Mobility scooters and power chairs provide independence but offer little protection to their riders, so you need to take steps to ensure your safety when using them. 

What are mobility devices?

Under traffic law, mobility devices are vehicles:

• designed and constructed for people needing help with mobility because of physical or neurological impairment

• powered solely by a motor of up to 1500 watts.

Under existing law, Segways are not mobility devices.

Using your mobility device

You don't need a driver licence to operate a mobility device and they’re not required to have a warrant of fitness or registration. But there are requirements for where and how you can use them:

• on the road, you must keep as close as possible to the edge of the roadway
• on the footpath:
• • you must ride carefully and be considerate of others 
  • you must not ride at speeds that put other footpath users at risk.

See section 11 of the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 for more detail on how and where you can use these devices.

Keeping yourself safe

Mobility vehicles are light and offer you no protection. This makes you vulnerable if you go onto the road. Where possible we recommend you stay off the road, but if you must use the road:

• wear bright clothing
• make your vehicle more visible, for example by attaching a flag.

See more suggestions on how to stay safe in Ready to ride: keeping safe on your mobility scooterKeeping mobile – how to safely use your mobility scooter . 

Procurement manual tools

Supplier selection

• Attribute weight setting tool
• Price quality evaluation tool
• Price quality method practice note

Public transport

• Bus and ferry cost indexation tool
• Cost indices for public transport
• Latest cost index values for public transport

Infrastructure

• Cost indices for infrastructure 

• Latest values for 1991 infrastructure cost indexes 

• Latest values for 2012 infrastructure cost indexes

• Forecast cost adjustment factors for Revised reseal (2001) index
  

• Latest values for the NZTA bitumen cost adjustment series

• Bitumen volume based contract price adjustment for cost fluctuation

If you're experiencing problems with Excel macro enabled file, you can try and open it from a saved location:

1. In Internet Explorer, right-click the link to the Excel file, and then choose 'Save Target As' from the pop-up menu.
   In other browsers, right-click the link to the Excel file and choose the pop-up menu item that is labeled 'Save link As' , 'Save target as ...' or similar.
2. Specify a name and location for the Excel file, and then click 'Save' .
3. Open MS Excel, choose 'File / Open' , and select the Excel file you saved in Step 2 above.

If you're using Excel 2010:

1. Follow the above steps
2. Go to View tab and click on Full screen. All the spreadsheets will be visible, but will lose the navigation bar.

Still having problems? Email us .

Last updated: 25 NovemberFebruary 2015

The first stage of the NZ Transport Agency’s Caversham Valley Safety Improvements Project opened in 2012, providing a four lane, median-divided route from Andersons Bay Road to Barnes Drive, improving traffic flow. 

Today’s stage two milestone increases safety on SH1 from Barnes Drive up to Caversham Valley and Lookout Point. The new Lookout Point bridge allows motorists and pedestrians to avoid heavy traffic when crossing the highway corridor and enables all turns onto and off the highway to be made via left turn movements. 

“People who travel across the city between the airport or Mosgiel to the central city, Port Chalmers or further north up State Highway 1 will notice the improvement in their journeys,” said Jim Harland, the Transport Agency’s Southern Regional Director. 

The cycling and walking path parallel to the highway had also been extended, linking it to other Dunedin cycleways. Local contractors and suppliers had been employed by the Transport Agency as much as possible, he said, bringing direct benefits back into the city’s economy.

Colonies of Peripatus or velvet worm found along the margins of the new road works for this project were relocated to new areas nearby. This has ensured these unusual creatures thought to have been in existence for around 500 million years, continue to have an ongoing role in the biodiversity of Caversham Valley.

Minister Bridges congratulated all parties involved in the project for their hard work, dedication and innovative solutions.

Minister of Transport, Hon Simon Bridges, cuts the ribbon on the new Lookout Point Bridge, the last part of the Caversham Valley Safety Improvements Project, watched on by Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull and Edward Ellison, Kai Tahu Ki Otago, and aided by the efforts of pupils of Carisbrook School.

