TPAC: Work category 002: Transport model development - guidance

Introduction

The purpose of transport models is to provide a tool to understand, and plan for, change. This may relate to changes in population, industry, technology, energy and climate.

Transport models must be fit for purpose. They need to be strategic and identify future transport needs. Updates to existing models should only be undertaken where there has been significant change on strategic context or future projections.  

Funding for models or updates will be assessed and prioritised against the NZ Transport Agency Assessment Framework.  

This definition applies to the 2012-15 NLTP.  For the 2015-18 NLTP please refer to the updated definition for work category 002.

Requirements for transport models

To receive funding assistance, development of transport models must meet the following requirements:

• include a detailed Terms of Reference, that complies with section 2.12 of the NZ Transport Agency Economic Evaluation Manual (Jan 2016). 
• identify the purpose of the model or the update of the model
• include a schedule that specifies when the model will be completed
• establish a process for peer review by a reviewer approved by the NZ Transport Agency
• identify a  technical committee with representatives from the affected Approved Organisations and the NZ Transport Agency that will oversee the work
• ensure a multiparty funding agreement is in place where there is more than one participant

Expected outputs from models

Models will include the following outputs:

• information (and/or projections) that will inform and respond to strategic documents (both national and regional)
• information (and/or projections) that will respond to significant changes impacting on the transport network
• information that can be used to evaluate alternatives and options that can be used for future planning and investigation activities carried out for state highway, and/or local transport networks
• clearly identified assumptions, limitations and tolerances which are embedded in the model, and
• a process to ensure that the model is maintained and updated as required.

Examples of qualifying activities

Examples of qualifying activities include:

• development of upgrading of models that focus on areas where there has been significant change in the strategic context such as land use or population growth
• access maps showing origins to key destinations
• studies and strategies until July 2015; refer to the following for information on studies and strategies.

Exclusions

Exclusions include:

• maintenance of the model
• application of the model to transport planning or activity development; these are costs of delivering the relevant activity
• routine updates to models where there has not been any significant change in land use and population projections
• models to identify preferred routes, and
• Studies and strategies will be excluded from July 2015 except where delivered as part of a Programme business cases under work category 004: Programme business case development

Funding assistance rates

The usual funding assistance rate for this work category is:

• the Approved Organisation's construction rate,
• the weighted average regional construction rate for regional councils
• 100% where the expenditure is incurred by the NZ Transport Agency.