Under the Land Transport Management Act (LTMA), the Transport Agency is required to provide an assessment against the core requirements for the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). These requirements are that the NLTP:
While this section provides a summary of the NLTP assessment, other sections provide greater detail on the contributions that the NLTP makes to the purpose of the LTMA.
For more information about the contribution the NLTP investment makes to each of the priority areas, refer to the national overviews outlined below:
An effective network allows the movement of people and freight where they need to go, and in a timely manner. The Transport Agency facilitates this outcome by targeting an integrated ‘one’ network for customers, which maximises returns for New Zealand.
The effectiveness of the NLTP is tested through the evaluation of activities and combinations of activities, and their alignment against best practice principles and development practices.
The NLTP is considered to be effective as:
The NLTP is considered to be efficient as:
Improving road safety is a key priority for the government and the Transport Agency. The NLTP directs 23% of its expenditure towards safety outcomes during the 2015-18 NLTP, although safety outcomes can also be achieved through other investments which improve the overall levels of service on the network. This expenditure is across all activity classes.
The roading network is maintained and operated to service levels appropriate to the function of each part of the network. Investment under the NLTP will vary from behavioural (road safety promotion) and enforcement (road policing), to maintenance, operation and renewal of the network, and through to infrastructure and service improvements depending on the significance of safety issues, risk factors and the mix of activities needed to create a safe system.
As a rule, NZ Transport Agency investment approvals for improvements in roading and walking and cycling infrastructure require that a safety audits be undertaken at key stages to ensure that critical issues are identified and resolved during development.
A significant suite of work is also taking place across the Agency, central government and wider stakeholders which are not represented in the investment programme, but which will lead to substantial safety gains. These include recent policy changes to the Blood Alcohol Levels, recent and ongoing amendments to the driver licensing rules, continued focus on regulations and regulatory compliance, and the safer speeds programme.
The Investment Assessment Framework (IAF) has been developed to assist the Transport Agency to meet its requirement of giving effect to the GPS. The IAF incorporates the priorities, objectives and results areas identified in the GPS into a set of wider Transport Agency outcomes that it intends to deliver from investment in the NLTP and other activities. The IAF provides the framework for its investment decision-making for the NLTP.
These Transport Agency outcomes are not specific to any one NLTP; they continue from one NLTP to the next, although the government may change the emphasis on particular outcomes through its priorities and impacts stated in the GPS.
The IAF is summarised below or refer to the full details in the Planning and Investment Knowledge base(external link).
Three key factors are used to develop an assessment profile which to values and prioritises activities for inclusion in the NLTP and then decide whether the Transport Agency will invest in the activities. These are:
Effectively this provides the "line of sight" to the GPS priorities, objectives and results.
The strategic fit assessment looks at the relevance and significance of the problem, issue or opportunity in relation to desired transport results, from a national perspective. For each type of activity it assesses how the problem/issue/opportunity:
The effectiveness assessment factor considers the contribution that the proposed solution makes to achieving the potential identified in the strategic fit assessment and to the purpose of the Land Transport Management Act 2003. It assesses the activity for consistency against the business case, and how well it will deliver on the results.
The rating determines how effectively the solution is:
The benefit and cost appraisal is a value for money measure which considers how well the proposed solution maximises the value (that can be monetised) from the resources used (that can be costed), and the timeliness of intervention.
Assessment of improvement activities uses the benefit–cost as the default approach. Cost-effectiveness and performance comparisons are used for road maintenance and public transport programmes.
An assessment profile is developed from the three factors. , this provides the basis for comparison and prioritisation with other activities nationally. In general, activities with higher rating assessment profiles will be considered ahead of those with lower profiles for inclusion in the NLTP and for Transport Agency investment.
A priority order is assigned to activities using each of the three factors. Strategic fit and Effectiveness are gateways for activity development, with the benefit and cost appraisal determining final prioritisation. As a rule, only proposals assessed with at least a medium strategic fit and medium effectiveness will progress to prioritisation for inclusion in the NTLP.
Proposals assessed as having low strategic fit remain at the strategic business case stage and proposals assessed as having low effectiveness are required to undertake further development within the programme business case, or stop.
In developing the NLTP, account was taken of relevant strategies, plans and programmes as set out in the table below. Account will continue to be taken of these in delivering the NLTP.
Strategy, plan or programme | How it was taken into account in developing the NLTP |
---|---|
Connecting New Zealand |
By giving effect to the GPS – the GPS has been developed based on the policy direction given in Connecting New Zealand to improve network efficiency of transport |
National Infrastructure Plan |
By giving effect to the GPS – the GPS has been developed based on the strategic direction given in the National Infrastructure Plan to improve the use of existing networks, and appropriately allocate new investment. These are fundamental to the Transport Agency Investment principles, in particular the investment hierarchy. |
Safer Journeys Road Safety Strategy |
Through assessment of proposed activities under the Transport Agency Investment Assessment Framework, which assesses the priority of the safety components of activities based on priorities in the Safer Journeys Road Safety Strategy. In addition, all improvement activities are required to meet best practice design guidelines and undertake safety auditing through development and implementation. |
New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS) |
By including in the NLTP proposed activities that will achieve impacts sought in the GPS that contribute to NEECS, such as easing severe urban congestion, promoting appropriate mode choice for travel and understanding and mitigating adverse environmental effects. |
Regional Land Transport Plans (RLTPs) |
By including in the NLTP proposed activities that have been included in RLTPs, taking account of regional priority setting, discussion, consultation and negotiation involving the Transport Agency |
One Network Road Classification system |
Through assessment of proposed activities under the Transport Agency Investment Assessment Framework, which assesses the strategic fit and effectiveness of maintenance and improvement activities relative to their function and level of service requirements within the classification system |
Regional Public Transport Plans (RPTPs) |
By including in the NLTP proposed activities that have been included in RLTPs developed by Regional Transport Committees, taking into account RPTPs. The process for developing the NLTP includes regional discussion and confirmation of priorities from RLTPs involving Regional Transport Committees (including the Transport Agency representative) |