Work category 324: Road improvements

Introduction

This work category A type of activity – not confined to a particular activity class, e.g. new roads (work category 323) appears in:

* activity class 12 – local road improvements
* activity class 13 – state highways improvements provides for:

• improvements to or upgrading of existing roads within the existing or widened road reserve A legally described area within which facilities such as roads, footpaths That portion of the road reserve set aside for the use of pedestrians only. and associated features may be constructed and maintained for public travel. , and
• deviations onto a new road reserve A legally described area within which facilities such as roads, footpaths That portion of the road reserve set aside for the use of pedestrians only. and associated features may be constructed and maintained for public travel. , where the original road is closed, including any associated new road structures.

Examples of qualifying activities

Examples of qualifying activities include, but may not be limited to:

• road realignment, re-grading or widening, including seal widening
• improvements to intersections, passing lanes and black-spots
• approaches to bridge replacements costing in excess of $50,000
• retaining structures, culverts One or more adjacent pipes or enclosed channels running across and below road formation level having a cross-sectional area less than 3.4 square metres. and replacement cattle stop
• all traffic signs, pavement The road structure that is constructed on the subgrade and supports the traffic loading. markings, traffic signals, lighting (including under-grounding), etc, necessary to bring the improved facility into service
• reinstatement of footpaths That portion of the road reserve set aside for the use of pedestrians only. and vehicular crossings that are part of the improvement project (reinstatement is to be to the original standards only – no additional improvements are eligible for funding assistance)
• discharge of street A road within an urban locality. water by means of pipes or open drains into natural watercourses, where no artificial drainage system exists, or into artificial drainage systems (sumps, mains or open drains), on, adjacent to or across from the road, and
• for local road projects property purchase costs less than $50,000.

Other potential activities not shown above should be discussed with the Transport Agency for eligibility.  Note that any application for improvements which increases the level of service (e.g. pavement The road structure that is constructed on the subgrade and supports the traffic loading. smoothing) must provide evidence of substantive benefits.

Exclusions

Exclusions include:

• A new cattle stop A grid across the road to prevent stock movement. where none previously existed – this is not eligible for funding assistance,
• Pavement rehabilitations due to high maintenance costs - these are funded under work category 214: Sealed road pavement rehabilitation
• Traffic services renewals – these are funded under Work category 222: Traffic services renewals.

Funding assistance rate (FAR The usual contribution in percentage terms, that the NZTA augments funding of an approved organisation, for the delivery of an activity or combination of activities. )

The usual funding assistance rate is:

• the Approved Organisation's normal FAR,
• the Approved Organisation's special purpose road improvements FAR; or
• 100% of the Transport Agency's state highway costs.

Applying for funding approval

Applications for funding approval of proposed projects should be made through the 'Improvement activity' module in Transport Investment Online (TIO The NZTA's web-based funding allocation system. ). To be eligible for NLTF The fund established under section 10 of the LTMA funding, any new activity must be added to the relevant Regional Land Transport Plan and to the NLTP A National Land Transport Programme Interrelated and complementary combination of activities that, when delivered in a coordinated manner, produce synergies – can span more than one work category and more than one activity class, e.g. a programme could include a road improvement and public transport improvement activities. adopted by the NZTA under section 19 of the LTMA, as from time to time amended or varied .

End of year carryover

Transport Investment Online (TIO The NZTA's web-based funding allocation system. ) will automatically carryover the unspent allocation every year.  Therefore it is vital that Approved Organisations and the Transport Agency (State Highways) declare the unused allocation for completed projects by making a cost-scope adjustment via the Reviews module in TIO The NZTA's web-based funding allocation system. .

NB A future upgrade to TIO The NZTA's web-based funding allocation system. will allow the project to be marked as completed.