• Around 25,000 vehicles a day use State Highway 1 between Lookout Point and Andersons Bay Road.
• The project provides all road users with a safer and more predictable journey time through Dunedin along SH1.
• The highway is now more safely aligned, and lighting, signage and stormwater management upgraded, the latter in conjunction with the Dunedin City Council, providing good value for ratepayers and motorists.
• Improved safety on this highway corridor has enabled the speed limit to be raised from 50kph to 60kph.
• The new two-lane bridge, designed to be less vulnerable in an earthquake, carries local road traffic over SH1 at Lookout Point, eliminating two high crash risk intersections that connected these local roads to the highway.
• The bridge itself is 35 metres wide, has 24 18-metre beams supporting it and 98 tonnes of reinforcing steel for earthquake resilience.
• November 2015 Project update here.
• Read the media release from the www.beehive.govt.nz

Some of the Downer construction team who worked on this project spanning five years.

A truck carrying concrete slabs overturned on SH2 near the intersection of School Road at approximately 5.30am, and the northbound lanes are currently blocked, with stop/go traffic management in place.

At 10am today the road will be closed so a crane can right the truck.

A detour via State Highway 26 (SH26), State Highway25A (SH25A), State Highways 25 (SH25) back onto State Highway 2 (SH2) is in place, however it will add approximately an hour to normal travel time through the Karangahake Gorge.

Motorists are advised to avoid or delay travel if possible until the road reopens.

For personalised information about driving conditions on frequently used routes, motorists can also check out and sign up to On The Move at  www.onthemove.govt.nz

For extra real time information on highway conditions and incidents on the network visit www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/ , call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS or follow @nztawaibop on twitter. 

Update at 12:23pm

One lane of SH2 is now open and stop/go traffic management is in place. Both lanes are expected to be open by 3pm today. 

Preferred alignment confirmed 

We are now able to confirm the alignment of the proposed new transport route for the Petone to Grenada Link Road.

We can now confirm that the proposed new transport route will:

• Provide a four-lane route between Petone and Tawa, plus crawler lanes on the Petone side
• Run between Petone and Tawa via the Horokiwi Crest (largely avoiding homes in the Hunters Hill area
• Be constructed mostly in cut through Horokiwi to reduce visibility from Horokiwi and much of the Hutt Valley
• Create four new interchanges, providing better access on and off State Highways 1 and 2
• Avoid impacting on the Belmont Regional Park and
• Provides future highway capacity north of Tawa on SH1 within the existing highway footprint between Tawa and Transmission Gully when it is needed. 

Preferred alignment diagram 

View larger Preferred Alignment diagram

The process to determine a preferred route has been significant.  The options we began with early last year have since been modified and take into account technical expert advice, differing opinions and feedback of landowners, community representatives, stakeholders and the public and to optimise the  proposed new transport link.

The end result is a transport route that will address critical issues affecting day-to-day travel and future requirements, such as the ability to manage the transport network during major events or making the region more attractive to live and do business in by improving journeys between Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.

Next steps

We now need to refine our designs further as part of the process to prepare the necessary documents to apply for Resource Management Act consents. This work is underway and will continue through to late next year.

There are a number of design aspects we will be considering in further detail, including potential safety improvements at the Tawa Curves to the north of Grenada on State Highway 1. We will provide more information on these issues soon.

Part of our consent application work will be to prepare an Assessment of Environmental Effects.  This will consider how we mitigate the adverse effects of the Link Road on the environment and people living in the area. This is where you, your communities and those in the Greater Wellington area get another opportunity to provide input.  You can also suggest how we design the road to complement the surrounding area, inform urban design decisions, ask how we will manage construction impacts and limit operational noise, to name a few.

There will be information days and workshops that you can participate in to inform the end result and we will keep you informed by email about opportunities to get involved. We look forward to your input, if you choose to take part in this process.

At this stage, we expect to lodge our consent applications in late 2016 and, if consent is granted and funding approved, begin construction from 2019.

