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Submissions for this consultation have now closed. |
Special vehicle lanes include transit lanes (e.g. high-occupancy motor vehicle lanes (T2 or T3)), priority bypass lanes (a motorway onramp designed to bypass ramp signals for qualifying vehicles, eg T2 and truck lanes) and bus lanes.
Under the definition proposed in an amendment to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule, an electric vehicle is a vehicle that is wholly or partly powered by a battery which is charged by plugging into an external source of electricity.
Conventional hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid, that cannot plug-in are not electric vehicles.
The Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Bill came into effect on 1 July 2017 and will enable road controlling authorities, such as councils and the Transport Agency, to make bylaws allowing electric vehicles to use suitable special vehicle lanes.
Changes to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 and Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 to implement this initiative are expected to come into force on 1 September 2017.
Following the changes it will be up to individual road controlling authorities to make suitable special vehicle lanes available to electric vehicles by making bylaws.
Long term access by electric vehicles will be considered within the framework used for continuous optimisation of the road network.
In anticipation of expected legislative changes, the Transport Agency ran a two week trial allowing electric vehicles access to five on-ramps in Auckland in March and undertook viability assessments of all special vehicle lanes on state highways (roads for which the Transport Agency is the road controlling authority). These assessments revealed that 11 special vehicle lanes in Auckland would be suitable for electric vehicle use following the expected legislative changes.
The Transport Agency is currently consulting on a bylaw that will allow electric vehicles access to those 11 lanes for a 12 month trial.
The Transport Agency will continue to assess other special vehicle lanes on the state highway network for suitability for use by electric vehicles in the future.
The 14 day trial, enabling electric vehicles access to five lanes in Auckland in March, provided the Transport Agency a greater understanding of operational requirements going forward as well as qualitative information relating to the value of the incentive to electric vehicle drivers.
Prior to this trial, information packs were sent to Auckland-based electric vehicle owners listed on the motor vehicle register asking them to fill in a survey. Seventy-eight percent of respondents stated that access to the priority bypass lanes improved their journey time, with 94 percent stating that if additional special vehicle lanes were made available to electric vehicle drivers they would use them long-term.
The proposed 12 month trial will allow the Transport Agency to further monitor the impact that electric vehicles in special vehicle lanes have on highway productivity and continue to assess the viability of additional lanes.
The Transport Agency will partner with the Auckland Motorway Alliance to monitor the performance of the 11 lanes for the duration of the trial. This continuous monitoring will form the basis of an evaluation at the trial’s conclusion.
Following the expected legislative changes, road controlling authorities may make specific bylaws in order to enable electric vehicles access to special vehicle lanes.
The Transport Agency is currently consulting on a bylaw that will allow electric vehicles access to 11 specified special vehicle lanes in Auckland for a 12 month trial.
Following a viability assessment of special vehicle lanes on state highways (roads for which the Transport Agency is the road controlling authority), the Transport Agency identified 11 lanes it considered to be suitable for electric vehicles, based on:
The proposed special vehicle lanes are listed here [PDF, 1022 KB].
These lanes will be marked by with appropriate signs and road markings as required throughout the lane.
All special vehicle lanes that electric vehicles will be allowed to use will be marked with appropriate signs and road markings as required throughout the lane. This is subject to the expected legislative changes coming into force.
Existing traffic devices used to signal the beginning and end of the transit lane will be updated to include electric vehicles. All drivers are responsible for complying with road signs and markings at all times and failing to do so may result in enforcement action being taken.
The Transport Agency is proposing to allow electric vehicles access to the northbound Upper Harbour Highway bus-only onramp. This is subject to the expected legislative changes coming into force.
There are no other bus lanes considered suitable for electric vehicle access at this time.
The proposed bylaw will allow electric vehicles access to specified special vehicles lanes regardless of how many occupants are in that vehicle.
The purpose of Government’s Electric Vehicle Programme is to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Allowing electric vehicles access to viable special vehicle lanes will help encourage New Zealanders to decide that their next car will be an electric vehicle, reducing emissions that come from the country’s vehicle fleet.
Enabling electric vehicles access to special vehicle lanes may shorten journey times for electric vehicle drivers.
Road controlling authorities constantly measure the efficiency of roads, and make changes to achieve optimal productivity.
If a special vehicle lane is considered suitable for use by electric vehicles, the Transport Agency will use a set of performance metrics to monitor the lane. These will give the Transport Agency an early indication if the lane or wider network is, or could be, negatively affected, and it may reassess the optimal use for that lane.
It is currently illegal for electric vehicles to access special vehicles lanes unless they qualify for T2, T3 or truck lanes.
For more information email evprogramme@nzta.govt.nz
