Part One: An introduction

In line with the Government Policy Statement, the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) is our key commitment with the sector for how the Transport Agency will use National Land Transport funding to provide a transport system that enables New Zealand to thrive.

The 2018–21 NLTP should reflect the wider transport investment story. We recognise the Transport Agency’s role is wider than just its own direct investment decisions and are keen to understand what other outcomes our investment in transport contributes to.  This will lead to a richer conversation (across government).

The NLTP process also needs to acknowledge that Regional Land Transport Plans (RLTPs) are Regional Transport Committee documents and are currently in a mid-term review cycle. The requirements of the NLTP process need to be scaled in support of that.  

The Transport Agency also hopes to encourage much greater alignment of strategic messages through the dialogue process – for example, encouraging activity management plans to reflect the strategic intent at the front end of each RLTP.

As Approved Organisations and Regional Transport Committees, and our key partners in the NLTP process, our aim is to work in closer partnership with you to bring innovative ideas and solutions to the table and shape each other’s thinking about how best to use our collective investment opportunities to support a better future for New Zealand. 

Feedback – what you told us

To help improve our processes and approach, the Transport Agency sought feedback from across the sector following the release of the 2015-18 NLTP and has invited further feedback through a number of our early conversations last year as we began to prepare for the 2018-21 NLTP. 

Feedback has been taken on board from the following sources:

• NLTP Lessons learnt
• RLTP Debrief meeting with the Transport Special Interest Group (July 2015)
• A number of local and regional meetings
• Feedback from our local government partners on the draft “Investment Assessment Criteria for Road Maintenance Programmes” for future NLTPs.
• Direct feedback from LGNZ Transport Special Interest Group representatives
• SHAMP Lessons Learnt

This includes feedback on ways to improve the overall NLTP process as well as feedback on specific activities and initiatives, which has been passed on to those teams.

The feedback covers five key themes: Regional Land Transport Plans, the need for a clearer strategic picture, the Business Case Approach, HNO’s State Highway Investment Proposal, and timeframes for updates to the Transport Investment Online (TIO) tool.

Part One of the November NLTP Dialogue content, outlined below, is a summary of the key points under each theme. The rest of the information that follows in Part Two has been structured to provide more detailed responses under each of these five themes, with further additional information provided in the final section (Part Three).

You can continue to provide feedback at any time throughout the NLTP cycle by contacting us.

Key themes from the feedback you gave us

1. Regional Land Transport Plans

• RLTPs are prepared by Regional Transport Committees on behalf of a Regional Council (although in the case of Auckland, Auckland Transport prepares and approves the RLTP).
• There is a lot of variance between regions as to the extent of work required for the RLTP reviews.  Some regions are overhauling their RLTP documents - whereas for other regions, their strategic context has not changed and they only need to update their programme. 
• The NLTP timeline needs to provide detail around processes that feed into the RLTP.  It should also include AOs' activity management plan development and councils’ long term plans as so everyone can see where they fit and why. 
• Although the NZ Transport Agency has requested that RLTPs include acknowledgement of NZ Police contributions to relevant objectives, the engagement with NZ Police at a regional level is variable and the Transport Agency needs to engage with NZ Police at a national level. (Additionally, a number of Regional Transport Committee members also provided examples of NZ Police involvement in the development of RLTPs and on RTCs).
• Although the Land Transport Management requires that each RLTP includes ‘an assessment of the relationship of Police activities to the RLTP’ and the NZ Transport Agency has requested that RLTPs include acknowledgement of NZ Police contribution to wider aspects of RLTPs, the engagement with NZ Police at the regional level has been variable and more consistent engagement is needed nationally. On the other hand, a number of Regional Transport Committees provided examples of NZ Police membership on RTCs and involvement in the development of RLTPs.

2. Bigger strategic picture

• The Transport Agency needs to describe where it wants to get to – acknowledging the strategic intent contained in RLTPs and working in partnership to agree a path to the future together.
• The transport sector needs to think strategically, with a view towards the long term
• Strategic thinking is important. Regional and Technical Advisory Groups have an important role to play in translating strategic priorities into corresponding activities. 
• Need early and consistent communications around the development of the NLTP.  Also need clear roles and responsibilities for Transport Agency staff.  

3. Business case approach

• A number of our stakeholders and partners are still unsure about the business case approach.

4. HNO’s State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) – previously known as ‘SHAMP’

• Regional Transport Committees need to have a clear process to influence and understand the State Highways Investment Proposal (they did not feel that this happened last time around). 
• The State Highway Investment Proposal also needs to acknowledge the RLTP, reflecting its strategic priorities. Last time there appeared to be a disconnect between RLTP priorities and the priorities of the SHAMP when it came out.

• The hierarchy of documents needs to be clear – i.e. need to be clear where activity management plans and the State Highway Investment Proposal sit in regard to the RLTP and line of sight to strategic direction. 

5. Transport Investment Online (TIO)

• Approved Organisations and Regional Transport Committees need to know when the new TIO templates will be available so they can begin inputting their programmes.  

What success looks like

Based on your feedback, this will be a successful NLTP process for you if:

• It is simple, logical and efficient.
• You see clear links between the strategic context that’s provided (both in the NLTP and your RLTPs), the investments we propose, and the outcomes that we seek.
• The Transport Agency provides a clear, consistent story regarding the future of the network and how the outcomes of this NLTP are leading towards that.
• Our investment decisions are easily understood and follow from a transparent process.
• Local communities and transport users understand the links between national and local priorities and can see their needs and desired outcomes being considered in a transparent process.

It’s also worth noting that the process isn’t starting from a blank slate – a number of collaborative initiatives are already underway together, including the development of Business Cases and other activities that represent more collaborative approaches and whole-of-system thinking.  This includes:

• Programme business cases for the Auckland Transport Alignment Project and Transport for Future Urban Growth
• Regional Economic Development Action Plans
• And a number of key inter-regional journeys business cases

The Transport Agency will build on the strengths of these as it engages in dialogue with you and agree the key investment priorities that will shape the 2018-21 NLTP together and begin to share our developing long term strategic view of the transport system.

Our regional staff will continue to work through the Regional Advisory Groups, Technical Advisory Groups, Regional Transport Committees, as well as the Transport Special Interest Group. 

The next section, Part Two, of the Shaping the NLTP – November Dialogue content focuses on responding to each of the key feedback themes outlined above.

Following these responses, we have included some additional information and updates that we also thought would be either useful and/or important for you to know. This includes information about activity management plans, Regional Economic Development, Cycling, and Safety. You will find these in Part Three. 

Contact us

Your feedback is important to us. If you’d like to know more or have some feedback for us, let know.