellington Northern Corridor (Levin to Wellington) –
State Highway 1.
> Christchurch motorway projects.
The GPS also provides guidance on transport planning and evaluation.
Key aspects of this guidance that ARTA’s planning and evaluation
processes must take account of are:
> The Government’s priority for land transport investment to
support national economic growth and productivity growth –
including the roads of national significance.
3. Changing employment and settlement patterns
The effective day-to-day Auckland economy is expanding beyond the
formal Auckland regional boundaries to include upper North Island
provincial centres. Locations with lifestyle options and lower overhead
costs, with good transport and freight links will be a catalyst for
investment attraction, creating hubs for exporters and places for
foreign interests to set up businesses. This is particularly true of the
economic ‘golden triangle’, between Auckland, Tauranga and
Hamilton. This area already contains around half of New Zealand’s
population and economy. Increasing employment and population in
these centres will place major demands on transport and other
infrastructure. The challenge is how the transport network will address
the growing case for better access and mobility within this extended
catchment that the regional economy now operates within.
4. Promoting sustainability
There is a strong policy expectation and community demand to
achieve a more sustainable lifestyle through increased travel choice,
reduced reliance on private cars, and less use of fossil fuel,
acknowledging that fossil fuels are finite resources. Meeting this
challenge requires transport solutions that better integrate transport
and land use planning, improve public transport services and
networks, and make greater use of non-motorised modes.
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The impact of volatile fuel prices, by providing transport choices
such as public transport.
Achieving value for money by prioritising projects which not only
make the greatest contribution to the Government’s priorities,
but which also give projects with higher benefit/cost ratios higher
priority. Projects with a benefit/cost ratio of less than 2 will
require more scrutiny. The GPS also requires the NZTA to consider
broader benefits and costs of proposed investments not captured
in traditional benefit/cost analysis methods.
The need for integrated planning to ensure that transport and
land use is connected. This includes identifying and protecting
future transport corridors.
5. Role of new technology
There is an increasing range of emerging transport developments
now available, with technologies previously considered uneconomic
becoming more viable – e.g. tunnelling improvements, network
efficiency tools, electronic tolling, new fuel options, ‘Intelligent
Transport Systems’ and many other innovative solutions that have
the potential to create more efficient transport options.
The GPS also indicates that while the Government supports the
overall intent of the New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008 (NZTS),
developed by the previous Government, it considers that moving too
quickly on the aspirational targets for modal shift will have a negative
impact on environmental and economic efficiency. The Government
will develop a forward plan for transport that is likely to replace the
targets set in the 2008 NZTS.
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