Manawatu-Whanganui is strategically important in the lower North Island as a transport hub, both for north-south and east-west travel and as a focal point for a wide range of social services for the central North Island. The region includes the first 30 kilometres of the Levin to Wellington Airport corridor identified by the government as a ‘road of national significance’.
I'm pleased to introduce to you this National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) for 2009-2012 – the mechanism through which the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) 'gives effect' to the Government policy statement on land transport funding 2009/10 – 2018/19 (GPS)(external link).
The global economic situation has changed dramatically in the past 18 months, with significant effects for the New Zealand economy. In response, and as part of its commitment to improving New Zealand's economic outlook and performance, the government has set clear expectations and priorities for the land transport sector. These expectations are articulated in the GPS.
The GPS is the government's statement of its short- to medium-term goals for transport investment. Issued in May 2009 and covering the 10 years between 2009 and 2019, it has a clear message: the number one priority for investment in land transport is increasing economic growth and productivity in New Zealand.
In particular, this means directing investment into high-quality infrastructure projects and transport services that encourage the efficient movement of people and freight and contribute to economic activity and employment. It's to be achieved by investing in the transport network, extracting better value for money from all land transport activities and enhancing individual projects' economic efficiency.
The NZTA's role is to allocate money from the National Land Transport Fund to activities within activity classes in the GPS. Through our rigorous assessment and prioritisation process, we aim to draw a balance between national and regional priorities (identified in the regional land transport programme (RLTP)), and between networks' local and regional, and inter-regional and national roles. We're also committed to delivering value for money in all transport activities, in all regions.
A strong commitment to value for money has also led to changes in how R (regionally distributed) funding is used. R funds come from fuel excise duty and light road user charges and are allocated proportionally to regions based on population. In the past, R funding was used to fund lowerpriority projects that would otherwise not qualify for funding.
To ensure value for money, 'R' funding will be used for the highest-priority projects in this NLTP, providing a guaranteed minimum level of funding for the Manawatu-Whanganui region.
The National Land Transport Fund can only be used to fund activities listed in the NLTP. The tables in this NLTP list:
This document details the funding provided for the Manawatu-Whanganui region – and as a dynamic document will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any approved variations to programmes. For information on funding for the rest of New Zealand (and how the NLTP is developed and managed) please see the national NLTP document.
Manawatu-Whanganui is strategically important in the lower North Island as a transport hub, both for north-south and east-west travel and as a focal point for a wide range of social services for the central North Island. The region includes the first 30 kilometres of the Levin to Wellington Airport corridor identified by the government as a 'road of national significance'.
This NLTP will deliver the best value to the region by investing in projects and initiatives designed to improve regional and national economic productivity, safety and route security.
All regional activities included in this NLTP were drawn from the Manawatu-Whanganui RLTP. However, RLTPs throughout New Zealand proposed greater levels of activity than could be supported by the funding available. As a result, this NLTP prioritises and indicates which activities that the NZTA anticipates funding because their indicative priority is sufficient to warrant it.
This NLTP provides an investment of $282.1 million for the Manawatu-Whanganui region over the 2009-2012 period.
As the key north-south roading lifeline, State Highway (SH) 1 is the most important highway in the country. For this reason, this NLTP addresses capacity and safety issues from north of Levin to Pukehou as part of the government's roads of national significance (RoNS) initiative, which identifies the route between Levin and Wellington Airport as requiring significant investment and development. This section of SH1 is a key priority not only as a national link, but also as a strategically and economically crucial regional route. This NLTP provides for the investigation of a Levin bypass, which is a key component of the Levin to Wellington RoNS initiative.
Funding has been approved to undertake a realignment project on SH2 Papatawa (north of Woodville) to improve safety on the route. This has been identified as a priority by the Horizons Regional Transport Committee (RTC). This programme also provides a funding opportunity for an upgrade of a section of the Pahiatua Track, which provides alternative access between Manawatu and Wairarapa when the gorge is closed. The Taihape–Napier Road seal extension, the River Rd/Raetihi-Pipiriki Road improvements, and the Okahukura Saddle Road Seal Extension have been approved for construction, and will deliver significant benefits on a local and regional level.
The SH1 Ohingaiti to Makohine realignment south of Taihape has made excellent progress since construction began in March 2008. Due for completion in 2011, it will provide a safer, easier route, increase the reliability and efficiency of this important stretch of highway and help to reduce the likelihood of crashes.
As the largest centre in the region, Palmerston North remains a key focus of planning for growth. The NZTA is committed to supporting industrial and commercial development around Palmerston North with a road network that serves these developments. We must also plan for the transport needs of increased residential development by exploring the future need for an additional Manawatu River crossing to provide better access from Palmerston North.
As the region's sole east-west state highway link, Manawatu Gorge is heavily relied upon by regional and national industries. Recognising that it's particularly vulnerable to closure in adverse weather conditions, the NZTA is committed to improving route security and efficiency with a rigorous maintenance programme.
Preserving the highway network and undertaking maintenance and improvements are fundamentally important from both economic and safety perspectives. For this reason, operations and maintenance activities make up a large proportion of the forecast expenditure in the Manawatu-Whanganui region, with existing funding levels sustained to ensure we continue to meet future service levels.
This focus on maintaining the existing state highway network is accompanied by a number of activities to improve road safety. These include intersection improvements, realignments and seal widening, and installing new stock effluent facilities throughout the Manawatu-Rangitikei District. We'll also be working to provide safer passing opportunities in the next three years, with the aim of reducing the driver frustration and crashes that result from limited passing opportunities in some parts of the road network.
A further priority involves managing the connections between state highways and local roads, as well as access to state highways from adjacent land, to support the function of key arterial roads in enabling medium- to long-distance travel.
Meanwhile, funding for passenger transport services will remain at current levels, which will ensure that all existing bus and total mobility services continue.
Planning for the integration of strategic transport routes in Palmerston North City and Manawatu District is important to the NZTA and the RTC, and the NLTP proposes to progress this by funding the Manawatu Regional Transport Study.
For an overview of all projects in the region likely to receive funding in the next three years, see the regional maps.
The RTC has a pivotal role in shaping the Manawatu-Whanganui region's transport future through the Regional Land Transport Strategy and the RLTP.
The committee comprises elected members from the district authorities and Horizons Regional Council, the NZTA, and community representatives with expertise in areas such as access and mobility, safety and personal security and economic development.
One of the committee's key tasks is to develop Manawatu-Whanganui's three-year RLTP, which prioritises all the regional transport activities proposed by the NZTA, local authorities and Horizons Regional Council.
This regional perspective enabled the NZTA to build a geographic view of land transport requirements nationwide, and to align regional and national views in deciding on the most appropriate allocations of funds to give effect to the GPS priorities. Public submissions on Manawatu-Whanganui's draft programme were reflected in the final programme that went to the NZTA Board, which made the ultimate funding decisions for the NLTP.
Another important task for the committee is to develop the longer term Regional Land Transport Strategy. This will be an important document for setting the regional strategic transport vision for the future.
I believe this NLTP will support Manawatu-Whanganui's social and economic wellbeing well into the future and assist its significant contribution to the national economy. I look forward to working closely with our regional partners and the Manawatu-Whanganui community to ensure it is implemented successfully.
Jenny Chetwynd
Regional Director
Last updated: 6 October 2009