Related information

• Media release
• NewsletterNewsletter
• Map of preferred alignment
• MCA report
• Video
• Preliminary Alignment
• Current Mark Avenue Interchange proposal
• Current Petone Interchange proposal 
• Current Tawa interchange proposal

Northern Gateway Toll Increase

From 29 November 2015 toll prices on the Northern Gateway Toll Road will increase to $2.30 for cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles, and $4.70 for heavy commercial vehicles.

Check out our FAQs for more information on the toll price increase, or the media release. .

Check the Transport Agency’s web map for weather warnings and road closures or delays. The Transport Agency’s Journey Manager Lee Wright asks drivers to take extreme care. 

Weather forecasters are hopeful that the front should begin to weaken as it heads north over Buller this afternoon. 

South Westland

With heavy rain and wind overnight on the West Coast, particularly South Westland, State Highway 6 has some surface flooding with debris on the road in places like Harihari and Whataroa and south of Fox Glacier. A slip at Fox Hills was caught by the Transport Agency’s debris fence. Road crews are clearing fallen trees between Haast and Haast Pass. 

State Highway 73 Otira Gorge

Road crews have cleared rocks and small slips on SH73 through the Otira Gorge but the road is open. There are strong winds at Arthur’s Pass so drivers of high-sided vehicles or motorcyclists need to take care. 

Lewis Pass

There is a strong wind warning for anyone driving to the West Coast today via Waipara on the Lewis Pass route, SH7, particularly high-sided vehicle drivers and motorcyclists. 

SH94 Te Anau to Milford Sound

This highway was closed earlier today due to extreme winds and treefalls. Check the traffic and travel map for updates. Black spots on the map are roads closed. 

Power lines down briefly closed highway in Southland

At Waimatuku, Southland, power lines were down due to the severe winds and SH99 at Swan Road was detoured for a short time. It is now open.

Before starting a license (rego) renewal or buying RUC, it’s a good idea to check your address first

Please note that this website is designed for use with the latest browser versions. So to get the best experience you can download a new version of Internet Explorer or the latest Safari .

Motor vehicles 

• Check/change your address
• Renew your motor vehicle licence (rego)
• Buy a road user charges (RUC) licence
• Let us know you’ve sold a vehicle
• Let us know you’ve bought a vehicle
• Put your licence (rego) on hold
• Check if a vehicle has been reported as stolen (NZ Police website)

Driver licensing

• Book a practical driver licence test
• Change or cancel your practical driver licence test
• Change your address

Tolling

• Already used a toll road? Pay a tollPay a toll
• Going to use a toll road? Buy a toll
• Pay a toll payment notice
• Pay an infringement notice
• Log in to your toll account
• Create a toll account
• View or refund paid tolls

Registered person details 

• Check if someone is the registered person for a vehicle
• Revoke authorised access to your personal details
• Apply for registered person name and address

Other online services

• Trader notice of acquisition (MR13C)
  
• Motochek
• Medical certificate for driver licence (DL9) – for medical practitioners only

Our social and environmental responsibilities are guided by legislation and external and internal strategy and policy documents. 

Our guiding environmental and social legislation and policies

Guiding legislation

A number of statutes influence how we meet our social and environmental responsibilities including:

To ensure our environmental statutory requirements are managed in a robust, user-friendly and transparent manner, we use a legal compliance system.

Find out more about our consent compliance management system

Guiding policies

Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 

The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS), which sets out the government’s priorities for that funding, states that integrated planning is important to ensuring decisions about land use, transport and urban design contribute to the achievement of the government's goals for transport and energy efficiency.

The GPS also states that allocation of funding should achieve the following short- to medium-term impacts:

• more transport options, particularly for those with limited access to a car
• reductions in adverse environmental effects from land transport
• contributions to positive health outcomes.

Read the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport

Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy

Our Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy (ESR) states that we promote an accessible and safe transport system that contributes positively to New Zealand's economic, social and environmental welfare and are committed to acting in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Read our Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy

State highway environmental plan

The State highway environmental plan defines objectives and methods to help ensure that our Highways and Network Operations group meets the requirements of our ESR.

