WC 003: activity management planning improvement

This page relates to the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

Work category 003 provides for the preparation or updating of land transport activity management plans (AMPs), including their component plans (such as road safety action plans, speed management plans, demand management plans and procurement strategies), and regional public transport plans.

Qualifying activities

Work category 003 is available to the investment management activity class.

Investment management

Examples of qualifying activities

Qualifying activities include, but may not be limited to:

•  AMPs, including:
  • national, regional, and local speed management plans
  • road safety action plans (RSAPs)
  • speed management plans
  • travel demand management planning
  • procurement strategies
• regional public transport plans (RPTPs).

You can discuss with us (NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) as investor) whether other potential activities not listed above might also be eligible for inclusion in this work category.

Exclusions

Work category 003 excludes:

• the development and improvement of transport models – these are funded under work category 002
  Work category 002: transport model development

• business case development– this is part of the cost of the activity
• programme business case development – these are funded under work category 004 programme business case development
  Work category 004: programme business case development
• network and asset management for roads:
  • regular, routine updates to the AMP – note that the costs for NZTA to participate in the review and development of local authority’s strategic planning and land use planning documents are covered under work category 911: management of the funding allocation system
    Work category 911: management of the funding allocation system
  • regular, routine updates to speed management plans
  • implementation and operation of asset management systems
  • updating asset information
  • application of AMPs to activities
  • operation and management of the land transport network
  • roughness and condition rating surveys
  • traffic count and congestion surveys – these activities are funded under work category 151.
    Work category 151: network and asset management
• public transport information supply, operations and maintenance – these activities are funded under work category 524:
  • routine updates to the RPTP or other public transport planning documents, where public consultation is not required
  • updating asset information in an RPTP or in other public transport planning documents
  • updating statistical records or forecasts in an RPTP or in other public transport planning documents.
    Work category 524: public transport information supply, operations and maintenance

Funding assistance rate

The usual funding assistance rate (FAR) is:

• the approved organisation's normal FAR
  Normal funding assistance rates

or

• 100% of the costs of NZTA (for its own activities).

Submitting activities for National Land Transport Programme consideration and funding approval

Approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) submit these activities using the programme business case and transport planning (work categories 002, 003 and 004) templates in Transport Investment Online (TIO).

Transport Investment Online(external link)

For guidance on using TIO, see the TIO learning and guidance page on our website and ensure you submit the correct template for the work category or categories.

Transport Investment Online (TIO) learning and guidance

Land transport activity management plans

We expect approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) to:

• provide an appropriate business case to support their proposals for funding assistance for any transport service delivery activity

• ensure AMPs, or similar, as they relate to proposed activities meet the requirements of:

  • clause 2 of schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 2002 for approved organisations. or
  •  Cabinet Office circular CO (23) 9: Investment management and asset performance in departments and other entities (which include NZTA for state highways, and the Department of Conservation).
    Cabinet Office circular CO (23) 9: Investment management and asset performance in departments and other entities(external link)

We will review new and improved AMPs and provide comments to the responsible organisation.

Approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) should base their transport network asset and AMPs on recognised international best-practise methodologies. Examples include the National Asset Management Steering (NAMS) Group’s International infrastructure management manual, the ISO 55000X series of standards, Āpōpō Guide and the Global Forum on Maintenance & Asset Management’s (GFMAM) Asset Management Landscape v3.0.

International infrastructure management manual(external link)

Āpōpō Guide(external link)

Asset Management Landscape v3.0 (GFMAM)(external link)

Activities to include

Public infrastructure investment includes the following activities:

• network operations and services (including demand management such as the planning of improvements to the network, travel behaviour change activities, and pricing policies to encourage increased uptake of active modes and public transport or to encourage alternative travel choices)
• maintenance of land transport infrastructure
• renewal of land transport infrastructure
• improvement and creation of land transport infrastructure.

Things to consider

Consideration should be given to:

• changes in travel demand and planning of operations and improvements to the network, travel behaviour change activities, and pricing policies to encourage increased uptake of active modes and public transport or to encourage alternative travel choices)
• changes to levels of service targets relating to transport user satisfaction, safety and access
• quality assurance
• innovation.

Content of activity management plans

While the NAMS Group manual provides general guidance for asset and AMPs, we expect a land transport AMP to include the following matters:

•  the detail specified in clause 2 of schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 2002
  

  Local Government Act 2002 clause 2 of schedule 10(external link)

• an awareness of community views and expectations relating to the use of the land transport network
• evidence of links to regional and national land transport strategies and targets
• proposed transport levels of service targets and implementation plans
• the organisation’s strategy to encourage uptake of active modes and public transport to reduce travel – this might include demand forecasts and proposed additional asset capacity, or changes to service levels, standards and costs, or changes to routing and timing
• life-cycle management strategies
• current asset value, annual depreciation, asset condition and expected asset lives
• major risks and a risk management strategy (including safety and sustainability issues)
• how best value for money will be achieved in the delivery of the organisation’s land transport services
• the organisation’s procurement strategy for the activities in the plan
• the organisation’s decision-making and prioritisation process for including activities in a regional land transport plan (RLTP)
• a detailed list of activities for the first 3 years and an outline of actions for the following 7 years
• a financial plan that is clearly linked to an RLTP and a long-term plan or annual plan
• how the performance and use of the network, and assurance of cost-effective delivery are monitored
• indications of the completeness and accuracy of asset information, assumptions and financial projections.

