Developing Regional Land Transport Plans

A Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) sets out a region’s land transport objectives, policies, and measures for at least 10 financial years. The direction set by an RLTP is an essential part of the strategic context for any land transport investment proposal.

RLTPs are prepared by Regional Transport Committees, or Auckland Transport in the case of Auckland, every six years. The Land Transport Management Act 2003 sets out in detail the requirements of an RLTP, including the requirement to complete a review of an RLTP during the six-month period before the end of the third year of the plan.

Land Transport Management Act 2003(external link)

What does an RLTP contain?

RLTPs describe the region’s long-term vision and identify its short- to medium-term investment priorities to move towards this vision. They also include a regional programme of transport activities proposed for funding over the next three to six years.

RLTPs are the primary vehicle for discussing and agreeing a clear set of regional outcomes, priorities and improvement projects in the land transport space. They describe the gap between where we are and where we need to get to, along with the programme of activities needed to bridge that gap. Therefore, RLTPs tell a powerful story about a region and its aspirations.

For Waka Kotahi, RLTPs are more than just a list of activities or projects that funding is being sought for – they tell the story of what really matters to a region, how investment in different activities will achieve the community’s outcomes and where change is most needed.

An RLTP that applies the Business Case Approach (BCA) principles will inform and drive investment across all funding sources. It presents a compelling case for land transport investment for local, regional and national investors.

Considerations when developing your RLTP

As you develop your RLTP, here are some things you may want to consider:

• Any changes in your region’s population and/or economy that will have an impact on the transport system and how people use it. Similarly, changes promoted in the plan will affect your region’s population and economy. Consider how you can use the plan to facilitate positive outcomes now and in the future.
• In the policy and context section you will have regional policy context and direction in addition to the national policy context and direction. Consider how the combination of national and regional policies will shape and impact the plan as you develop it, particularly problem statements, benefits, investment objectives, pressures, the current environment and responses.

The world is changing more quickly than ever before, so you cannot predict exactly what the future will look like. However, you can:

• factor what risks and uncertainties could impact the transport system.
• build your plan with a focus on providing certainty in the short to medium term (because the long term is less predictable).
• realise there is always more than one way to solve a problem. Analyse a range of options and factors before you identify a preferred approach. Be clear and transparent about the reasons the preferred investment priorities/options were chosen and what the key trade-offs are.
• think ‘Big Picture’. How do the individual elements of your proposed plan affect each other? What is the flow-on effect on other parts of the network? How will this plan impact on the pressures, the current environment and land consumption?
• prioritise the activities in your plan, and consider how the sequencing will influence your ability to alleviate problems and realise benefits.

RLTP guidance and templates

The Transport Special Interest Group (TSIG), with support from Waka Kotahi, is currently reviewing and updating guidance for developing the RLTP 2021–2031. We will provide updated guidance soon.

For more information, please contact Waka Kotahi or your TSIG representative.