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National Land Transport Programme (NLTP): Manawatu-Whanganui 2009–2012

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’.

Regional summary

Overview of the transport system

Table 1: Key statistics on the Whanganui-Manawatu region (June 2007-July 2008)

  Whanganui-Manawatu region New Zealand Region as %
of NZ
Population 229,000 4,268,500 5
Land area (km2) 22,200 275,400 8
Imports (gross tonne)1, 2 4.6 million 79.2 million 6
Exports (gross tonne)1, 2 4.3 million 73.4 million 6
Gross domestic product (GDP) ($) 6800 million 155,400 million 4
Passenger transport - bus - boardings 1,063,300 92,777,200 1
Passenger transport - rail - boardings - 18,346,600 -
Passenger transport - ferry - boardings - 4,695,000 -
Vehicle kilometres travelled 2,600 million 40,200 million 6
Fatalities3 31 366 8
Serious injuries3 154 2553 7
Local roads - urban all (km) 1132 17,298 7
Local roads - urban sealed (km) 1107 16,956 7
Local roads - rural all (km) 6685 65,601 10
Local roads - rural sealed (km) 3835 33,698 11
State highways - all (km) 959 10,906 9
State highways - sealed (km) 959 10,850 9
State highways - motorway (km) - 172 -

Notes:

  1. Indicative only - based on a ratio determined from a 2002 report on international and inter-regional freight movements.
  2. Includes both international and inter-regional freight movements.
  3. Safety data is for the year ending 2008.

Roads of national significance

The section of SH1 between Levin and Otaki has been identified as part of the Levin to Wellington Airport road of national significance (RoNS) - one of seven roads whose further development, according to the GPS, will have national benefits to the roading network and to national economic development and that require significant development to reduce congestion, improve safety and support economic growth. Regions surrounding the Wellington Northern Corridor RoNS will benefit from better routes from their regions to large cities.

Safety and capacity issues from north of Levin to Pukehou are also being investigated, and a bypass to the east of Levin is proposed for investigation to improve the network's efficiency and safety.

Expected expenditure in Manawatu-Whanganui

Table 2: Expected expenditure in Manawatu-Whanganui

Manawatu-Whanganui 2009/12 % of total
Walking and cycling - 0.0%
Transport planning 2.3 0.8%
Public transport improvements 1.7 0.6%
New & improved infrastructure for state highways 53.1 18.8%
New & improved infrastructure for local roads 24.2 8.6%
Public transport services 6.8 2.4%
Maintenance of state highways 40.3 14.3%
Renewal of state highways 40.8 14.5%
Maintenance of local roads 46.2 16.4%
Renewal of local roads 64.3 22.8%
Demand management & community programmes 2.3 0.8%
  282.1 100%

table-2-1

Note: includes R funds of $58m

State highway operations, maintenance and renewal

About $81.1 million of the NLTP funding in Manawatu-Whanganui will go into operating and maintaining the region's state highway network. In addition to preserving the highway network and undertaking maintenance and improvements to meet future service levels, it will enable the NZTA to:

  • resurface 70 kilometres of highway
  • undertake three kilometres of road pavement reconstruction
  • continue to provide high-quality, skid-resistant road surfaces
  • widen the carriageway to target seal widths as part of maintenance activities, when appropriate and affordable
  • enhance the management of slips and unstable areas to reduce road user risks and maintain route security.

State highway improvements

This NLTP allocates $53.1 million for improvements on Manawatu-Whanganui state highways.

A number of activities are designed to improve route security and efficiency and road safety, and manage the connections between state highways and local roads and access to state highways from adjacent land. These include:

  • the Ohingaiti-Makohine realignment 30 kilometres south of Taihape on SH1, which is due for completion in 2011. This will provide a safer, straighter route and remove an out-of-context S-bend at a level crossing
  • the Papatawa realignment north of Woodville on SH2, which aims to reduce crashes through a new three-kilometre alignment that will ease a number of corners on this stretch of highway
  • the Manawatu Hill realignment on SH2, which will improve safety for motorists by easing a number of out-of-context curves.

The NZTA has also identified a number of small and medium-sized activities to improve the safety and efficiency of sections of the state highway network, including intersections. These include intersection improvements, realignments and seal widening. In addition, works identified from previous crash reduction studies that will be undertaken in the Manawatu-Rangitikei District include:

  • upgrading the intersection of Rangitikei Street at Tremaine Avenue and JF Kennedy Drive for capacity and safety
  • safety improvements at the intersection of SH3/SH54 on this route leading into Palmerston North
  • safety improvements at the intersection of SH3/SH4
  • managing or removing roadside hazards to improve safety and route security.