Read the State highway environmental plan

Environmental and social responsibility standard

The standard provides tools, references and resources for project managers and their teams to ensure that environmental and social matters are considered appropriately throughout the lifecycle of their state highway project. One of the most important tools used are environmental and social management plans.

Find out more about our environmental and social responsibility standard
Find out more about environmental and social management plans

NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Shelly Beach Road southbound off ramp, 29 November - 3 December

CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (SH1 & SH16)

• (SH1) Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off ramp and Symonds Street on ramp, 3 December (approx 10:30p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• (SH1) Hobson Street southbound on ramp, 3 December

NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

• Lincoln Road eastbound on ramp, 3 December
• Eastbound lanes between Lincoln Road off ramp and Te Atatu Road on ramp, 3 December (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Westbound lanes between Te Atatu Road off ramp and on ramp, 1 - 2 December (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Te Atatu Road eastbound on ramp 29 November - 1 & 3 December
• Te Atatu Road westbound off ramp, 3 December
• Te Atatu Road westbound on ramp, 30 November
• Te Atatu Peninsula eastbound on ramp, 2 December
• Te Atatu Road eastbound off ramp, 2 December
• Eastbound lanes between Te Atatu Road off ramp and Te Atatu Peninsula on ramp, 29 November - 1 December (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Patiki Road westbound on ramp, 3 December
• Eastbound lanes between Patiki Road off ramp and Western Springs on ramp, 29 November - 1 December (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Rosebank Road eastbound on ramp, 29 November - 1 December
• Rosebank Road westbound off ramp, 1- 2 December
• Westbound lanes between Great North Road off ramp and Patiki Road on ramp, 30 November (approx 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Great North Road eastbound on ramp, 29 November - 2 December
• Great North Road westbound on ramp, 30 November
• Westbound lanes between Great North Road off ramp and Great North Road on ramp, 29 November & 1 - 3 December (approx 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Eastbound lanes between Great North Road off ramp and Western Springs on ramp, 2 December (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• St Lukes Road westbound on ramp, 29 November & 1 - 3 December
• Western Springs eastbound on ramp, 3 December

SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Khyber Pass Road southbound on ramp, 29 November - 3 December
• St Marks Road southbound on ramp, 29 November
• Southbound lanes between Gillies Avenue off ramp and Greenlane on ramp, 29 November (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Greenlane northbound on ramp, 1 December
• Northbound lanes between Greenlane off ramp and Gillies Avenue on ramp, 1 December (approx 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on ramp, 29 November - 3 December (approx 8:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Northbound lanes between Bombay off ramp and Ramarama on ramp, 30 November
• Bombay northbound on ramp, 30 November
• Southbound lanes between Bombay off ramp and Bombay on ramp, 29 November
• Beaver Road northbound off ramp, 29 November (approx 8:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Beaver Road northbound on ramp, 29 November (approx 8:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Nikau Road northbound on ramp, 29 November (approx 8:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)

SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

• Puhinui Road northbound on ramp, 2 December 
• Roscommon Road northbound on Ramp, 2 December (approx 8:30p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Northbound lanes between Cavendish Drive off ramp and Massey Road on ramp, 2 December (approx 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)

Please follow the signposted detours. The NZTA thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

Changes to the Watson Street intersectionWaiwhakaiho Bridge

From Monday 30 November 2015 Watson Street (both north and south) will become left turn in and left turn out only.

In 2013 we asked you about the SH3/Watson Street intersection layout. You told us that you wanted a left turn in and left turn out change to this intersection. We are pleased to let you know that this new layout will be put in place.

It will take some adjusting as people get used to these changes, so please take care when using this intersection.

Partial closure on Watson Street

Watson Street between Northgate Road and Lemon Street is closed from 2 November until 18 December 2015. This will remain closed while we build the road from the new Te Henui Bridge up to Watson Street.

Vehicles will be able to access the cemetery via Hobson and Lemon Streets. Pedestrian access will still be available via Watson Street, but there will be a minor footpath diversion through the work site. For your safety please follow the marked routes.

