Strategic fit for new and improved infrastructure for state highways

Introduction

For the latest information, please see the Assessment Framework for the 2015-18 NLTP.

This section sets out the guidance on assessing strategic fit for activities within the new and improved infrastructure for state highways activity class.

The new and improved infrastructure activity class includes:

• Work category 321 – New traffic management Activities/devices that facilitate management of the road network facilities
• Work category 322 – Replacement of bridges A structure designed to carry a road or path over an obstacle by spanning it. This includes culverts with a cross-sectional area greater than or equal to 3.4 square metres. and structures
• Work category 323 – New roads
• Work category 324 – Road improvements
• Work category 325 – Seal extension
• Work category 331 – Property purchase – state highways
• Work category 333 – Advance property purchase
• Work category 341 – Minor improvements Improvement projects (both roading and PT The carriage of passengers for hire or reward by means of vehicles as defined in section 5 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003.
  http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0118/latest/DLM226238.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_land+transport+management+act_resel_25_a&p=1 ) of $300,00 (was $250,000 for the 2012-15 NLTP) cost or less than are within the definition of existing improvements work categories. Minor improvements are delivered as a programme with block funding under delegated authority.

Default strategic fit

By default, the strategic fit rating for new and improved infrastructure for state highways is low.

Requirements for medium rating

A medium strategic fit rating may be given if the project meets one or more of the following:

• Potential for regionally significant improvements to regional strategic In relation to the One Network Road Classification (ONRC) System. Regional strategic roads are roads that contribute to the social and economic well being of a region and connect regionally significant places, ports or airports. They are also major connectors between regions. They must meet ONRC threshold levels for "regional strategic" for at least two criteria. state highways identified by the State Highway Classification System in one or more of:
  • Journey time reliability
  • Easing of congestion congestion is where the volume to capacity ratio exceeds 80% for 5 days per week over at least a 1 hour time period that affects at least 1.5 km of a route.  For information on the volume to capacity ratio, see Appendix A3 of the NZTA's Economic Evaluation Manual in main urban areas Main urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. represent the most urbanised areas with respect to the concentration of employment, firms and population. Main urban areas are centred on a city or main urban centre. They have a minimum population of 30,000 and an above-average concentration of businesses (typically greater than 90 businesses per 1,000 population). Main urban areas are as defined by Statistics NZ.  Under these criteria the main urban areas are represented by Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier-Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. The extent of the main urban areas is depicted in maps which can be found on the Statistics NZ website.
  • Relieving capacity constraints When demand, in terms of volume or load, routinely exceeds operating capacity
  • More efficient freight supply chains Moving a volume of freight at the lowest whole of life and transport system cost
• Provides a secure and resilient A secure and resilient transport network means eliminating the risks of effects of disruption. Network security means the elimination of risks or effects of a disruption. Network resilience The ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. The availability and restoration of each facility when there is a weather or emergency event, whether there is an alternative route available and the road user information provided.  This can be measured through the number of journeys impacted by unplanned events, or acceptable risk where there is no viable alternative access should it be closed by an unplanned event. means the ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. Consideration of the effects of risk from natural hazard or other transport operation disruptions, and agreed level of service appropriate to the network. To meet agreed levels of service improvements in network security Network security means the elimination of risks or effects of a disruption. and resilience The ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. The availability and restoration of each facility when there is a weather or emergency event, whether there is an alternative route available and the road user information provided.  This can be measured through the number of journeys impacted by unplanned events, or acceptable risk where there is no viable alternative access should it be closed by an unplanned event. requires that there is no alternative, and the network or route is demonstratively susceptible to disruption. transport network to ensure national and regional connectivity for economic growth and productivity 
• Potential for a significant reduction in the actual crash risk or predicted crash risk The predicted crash risk is calculated using crash prediction models outlined in section A6 of the NZTAs Economic Evaluation Manual.  A high predicted fatal and serious crash rate is greater than 3 fatal and serious crashes over a 5 year period or 5 fatal and serious crashes in the last 10 years  involving deaths and serious injuries in accordance with the Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx strategy

Requirements for high rating

A road improvement project must only be given a high strategic fit rating if it meets one or more of the following:

