GPS 2018 provides new opportunities for local councils, particularly in the areas of regional improvements, local road improvements, public transport and active modes. All of these have local share requirements (usually in the order of a 50:50 ratio between NLTF and local share).

This new opportunity presents some challenges in relation to local share affordability. The Transport Agency has worked with local government to develop a range of support options to enable councils to take up new co-investment opportunities in the GPS.

A range of initiatives have been developed to support local government. As a first step, the Transport Agency is establishing five National Priority Programmes to accelerate activities aligned with the government’s priorities including:

  • safety on local roads
  • public transport
  • walking and cycling
  • regional improvements
  • network resilience.

The programme teams will include representatives from both the Transport Agency and local government.

The Transport Agency will also:

  • introduce enhanced targeted funding assistance rates (FAR) for the priority programmes to help councils meet their local share of funding, enabling other activities to be brought forward and delivered during this NLTP
  • streamline planning and development processes to help bring forward activities within each programme
  • share capability and capacity with local government to accelerate planning, business case development and project implementation.