Footpath closure

New street light cabling is going to be installed under the footpaths between Watson and Hobson Streets from 16 November to 11 December 2015. We will maintain pedestrian access here by removing the existing car parks and creating a temporary footpath on the road. Please do follow the marked route.

Mr Moller says the Board has made this appointment after an international recruitment process that attracted a very strong field of candidates. Mr Gammie will take up his position on 1 March 2016 and the Board is looking forward to working with him in creating transport solutions to meet the Government's objective of a thriving New Zealand. 

“Fergus joins the Transport Agency with a passion for transport and the difference it can make to a country,” says Mr Moller. “He brings to the role deep experience in the transport sector both here and in Australia.” 

Mr Gammie is a former Chief Executive of Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA), Chief Operating Officer of Auckland Transport, Deputy Director General Transport Services of Transport for New South Wales and currently Deputy Secretary Infrastructure & Services with the same organisation. In this latter capacity he is responsible for leading a team of 1,300 staff, managing an annual operating budget of A$5 billion and infrastructure and systems projects totalling A$11 billion over the next four years. 

Mr Gammie holds a BA from Victoria University in Wellington and a Certificate in Management from Henley Management College. 

A native Kiwi, Mr Gammie commented, “I am delighted to be returning home to a role and organisation that makes a significant contribution to New Zealand.” 

With strong relationship skills and an ability to engage and build rapport, Mr Gammie will bring a good mix of leadership, inspiration, operational experience, technical breadth and long-term thinking to the land transport sector in New Zealand. 

Mr Gammie’s appointment follows the decision of Geoff Dangerfield to step down as CE, effective 18 December. 

“The Board is very grateful for the dedicated service and the consistently high results which Geoff has delivered over the past seven years,” said Mr Moller. “The Board is confident that Geoff leaves the Transport Agency with the right strategy in place and in very good shape.” 

Transport Agency Group Manager for Planning and Investment Dave Brash will act as CE over the interim period from 18 December until Mr Gammie takes up his role on 1 March 2016. There will be no loss of momentum in respect of Transport Agency deliverables during this period. 

Traffic data booklets and state highway traffic volumes

1. 2010 to 2014 — 97 pages, 8.3 MB
2. 2010 to 2014: Appendix A — 118 pages, 7 MB
3. 2009 to 2013 — 90 pages, 7.8 MB
4. 2009 to 2013: Appendix A — 121 pages, 3 MB
5. 2008 to 2012 — 69 pages, 8.8 MB
6. 2008 to 2012: Appendix A — 120 pages, 3.4 MB
7. 2007 to 2011 — 65 pages, 7 MB
8. 2007 to 2011: Appendix A — 56 pages, 1.6 MB
9. 2006 to 2010 — 66 pages, 7.6 MB
10. 2006 to 2010: Appendix A — 56 pages, 2.7 MB
11. 2005 to 2009 — 103 pages, 1.3 MB
12. 2004 to 2008 — 97 pages, 1.8 MB
13. 2003 to 2007 — 47 pages, 452 KB
14. 2002 to 2006 — 49 pages, 803 KB
15. 2001 to 2005 — 25 pages, 212 KB
16. 2000 to 2004 — 24 pages, 392 KB
17. 2003 — 28 pages, 263 KB
18. 2002 — 27 pages, 193 KB
19. 2001 — 27 pages, 187 KB
20. 2000 — 28 pages, 371 KB
21. 1999 — 24 pages, 374 KB
22. 1998 — 23 pages, 365 KB
23. 1997 — 27 pages, 370 KB
24. 1996 — 35 pages, 560 KB
25. 1995 — 26 pages, 266 KB
26. 1994 — 22 pages, 255 KB
27. 1993 — 19 pages, 250 KB
28. 1992 — 18 pages, 364 KB
29. 1991 — 18 pages, 362 KB
30. 1990 — 18 pages, 367 KB
31. 1989 — 18 pages, 356 KB
32. 1988 — 19 pages, 521 KB
33. 1986 — 14 pages, 553 KB
34. 1975 to 1984 — 22 pages, 1.5 MB

