By encouraging people to travel using public transport and active modes (‘mode shift’) and making it easier for them to do so, we can reduce light vehicle movements in towns and cities. This will reduce transport emissions, air and noise pollution, and traffic congestion. One in five trips taken in urban areas uses public transport or active modes.
To support future infrastructure delivery for mode shift, we supported the policy development of the Reshaping Streets regulatory changes and a national walking and cycling plan.
To encourage a more environmentally sustainable and user-friendly public transport fleet, we established a sector steering group, started fleet transition planning with our partners towards a low-carbon public transport bus fleet, and have chosen a preferred supplier for the national ticketing solution.
In 2021, the kilometres travelled by light vehicles in urban areas reduced to below our 2026 target.
Most freight is moved by road and, due to the impacts of COVID-19, travel times have been less predictable. By improving the efficiency of freight movement and using lower emission options such as rail and coastal shipping, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from freight movement.
With KiwiRail, Te Manatū Waka, The Treasury and local partners, we implemented a new rail planning and funding model through the Rail Network Investment Programme. This three-year programme aims to restore the national rail network to a resilient and reliable state.
Over 2021/22 we continued to invest in infrastructure improvements for public transport, walking and cycling, state highways and local roads, and continued working with our partners on integrated transport and spatial planning.
We worked with our partners to continue delivering the Auckland Transport Alignment Project, the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, Let’s Get Wellington Moving, the Crown Infrastructure Partner projects, the Supporting Regions projects and public–private partnerships. The direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19, continue to be seen across our infrastructure projects, with several delays to our significant capital projects.
Despite delays in some projects, Te Aranui o Te Rangihaeata Transmission Gully Motorway and the Northern Busway extension were opened during 2021/22.
The programme supports growing communities across the country with better travel choices that help people get where they’re going safely. Seven of the programme’s 18 projects have progressed as planned. Progress was delayed for the remaining projects due to a variety of impacts including requirements for more detailed options, remedial work, COVID-19 and consenting requirements.
The City Streets indicative business case was completed, and the single stage business cases progressed. The remaining six projects progressed with further business cases now expected to be completed in 2022/23. A transformation programme is also underway, with the preferred option announced by the government in late 2022.
The seven projects in the programme will address challenges in regional networks. Four projects were completed at Kawakawa, Tahaenui, Ngongotahā and MacKenzie Basin.
The ability for the state highway network to reopen after unplanned events has improved, however reopening after non-weather-related events is taking longer.
We are developing and rolling out our centralised risk tool to better document and prioritise resilience risks across the network. Tiro Rangi, our climate adaptation plan, will outline how we will respond to the changing climate and increasing climate risk through the design, delivery, operation and use of the land transport network.
We are implementing our Freight Action Plan as well as updating it to reflect industry feedback and the ERP.
We released Baseline Network Version, the first step in developing our 30-year plan for meeting the transport needs of 2050 and have started developing our first full system plan to provide a shared view of the future land transport system.
Partnerships have been established for integrated transport and spatial planning for four high-growth areas. We supported the work programmes to implement spatial plans for Tauranga–Western Bay of Plenty and the Hamilton–Auckland corridor.