• Roads of National Significance
• Potential for a nationally significant contribution The combination of volume or quantity of demand or probability and consequence or magnitude makes the potential or delivery of the impact or outcome nationally significant. E.g. high impact high volume vs. low impact low volume to economic growth and productivity for national strategic In relation to the One Network Road Classification System, national strategic roads are roads that make a significant contribution to social and economic well being by connecting major population centres, international ports or major airports. They must meet ONRC threshold levels for "national strategic" for at least three criteria. state highways identified by the State Highway Classification System through significant improvements in one or more of:
  • Journey time reliability
  • Easing of severe congestion Severe congestion congestion is where the volume to capacity ratio exceeds 80% for 5 days per week over at least a 1 hour time period that affects at least 1.5 km of a route.  For information on the volume to capacity ratio, see Appendix A3 of the NZTA's Economic Evaluation Manual is where the volume to capacity ratio exceeds 100% for 5 days per week over at least 1 hour in a time period on at least 3 km of a route and the average annual daily traffic (AADT) is greater than 20,000 vehicles per day.
    For information on the volume to capacity ratio, refer to Appendix A3 of the NZTA's Economic Evaluation Manual in major urban areas Major urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. have the highest concentration of economic activity in employment and firms within the main urban areas Main urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. represent the most urbanised areas with respect to the concentration of employment, firms and population. Main urban areas are centred on a city or main urban centre. They have a minimum population of 30,000 and an above-average concentration of businesses (typically greater than 90 businesses per 1,000 population). Main urban areas are as defined by Statistics NZ.  Under these criteria the main urban areas are represented by Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier-Hastings, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. The extent of the main urban areas is depicted in maps which can be found on the Statistics NZ website. . These are currently represented by the major business and employment areas within the main urban areas An area within a permanent speed limit of less than or equal to 70 km/h. of Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. 
  • Relieving capacity constraints When demand, in terms of volume or load, routinely exceeds operating capacity
  • More efficient freight supply chains Moving a volume of freight at the lowest whole of life and transport system cost
  • A secure and resilient A secure and resilient transport network means eliminating the risks of effects of disruption. Network security means the elimination of risks or effects of a disruption. Network resilience The ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. The availability and restoration of each facility when there is a weather or emergency event, whether there is an alternative route available and the road user information provided.  This can be measured through the number of journeys impacted by unplanned events, or acceptable risk where there is no viable alternative access should it be closed by an unplanned event. means the ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. Consideration of the effects of risk from natural hazard or other transport operation disruptions, and agreed level of service appropriate to the network. To meet agreed levels of service improvements in network security Network security means the elimination of risks or effects of a disruption. and resilience The ability of the network to withstand, or recover quickly after a disruption. The availability and restoration of each facility when there is a weather or emergency event, whether there is an alternative route available and the road user information provided.  This can be measured through the number of journeys impacted by unplanned events, or acceptable risk where there is no viable alternative access should it be closed by an unplanned event. requires that there is no alternative, and the network or route is demonstratively susceptible to disruption. transport network
• Potential to significantly reduce the actual crash risk involving deaths & serious injuries in accordance with Safer Journeys The government's strategy to guide improvements in road safety over the period 2010–2020. http://www.transport.govt.nz/saferjourneys/Pages/default.aspx strategy:
  • on a high risk rural road A high-risk rural road is defined in the NZTA High Risk Rural Road Guide (HRRRG) as:
    
    • a rural road where the fatal and serious crash rate (personal risk) or crash density (collective risk) is classified as high compared with other roads (HRRRG section 4.4.1 and figures 4-1 and 4-2); and/or
      
    • a high or medium-high collective risk and/or high or medium-high personal risk (as defined by KiwiRAP risk maps) (HRRRG section 4.4.2); and/or
      
    • a rural road that has features that are likely to increase the potential for fatal or serious injury crashes along a route as determined by the KiwiRAP star rating or RPS, i.e.. 1 or 2 star road or an RPS greater than 10 (HRRRG section 4.4.3); and/or
      
    • an equivalent process such as the Road Safety Infrastructure Assessment (RISA) where the risk score is greater than 3.0 (HRRRG section 4.4.4).
      High risk rural road guide
    (see the High Risk Rural Roads Guide for further information)
  • at a high risk intersection (see the High Risk Intersection Guide for more information)
  • on a high risk motorcycle route; and/or
  • a Safe System demonstration project Where an approved organisation or the NZTA (state highways) will integrate the Safe System into its transport policies and delivery