Walking and cycling improvements

Archive - this information is for reference only and no longer maintained.

This page relates to the 2018-21 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

This section describes the activity class for walking and cycling and provides information and links to the walking and cycling assessment requirements and work categories, processes and procedures to assist approved organisations and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (state highways) in developing walking and cycling activities.

The walking and cycling activity class is defined in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) as investment to improve the level of service for walking and cycling, including promotional activities.

Government expectations

The government has set out its expectations of the land transport system in the 2018 Government Policy Statement on land transport (external link)(GPS).

These include results from investments in walking and cycling improvements from the National Land Transport Fund.

Short to medium-term results
The government expects walking and cycling improvements to deliver:
- safer cycling and walking
- a more accessible and better-integrated transport network including public transport, walking and cycling
- improved transport access to new and existing housing including provision of public transport services
- improved transport connections (including local roads, public transport and active modes) on key regional tourist routes to make these routes safer for all
- a reduction in overall single occupant private vehicle travel, particularly in urban centres
- improved good-quality, fit-for-purpose walking and cycling infrastructure
- improved real and perceived safety for both pedestrians and cyclists
- an increased proportion of journeys being made using public transport and active modes of travel (including for children travelling to and from school)
- expanded and better connected walking and cycling networks both in urban and rural areas (eg the Great Rides, Heartland Rides, and the Te Araroa Trail)
- reduced greenhouse gas emissions from land transport using a whole-of-system approach
- an increased uptake of active travel modes such as walking and cycling to support environmental and public health objectives.
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Long-term results
The government expects walking and cycling improvements to deliver:
- a significant reduction in deaths and serious injuries
- better connected and accessible metropolitan and high growth urban areas
- sustainable economic development of regional New Zealand supported by safer and better transport connections
- an increased mode shift from private vehicle trips to walking, cycling and public transport
- reduced greenhouse gas emissions from transport
- reduced negative effects from transport on the local environment and public health.
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Qualifying for NLTP consideration

To qualify for consideration for inclusion in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) and subsequent approval of funding:

Any proposed activity is eligible by meeting the definition of the walking and cycling activity class in the GPS and the appropriate work category definition in this knowledge base
Walking and cycling infrastructure provided within a regional network must be included in the relevant regional land transport plan (RLTP)
Organisations must comply with the Waka Kotahi Procurement manual and procurement rules, as well as any relevant standards and guidelines as listed in the Waka Kotahi Register of network standards and guidelines(external link).

Walking and cycling improvement projects described in the following work categories are eligible for inclusion.

Walking and cycling improvements work categories
The activity class contains the following work categories:
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Development of walking and cycling improvement activities

The following guidance is in addition to the General requirements for improvement activities, packages and programmes

See Development of low cost, low risk programmes for guidance on improvement activities under $1,000,000.

Waka Kotahi expects approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (state highways), where it makes sense to do so, to combine projects in a programme to deliver a complete end-to-end journey on footpaths, cycle lanes and/or cycle paths.

For projects to be accepted as a single programme, Waka Kotahi must be confident that approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (state highways) are ready and able to deliver the entire programme within a reasonable timeframe.

By delivering projects as part of a programme, the entire programme is assessed based on the primary corridor within that programme. The collective value of the programme is likely to be reflected in the assessment profile. If components were brought forward for funding separately, they would be assessed individually.

Delivering projects as part of a programme is effective and cost efficient and this is likely to be reflected in the business case and cost-benefit appraisal.

Assessment of walking and cycling improvement activities

Walking and cycling activities proposed for funding from the National Land Transport Fund are assessed under the Waka Kotahi Investment Assessment Framework. See Assessment of walking and cycling improvement activties.

Further information

The following guidelines provide assistance:

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Cycle network and route planning guide (currently being updated).

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Pedestrian planning and design guide.

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