Assessment of walking and cycling improvement activities

The walking and cycing improvements activity class includes the following work categories:

• Work category 451: Walking facilities
• Work category 452: Cycling facilities
• Work category 341: Low cost, low risk improvements

 A walking and cycling improvement activity may be given a low results alignment rating if the activity addresses one or more of the following criteria:

 A walking and cycling improvement activity may be given a medium results alignment rating if the activity addresses one or more of the following criteria:

 A walking and cycling improvement activity may be given a high results alignment rating if the activity addresses one or more of the following criteria:

A walking and cycling improvement activity may be given a very high results alignment rating if the activity addresses one or more of the following criteria:

Programmes/packages of activities

Where activities are being delivered as a programme/package, the BCR should include the costs and benefits of educational, promotional and/or advertising activity to attract users to the walking and cycling network, and education and/or advertising to encourage the sharing of roads and pathways and safe use.

Use of generic or default BCR

No placeholder, generic or default BCRs are to be used.

Ranking

Refer to  Prioritisation of activities for information on calculating the BCR and on the resulting ranking.

 Peer review

Waka Kotahi reserves the right to require a peer review of cost–benefit appraisal determinations and measures, including any non-monetised/additional benefits and adverse impacts, regardless of the scope, prior to an investment decision.

Insufficient information (L*)

An activity can be included in the NLTP when no cost–benefit appraisal has been made or when no robust evidence is lacking to support the assessment. In such cases the rating for cost–benefit appraisal will default to 1 for improvement activities. Waka Kotahi represents these activities as L* to indicate that more information is required to achieve a robust assessment profile.

An activity will not be considered for funding approval with an L* status.

 A programme can include a component of:

• an educational activity
• promotion and/or advertising activities
• emerging services like Bikeshare schemes to attract users to the cycling network. 

For activities to be accepted as a single programme/package (with a single assessment profile), Waka Kotahi requires evidence that

• the activities in the programme/package are interdependent
• the programme/package can be delivered within a reasonable timeframe.

Waka Kotahi assesses a programme/package is assessed based on its primary road corridor. This single assessment profile may result in the smaller collector routes gaining a higher profile than if they were assessed on a standalone basis.

Delivering activities as a programme/package of works should be a more effective and cost efficient than delivering them individually. The ratings for the results alignment and cost–benefit appraisal will reflect this in the assessment.

Waka Kotahi recommends using:

• the Pedestrian planning and design guide along with the Austroads LoS tool ‘Level of Service metrics for Network operations Planning (AP-R475-15)’
• for existing situations, the Community street review (external link)process
• for new designs, the Pedestrian LoS prediction tool in Waka Kotahi research report 452 Predicting walkability.

Waka Kotahi continues to recommend use of the Cycle Network Guidance – Planning and Design(external link) (CNG) to guide appropriate LoS to determine what is fit for purpose when considering new cycling facilities. A NZ LoS tool for cycling is under development.  In the interim the CNG recommends Austroads LoS tool.

The CNG aims to promote a consistent, best-practice approach to cycling network and route planning throughout New Zealand. It sets out a principles-based process for deciding what cycling provision is desirable, and provides best-practice guidance for the design of cycleways.

Regional transport committees and approved organisations need to have a clear understanding of who the cycling programme is targeting, what LoS is required in delivering the activity or activities, and how different activities might complement each other to maximise the benefits of investment.

The main factors influencing LoS relate to safety, comfort, and delays, which have the highest impact on network characteristics such as; traffic volumes and speed, degree of separation from motor traffic, facility width and delays.

All New Zealand Cycle Trail links should be on routes identified by Waka Kotahi and shown on the New Zealand Cycling Network map [PDF, 4.5 MB]. 

Waka Kotahi assesses and funds supporting engagement, promotion and education activities for walking and cycling improvement activities under the following work categories: 

• Work category 451: Walking facilities:
  To be funded under this work category, the activities must relate to and support uptake on planned pedestrian infrastructure improvements (whether as part of the low cost, low risk programme of larger standalone improvement activities). Community engagement activities for an infrastructure project are funded from this work category, as part of the overall cost.

• Work category 452: Cycling facilities:
  To be funded under this work category, the activities must relate to and support uptake on planned cycling infrastructure improvements (whether as part of the low cost, low risk programme or larger standalone improvement activities). Community engagement activities for an infrastructure project are funded from this work category, as part of the overall project cost.
• Work category 341: Low cost, low risk roading improvements:
  To be funded under this work category the activities must relate to and support uptake on planned walking and cycling infrastructure improvements (whether as part of the low cost, low risk programme or larger standalone improvement activities) and comply with the definition for the work categories 451 and 452. Community engagement activities for an infrastructure project are funded under this work category, as part of the overall project cost.
• Work category 421: Travel demand management:
  This category includes all promotional activities that focus on improving the performance of the land transport system by changing transport demand and travel behaviour.
• Work category 432: Safety promotion, education and advertising:
  All promotional activities with a road safety focus, including walking and cycling education programmes should be part of a road safety promotion programme and  funded through this activity class.

The following requirements apply regarding education, promotion and/or advertising activities:

• Advertising guidelines: 
  All advertising activities must comply with the Waka Kotahi advertising guidelines.  All advertising activities with an overall cost of delivery over $250,000 must be submitted to Waka Kotahi Education and Advertising team (advertising@nzta.govt.nz) for comment regarding adherence to the guidelines prior to release.
• Education and promotion activities to encourage new users to cycling network: 
  To help deliver the outcomes and benefits identified in planning the cycling network, any advertising and promotional activities must be targeted at the users that the cycle network is designed to attract. A business case or other strategic document should capture how the promotional, and safety activities complement the cycling network.
• Targeting of activities:
  These activities can be targeted to encouraging use of the existing network, launching and promoting new infrastructure/routes, and activities to raise the profile of cycling in communities in advance of engagement, design and consultation process for planned routes.