State highway volumes by region

1. 2010-2014 AADT by region — 14 pages, 256 KB
2. 2009-2013 AADT by region — 14 pages, 252 KB
3. 2008-2012 AADT by region — 14 pages, 606 KB
4. 2007-2011 AADT by region — 14 pages, 483 KB
5. 2006-2010 AADT by region — 14 pages, 450 KB

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

1. To seek the Board’s approval to fund $16.24m for the Northern Corridor Improvements (NCI) project pre-implementation phase prior to the completion of the Detailed Business Case (DBC).
2. To provide you with our preliminary findings on the option to include the implementation phase of the Northern Corridor Busway Extension from Constellation station to Albany station as part of the NCI project.
3. To seek your agreement to include the busway extension as part of the core NCI project scope for construction, subject to reporting back to you in October with final information about the project’s (including the busway’s) affordability and value for money.

Date of decision

14 August 2015

Resolutions

The New Zealand Transport Agency Board:

Reason for the decision

The assessment profile for this activity remains at high strategic fit, high effectiveness. The Benefit Cost Ratio is 3.0.

The stretch of SH1 between SH18 and Greville Road currently experiences high levels of congestion due to bottlenecks and constrained interchanges.  The project improves this critical bottleneck on Auckland's Northern Motorway by replacing signalised intersections with direct motorway to motorway connections.

Completion of the Western Ring Route (WRR), and future land use growth in the town centres of Albany, Massey North, Westgate and Hobsonville are expected to add further pressures on the transport network in the area. The Additional Waitemata Harbour Crossing and Puhoi to Warkworth projects will further increase demand along the northern corridor in the future. The project will address the increasing travel demands in the Northern Corridor.

• IBC traffic modelling results indicate that the following travel time savings will be achieved in 2026 (these will be confirmed in the DBC):

For SH 1

• A 1-2 minute saving per vehicle (AM and PM Peak) for vehicles travelling on SH1 (northbound) through the Upper Harbour and Greville interchanges
• A 4-5 minute saving per vehicle (AM and PM Peak) for vehicles travelling on SH 1 (southbound) through the Greville and Upper Harbour interchanges

For SH 18 to SH 1 Connections

• A 4 minute saving per vehicle (AM and PM Peak) for vehicles travelling from SH 18 (Albany Highway) to State Highway 1 (Greville Interchange)
• A 6 to 8 minute saving per vehicle (AM and PM Peak) for vehicles travelling from SH 1 (Greville Interchange) to SH 18 (Albany Highway)

The project will also address an inherent conflict between ‘through-traffic’ and ‘local access’ traffic in the corridor, exacerbated by the growth in the North Harbour Industrial Area located adjacent to SH18.

With the Northern Busway extension being included in the project scope (subject to approval), bus services will be significantly enhanced with improved journey time reliability between Constellation Station and Albany Station.

An assessment of the project has been undertaken in accordance with the Investment Assessment Framework. The assessment profile for this activity has been determined as being of High strategic fit, High effectiveness and with benefit cost appraisal result of 3.0, the project has been assigned Priority 3.

The Project will contribute to the Government Policy Statement and meet the objectives of the LTMA.

We confirm that the matters in sections 20(2) and 20 (5) of the LTMA have been satisfied, and that the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

1. This paper seeks the Board’s support for the indicative business case on the new rapid bus system for Wellington.
2. We also seek approval of funding for the detailed business case so that the remaining options can be thoroughly investigated, and the preferred option progressed to the planning and design phase.

Date of decision

14 August 2015

Resolutions

The New Zealand Transport Agency Board:

Reason for the decision

The assessment profile for this activity has been determined as being of High strategic fit, Medium effectiveness and with an indicative Benefit Cost range of 1.5-2.3.

A BRT solution for Wellington City delivers benefits of improved network efficiency by addressing congestion and reducing average bus travel times of between 4.5 to 6.5 minutes (option 3 to option 4). These improvements will support increased bus patronage by providing a better user experience, increased reliability and journey predictability. There are minor additional benefits of health, emissions reduction and agglomeration benefits.