NZTA expectations of activity management plans

We expect approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) to maintain the following priorities in their plans:

• achievement of a high level of data integrity, including:
  • asset inventory
  • treatment history
  • condition data
  • cost data
  • traffic data
• decision-making methods for optimising asset treatments on the network and over time – treatment decisions should recognise:
  • the life-cycle costs of treatments
  • the effect of the treatments on asset condition throughout the life cycle
  • how the treatments impact on transport system performance.

Prediction modelling for activity management plans

Performance prediction modelling can be used to assist the forecasting needed for forward-looking activities. Modelling of future conditions must be adapted to local conditions due to the complex range of:

• materials used
• pavement types and conditions
• climate and traffic loadings.

Even with local calibration, performance prediction modelling is not definitive. Forecasts of pavement condition and estimates of life-cycle costs must recognise the limitations of the many assumptions involved.

Regional public transport plans (RPTPs)

A RPTP is prepared by an approved organisation with the functions, powers and duties of a regional council. Section 124(a)(ii) of the Land Transport Management Act 2003 requires regional councils to be satisfied that their RLTPs are prepared in accordance with any relevant guidelines issued by us.

Section 124(a)(ii) of the Land Transport Management Act 2003(external link)

We have prepared a comprehensive set of guidelines for the preparation of RPTPs and supplement.

2013 Guidelines for preparing regional public transport plans [PDF, 1.6 MB]

RPTP guidelines update for public transport continuous programmes) [PDF, 364 KB]

Road safety action plans (RSAPs)

A RSAP is a tool for coordinating the implementation of inter-agency road safety strategies. The plans are an effective tool to integrate activities that minimise road trauma and can be used to support applications for funding projects and programmes.

Approved organisations are the identified organisations that prepare and manage RSAPs. Partners participating in the improvement of RSAPs include approved organisations, NZTA (for its own activities), NZ Police and the Accident Compensation Corporation.

Content of RSAPs

RSAPs must be developed from an inter-agency perspective and contain:

• an evidence-based assessment of existing safety issues being addressed
• the individual activities that will be delivered
• the objectives and outcomes for each activity (including expected achievement against regional targets)
• a list of the partners that will participate in the activities
• a monitoring programme and post-implementation evaluation of effectiveness
• a list of supportive policies, strategies and plans (including regional and local road safety strategies and AMPs).

Regular RSAP meetings enable monitoring of service delivery and progress towards the achievement of outcomes.

Speed management plans

A speed management plan is an optional method for road controlling authorities to identify and consult on proposed speed limit changes as provided for in the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024.

Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024

Guidance – Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 provides detailed information on the requirements for speed management plans in order to comply with the rule.

Guidance – Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed  Limits 2024 [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Travel demand management plans

Travel demand management planning may be included in an AMP. Information is available on activities that contribute to ‘demand management,’. These activities encourage better travel choices in terms of mode or time of travel, choices that share travel options and measures that reduce the need to travel. Demand management needs to be carefully integrated with other transport measures and rarely relies on a singular approach. The information will assist in identifying options and alternatives for an integrated programme of demand management and should be regarded as a primary complementary tool in any network with all network improvements.

Procurement strategies

All activities funded from the National Land Transport Fund must be procured according to the procedure set out in the NZTA Procurement manual. Each approved organisation and NZTA (for its own activities) is required to have a procurement strategy, which is endorsed by NZTA.

Procurement manual

Procurement strategies need to be reviewed periodically to ensure they contain up-to-date information on an organisation's procurement plan and to reflect changes in the Procurement manual as well as in the organisation's capability and requirement to employ advanced procurement procedures.

Terms of reference

Applications for funding for the preparation or improvement of plans under this work category must provide terms of reference for our approval.

Information requirements for terms of reference

The terms of reference must consider:

• the reason for the preparation or improvement of the plan:
  • statement of purpose for the development of the plan (or supporting study or strategy)
  • context and scope for the task(s)
  • demand management activities to be covered (including pricing policies, network operations, public transport, infrastructure improvements, community engagement, travel behaviour change activities, performance monitoring)
  • background/reference documentation for the task(s)
  • relationships with higher-level policies, strategies and plans (including government and regional strategies and policies)
  • relationship to land-use policies and development activities (including those planned and in progress)

• how the funding is to be used:
  • issues to be addressed
  • modes to be considered, with reasons
  • method used, including modelling, project management and process for political engagement
  • possible alternatives and options to be considered (including strategies to encourage uptake of active modes and public transport or to reduce the need to travel, reroute or retime travel such as infrastructure improvements, travel behaviour change activities, enforcement and associated education, asset disposal)
  • a timeframe for the plan development, with realistic allowance for consultation and a clear completion point
  • estimated cost of completing the task(s)
  • parties involved
  • how the development of the plan (or supporting study or strategy) is to be procured
• outcomes and deliverables:
  • deliverables/outputs
  • expected outcomes of the development of the plan
  • process for sign-off by the approved organisation (or NZTA for its own activities)
  • process for peer review of proposals.
    Peer review of proposals (webpage yet to come)

Change of scope

We must approve any change of scope from the approved terms of reference before the approved organisation or NZTA (for its own activities) may authorise a professional services supplier to proceed.

Professional Services and Administration Funding Policy

We will check the coverage and outputs of plans against the agreed terms of reference.

Continuous improvement of plans

We expect approved organisations and NZTA (for its own activities) to have an improvement programme for their plans.

The improvement programmes should address issues arising from:

• internal reviews of the plans and the processes
• benchmarking of plans, processes and outputs with those of similar approved organisations
• findings of audits of plans and processes.

The improvement programme must ensure the plans provide a robust and realistic rationale for future programmes.