Developing public transport activities - overview

Introduction

This section sets out guidance for Approved Organisations to prepare and submit their proposed public transport activities for inclusion in a Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP A regional land transport plan, prepared under Part 2 of the LTMA, as from time to time amended or varied. ).

Each programme of activities should reflect all public transport services defined in the regional public transport plan (RPTP A plan which specifies how the regional council intends to give effect to the public transport service components of the regional land transport plan that applies to the region. As of June 2013, the contents and management of the plan is defined by Part 5 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003. ) and the costs of associated facilities that are expected to be funded through the 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. (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 ).

Components of public transport activities

There are two components to developing public transport activities for inclusion in an RLTP A regional land transport plan, prepared under Part 2 of the LTMA, as from time to time amended or varied. :

• Public transport programmes, which comprise existing services and operational activities under activity class 4: Public transport services;
• Public transport improvements, which comprise activities proposed under activity class 5: Public transport infrastructure, as well as new services and other activities in activity class 4: Public transport services, that require investment as improvements.

General guidance

The NZTA expects that Approved Organisations will follow the NZTA’s Planning and Investment Principles in developing and delivering their public transport activities.

Each programme of public transport activities should reflect all public transport services defined in the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP A plan which specifies how the regional council intends to give effect to the public transport service components of the regional land transport plan that applies to the region. As of June 2013, the contents and management of the plan is defined by Part 5 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003. ) and the costs of associated facilities that are expected to be funded through the 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. (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 ).

Each programme should include sufficient information to support the service level proposed and the funding proposed, as well as demonstrate the outcomes that will be achieved.

NZTA’s desired outcomes

The NZTA, when investing in public transport activities, wants:

• Evidence that the best use is being made of existing transport capacity through cost-effective services operated by Approved Organisations on the public transport network,
• Robust, affordable Demonstrates that adequate funding to deliver the activity, or combination of activities, is available from identified sources, e.g. a funding plan has been identified. RPTPs that drive public transport activities that contribute most to the NZTA’s outcomes, particularly around making better use Making better use of existing services and infrastructure means fully considering and analysing existing services and use of infrastructure and identifying opportunities for change without significant additional expenditure. of existing transport capacity, 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 and providing cost effective mode choices,
• To assist more of the funding of investment in public transport that targets its key outcomes and less toward investment that does not contribute markedly to its key outcomes.