Agenda of Regional Transport Committee Workshop


Informal Workshop Paper
To:	Regional Transport Committee Workshop
	15 December 2023
From:	Niki Carling, Senior Transport Planner
	Oliver Haycock, Manager, Transport Planning

Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-34

1. Purpose

To present the draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024-34 document for the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) to consider and discuss.

2. Guidance Sought from Councillors

That the Committee:

1. Review and provide feedback on the draft RLTP 2024-34; and

2. Consider if any changes are required to the draft RLTP 2024-34 to support alignment with the recently formed national government.

Staff will take away key suggestions and incorporate these before finalising the consultation version of the draft RLTP 2024-34.

3. Background

The development of the RLTP has been a process which commenced in late 2022. RTC briefings, workshops and meetings between late 2022 and late 2023 have supported the development of the document, and programme. A summary of the meetings and workshops, and their respective resolutions and directions, is provided as Attachment 1.

At the RTC’s 31 August 2023 meeting, staff noted that with the support of the Regional Advisory Group (RAG)[1], the draft RLTP 2024-34 was underway. At that stage, the draft RLTP 2024-34 document – particularly the strategic front-end – had been drafted in a manner that aligned with critical central government policy documents, including the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Since then, there has been a change in central government, which has signalled a likely change in national transport policy. However, the nature and extent are not yet fully apparent and will not become so until such a time as a new GPS is released. The latest advice staff have received on this from the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is that they hope to give early signals of the government’s thinking shortly after Christmas.

In the meantime, development of the draft RLTP 2024-34 has proceeded on the basis of the draft GPS issued by the previous Government and the draft Waka Kotahi Investment Prioritisation Method (IPM), which is designed to give effect to the GPS. However, to accommodate the possibility of a change in government, the draft RLTP 2024-34 strategic direction was developed with sufficient flexibility to accommodate a change in national policy direction. This will enable for example, different weightings to be applied to certain objectives should they be prioritised differently in any new GPS.

In terms of content, the draft RLTP 2024-34 is considered to be three-quarters complete. This workshop provides an opportunity for the Committee to view the document and provide feedback to support its continuing development over the next few months, before consultation commences. Consultation is currently scheduled for late February. However, this timeframe could change, particularly if the new government releases a GPS in a timeframe that does not support our draft RLTP 2024-34 development timeframes, or one that has significant policy shifts that are beyond the strategic fabric and narrative within the current draft. Staff are aware of this risk and will continue to approach the next few months with flexibility where possible – noting that the process is bound by a 14 June 2024 submission date to Waka Kotahi.

4. Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-34

The draft RLTP 2024-34 is provided as Attachment 2. It sets out the strategic direction and makes the case for the proposed programme of transport activities, including the region’s prioritised activities. The prioritisation of significant activities is the subject of the other workshop paper – Prioritisation of draft RLTP 2024-34 Significant Activities – included in this pack.

4.1 Waka Kotahi guidance

Waka Kotahi considers that RLTPs should:

· Describe the region’s long-term vision and identify its short- to medium-term investment priorities to move towards this vision;

· Include a regional programme of transport activities proposed for funding over the next three to six years;

· Be the primary vehicle for discussing and agreeing a clear set of regional outcomes, priorities and improvement projects for the land transport system;

· Describe the gap between where the region is now, and where it needs to get to, along with the programme of activities needed to bridge that gap; and

· Tell a powerful story about a region and its aspirations.

A successful RLTP should present a compelling case for land transport investment for local, regional and national investors.

4.2 Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-34 document

To support the development of draft RLTPs for 2024-34, Waka Kotahi, in conjunction with the regional transport sector, developed a guide: Developing Regional Land Transport Plans. The intent is to achieve national consistency across RLTPs to better support funding and decision making by Waka Kotahi while meeting the objectives set out by Waka Kotahi (as listed in section 4.1, above).

Figure 1, below, is the recommended high-level structure for the draft RLTP.

The draft RLTP 2024-34 in its current form is largely aligned with the Waka Kotahi guidance and recommended structure.

This workshop is an opportunity for the RTC to provide feedback that will inform the direction and content of the final draft document on which we will be consulting.

A high-level outline of the current document, and its chapters, follows.

Executive Summary

Status: Not yet included. To be written for the final draft prior to consultation.

Introduction

The Introduction shows how the RLTP fits within the policy and legal frameworks and states the purpose of the document.