We will also work to provide more vehicle passing opportunities with a suite of projects throughout the region.

In addition, and as part of a national programme to provide a safe and convenient network of stock effluent disposal facilities, we plan to build facilities on SH2 in Woodville and near National Park.

Local road operations, maintenance and renewal

Local road maintenance funding of $110.5 million will provide local roads in the Manawatu-Whanganui region with better route security, enhanced safety and the ability to meet growing traffic demands. Funding levels are at a similar level for the next three years to maintain service levels.

The NZTA expects organisations to manage their operations, maintenance and renewal activities including any changes in costs within their approved allocation.

Local road improvements

The NLTP allocates $24.2 million for local road improvements during 2009-2012. This funding will enable improvements such as sealing the remaining unsealed sections of the Taihape to Napier road, the Okahukura Saddle Road and the Raetihi-Pipiriki Road. New projects to enhance safety on local roads include safety improvements on the Ohakune Mountain Road and the Rangitikei Tremaine signal upgrade.

There is also provision to upgrade the Pahiatua Track (on the Tararua side) and to begin preparatory investigations into a second crossing of the Manawatu River (Palmerston North City Council).

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Public transport services

The NZTA's priorities for investment in public transport focus on urban areas with severe congestion with the aim of significantly improving peak-time public transport patronage and optimising the efficiency of existing services and infrastructure.

In this NLTP, funding for existing passenger transport services for Manawatu-Whanganui is to remain at current levels, which will ensure that all existing bus and total mobility services continue.

Horizons Regional Council is proposing improvements to bus services in Palmerston North. This NLTP provides the opportunity for funding these improved bus services and some limted network improvements where it can be demonstrated these align with the NZTA's priorities for investment.

Demand management and community programmes

NLTP funding of $2.3 million will enable Horizons Regional Council to work collaboratively with local community groups in developing and delivering local transport safety and sustainability activities throughout the region. Activities range from driver licence assistance courses to child restraint checking clinics and speed awareness and fatigue campaigns.

The NZTA's primary investment focus for 2009/10 is on programmes that deliver on a relevant road safety strategy and achieve a change in travel behaviour that will reduce severe congestion in major urban areas.

The NZTA Board has requested a review of this activity class to provide evidence of the benefits and value for money that its programmes deliver.

Accordingly, the funding for this activity class is approved for 2009/10 only, with the review expected to establish the funding direction for the subsequent two years. One result of this review is expected to be the development of guidelines and processes to ensure that demand management and community programmes are supported by evidence of benefits and value for money.

Transport planning

Planning for the future of Manawatu/Whanganui's transport network will be undertaken through the Horizons Regional Land Transport Strategy review, which plans for the future of Manawatu-Whanganui's transport network and enables the region to explore integrated planning opportunities. An important component of the RLTS is the Strategic Transportation Study, a joint initiative between Manawatu District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Horizons Regional Council and NZTA which is proposed for funding in the NLTP.

Road policing

National Land Transport Fund funding for New Zealand Police road policing activities in the Manawatu/Whanganui region in 2009/10 totals $17.710 million.

This includes:

  • $14.940 million for strategic policing of the 'fatal five' road safety issues: speeding, drink/drugged driving, restraints, dangerous/careless driving and high-risk drivers
  • $2.094 million for incident and emergency management, crash attendance and investigation and traffic management
  • $85,000 for road policing resolutions which includes sanctions, prosecution and court orders
  • $591,000 for community engagement in road policing which includes police community services and school road safety education.

The NLTP and the detailed 2009/10 Road Policing Programme can be viewed on the New Zealand Police website at www.police.govt.nz/service/road(external link). The programmes for 2010/11 and 2011/12 will be published annually on the site once they have been approved by the Minister of Transport.

Regionally significant projects from 2012/13 onwards

While there are no nationally significant projects proposed at this stage for 2012-2015, the government identified in March 2009 a number of nationally significant transport routes. These include the Wellington Northern Corridor RoNS from Levin to Wellington, of which a section (Levin to Otaki) is in the Horizons Regional Council's area. Investigations into improving this route are likely to be fast-tracked.

Last updated: 6 October 2009