Travel time and reliability benefits deliver approximately 60% to 80% of the benefits ($38m NPV to $56.2m NPV) for options 3 and 4 respectively. Reduced vehicle operating costs ($13.3m NPV) and walking benefits ($16.4m NPV) are notable for option 4 particularly.

The BRT solution complements the Wellington Inner City RoNS projects and enables the delivery of the high capacity public transport spine, which is a key component in the Ngauranga to Airport programme.

The matters in sections 20(2) and 20 (5) of the LTMA have been satisfied, and the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

1. This paper provides an update to the Board on the case for change on a critical interregional freight and tourist link for two key journeys: SH1/29 South Auckland to Tauranga via Hamilton and SH1 Hamilton to Waiouru. 
2. We seek the Board’s approval for the recommended programme and funding to develop two business cases that will identify the scope of short term safety improvements and the likely longer term improvements.
3. This is the first of seven Board papers which will seek your decision on business cases for key journeys between Auckland and Tauranga.  This paper should be read with Strategic context for key upper North Island journeys (Auckland/Hamilton/Tauranga) (agenda item 4.1 refers).

Date of decision

14 August 2015

Resolutions

The New Zealand Transport Agency Board:

Reason for the decision

“Support” for this Programme Business Case enables activities within the Business Case to progress to the next Business Case phase.  It does not mean an on-going guarantee of funding.

The NZ Transport Agency’s SH1 Cambridge to Piarere Improvements Programme Business Case recommends a staged approach to developing short and long term improvements to the 16 kilometre link between the Waikato Expressway and the SH1/SH29 junction.  The corridor length links growing economic areas where there is a high mix of freight, commuter and tourist traffic.

The short term investment priority will address the conflict loss of control crashes on straights/bends and at intersections which targets a reduction in deaths and serious injury.  The longer term focus will identify the threshold, and options, when further investment is required to match the demand.

Funding is approved to proceed with two business cases to identify the scope of short term safety and long term improvements for the corridor.

The assessment profile for this Programme Business Case has been determined as being of High strategic fit, Medium effectiveness and has a Benefit Cost Appraisal between 1-3.

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

To update the Board on the Christchurch Northern Arterial project, seek approval to invest and delegate to the Chief Executive authority to determine the final scope of works for the state highway components.

Date of decision

18 September 2015

Resolutions

The New Zealand Transport Agency Board:

Reason for the decision

The NArt section of the Christchurch Motorways Roads of National Significance programme (RONS) will provide an additional new route for travel between North Canterbury and the Central Business District.  The project will improve journey time trip reliability by providing a four-lane median-divided arterial that provides a more direct link at a higher average and more consistent operating speed (design speed of 100 km/hr versus existing speeds of 50/60 km/hr).

The NArt is the second step toward reducing total state highway traffic through Belfast; the first stage was commitment to the construction of the Western Belfast bypass by the Board in March 2015.  When both are complete this will enable the existing network through Belfast and Northwood to be reconfigured to be an efficient passenger transport corridor and to reduce existing urban severance issues.

The modified NArt has a standalone funding profile of High Strategic fit, Medium Effectiveness, and Efficiency rating of 1.7; with a funding priority of 5.

The Christchurch RONS has a funding profile of High Strategic fit, High Effectiveness and a programme economic efficiency rating of 4.6; with a funding priority of 2.

We note the current indicative funding threshold for the State highway Improvements Activity Class is priority 3. We consider that the construction funding should be approved based the RONs programme funding profile and priority.

We confirm that the matters in sections 20(2) and 20(5) of the LTMA have been satisfied, and that the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.

Although the Transport Agency Board continues to make significant decisions, most funding and procurement decisions have been delegated to Transport Agency staff.

Read the delegated funding decisions made by Transport Agency staff 
Find out more about how decisions are made

Board decisions

More information

If you would like further details regarding a decision, please email the board secretariat: boardsecretariat@nzta.govt.nz.