Applicant
NZ Transport Agency
Purpose
To provide the Board with additional information relating to the implementation of the strategic direction for key journeys between Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga and investment in SH2 Waihi to Tauranga (Board papers 16/04/1003 and 16/04/1005 refer).
Date of decision
15 April 2016
Resolutions
- The New Zealand Transport Agency Board:
- Supported the recommended programme (programme business case option 5b) for the SH2 corridor between Waihi and Tauranga addressing road safety and journey predictability issues (estimated total programme cost of $520 million in current day dollars);
- Noted the recommended programme has three parts: the offline Tauranga Northern Link to improve throughput between Te Puna to Tauranga, safety improvements on SH2 from Waihi to Te Puna, and medium term throughput improvements from Omokoroa to Te Puna;
- Noted the SH2 Waihi to Tauranga recommended programme is consistent with the strategic direction for key upper North Island journeys between Auckland and Tauranga;
- Noted the programme has been assessed as having a funding profile of High strategic fit, High Effectiveness and Cost Benefit Appraisal between 1-3;
- Agreed that the implementation phase of the Tauranga Northern Link project should be included in the NLTP 2015-18;
- Approved funding for implementation of the Tauranga Northern Link at an estimated cost of $286 million (including property and escalation), with a planned construction start in 2018;
- Noted the Tauranga Northern Link project has been assessed as having a funding profile of High strategic fit, high effectiveness and Cost Benefit Appraisal of 3.3;
- Noted a tolling assessment for Tauranga Northern Link will be completed and reported back to the NZ Transport Agency Board prior to implementation commencing; and
- Approved $3.4 million for indicative and detailed business cases for Northern Corridor Safety Improvements (Athenree to Katikati South, and Omokoroa to Te Puna – short term) (total estimated cost for all short term safety improvements $85 million and long term improvements $150M).
Reason for the decision
The NZ Transport Agency’s SH2 Waihi to Tauranga improvements programme will improve access to and from Tauranga’s northern corridor.
The programme will improve journey predictability and community connectivity from Te Puna to Tauranga with the offline Tauranga Northern Link bypassing Bethlehem. Road safety along the whole route from Waihi to Tauranga will be improved. This will reduce head-on, loss of control and rear end crashes. In the longer term, additional capacity will be provided between Omokoroa and Te Puna to support the surrounding development. The assessment profile for the programme has been determined as being of high strategic fit, high effectiveness and has a benefit cost appraisal of 1-3.
Funding for the development of safety improvements and the implementation of the Tauranga Northern Link project is approved. The assessment profile for the Tauranga Northern Link project is high strategic fit, high effectiveness and a benefit cost appraisal of 3.3.
