Service Lanes Policy

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

IntroductionBack to top

This is the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) policy on service lanes.

Date of issue: Updated June 2024 | NZTA may review and amend investment policies at any time, including in response to any changes in the Government Policy Statement on land transport.

PurposeBack to top

To identify when service lanes are eligible for funding assistance from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) and set out the application of betterment to service lanes.

Policy statementBack to top

The construction of service lanes that have not been vested in a road controlling authority’s ownership as part of the road controlling authority’s transport network, similar to the construction of roads within subdivisions, is not eligible for funding assistance from the NLTF.

Sub-Divisional Roads Policy

Where service lanes have been vested in a road controlling authority, therefore becoming a local road, cost of their construction and the ongoing maintenance, renewal or improvements are eligible for funding assistance from the NLTF.

Betterment in relation to service lanes

Where betterment applies in relation to a service lane:

• Any amount received by way of betterment must be first deducted as supplementary funding from the total cost, leaving a residual on which funding assistance is claimed.

• The value of betterment should not be determined until the service lane has actually been formed, sealed and vested in a road controlling authority therefore becoming a local road.

For more about betterment, see our Betterment for Local Road Improvements Policy.

Betterment for Local Road Improvements Policy