Status: Complete

Strategic context

This section looks to tell the complete transport system story for the Bay of Plenty. It makes the case for investment and needs to be supported by tangible evidence.

Status: To be completed, taking into account RTC feedback. References have been provided for key policy documents. Data sources and further infographics and maps are being finalised for inclusion in the public consultation document.

Strategic framework

This section describes the longer-term policy framework, focusing on the 10- to 30- year outlook. With the direction of the RTC, the Ministry of Transport’s Outcomes Framework has been used to develop a framework that outlines the Bay of Plenty’s strategic long-term aspirations. It includes the vision, objectives, headline targets and policies that provide more detail about how each objective will be achieved.

Status: To be completed, taking into account RTC feedback.

10-year transport investment priorities

This section explains how the Bay of Plenty will deliver the objectives, targets and policies set out in the strategic framework. Using an ILM process, transport problem statements for the region were developed by the RTC and key stakeholders. For each problem statement, a strategic response/transport priority describes how the RLTP will deliver benefits and the areas for priority investment.

Status: To be completed, taking into account RTC feedback.

Programming and Funding

A full regional programme needs to be included in the RLTP, including a prioritised list of projects deemed ‘significant’ to the region and a 10-year financial forecast.

Status: Prioritisation of regionally ‘significant’ activities has been undertaken by the RAG. The draft prioritised programme of work is the subject of the other workshop paper included within this pack. Key information not included is the financial forecast, which is still subject to considerable change as local authorities continue development of their respective Long Term Plans (LTPs). An indicative financial forecast will be included in the draft RLTP that is issued for public consultation.

Monitoring framework

A framework is required to monitor the implementation of the RLTP towards achievement of national transport outcomes.

Status: To be completed, taking into account RTC feedback.

Appendices

Status: Not yet included. To be added for the final draft prior to consultation.

5. Next Steps

The timeline from here for the finalisation of the RLTP is as follows:

RLTP timeframes

Date	Milestone/ Task	Requirements
18 Dec – 29 Jan 2024	Completion draft RLTP	Review of initial comments on draft RLTP 2024-2034 and any general feedback or issues/ concerns from the RTC workshop and meeting Completion of draft RLTP document including prioritised project list, and statement of proposal (summary document)
29 Jan – 9 Feb 24	Graphics document production	Design of draft document completed
9 Feb 2024	RTC meeting	Sign off of RLTP public consultation questions and engagement approach Sign off of draft RLTP for public consultation
23 Feb – 24 Mar 2024	RLTP consultation period	RLTP document and statement of proposal issued Consultation and feedback process clearly communicated (to include some combined consultation with LTP)
10 – 12 Apr	RLTP hearings	Review of public consultation feedback received Production of presentations/supporting documents for hearings
7 – 8 May	Deliberations	Details of public consultation feedback and hearings and recommendations for proposed RLTP changes
9 – 17 May	Final RLTP	Production and issuing of final document
22 May	RTC meeting	Adoption of final RLTP document and programme and recommendation to Regional Council
5 June	Regional Council adopts RLTP	Report summarising investment story and prioritised programme
14 Jun	Final RLTP submitted to Waka Kotahi
31 Aug	Government adopts 2024/27 NLTP
Early Sep	Waka Kotahi releases 2024/27 NLTP Final RLTP published	Comms around prioritised activities and funding

Attachments

Attachment 1 - RTC resolutions on draft RLTP 2024-34 development ⇩

Attachment 2 - Draft RLTP 2024-34 ⇩


Informal Workshop Paper
To:	Regional Transport Committee Workshop
	15 December 2023
From:	Niki Carling, Senior Transport Planner
	Oliver Haycock, Manager, Transport Planning

Prioritisation of draft RLTP 2024-34 Significant Activities

1. Purpose

This workshop provides the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) with an opportunity to review the draft programme for the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024-34 and provide guidance on the initial prioritised list of significant transport activities.

2. Guidance sought from Councillors

That the RTC considers and provides guidance on the draft prioritised list of significant activities for inclusion in the draft RLTP 2024-34.

3. Background

Section 16(3)(d) of the Land Transport Management Act 2003 (LTMA) requires significant activities to be ranked by order of priority in the RLTP.

At the 31 August 2023 meeting, the RTC considered a paper on the strategic framework and prioritisation process for the draft RLTP 2024-34, as recommended by the Regional Advisory Group (RAG) – see Attachment 1. The paper proposed the following parameters for the prioritisation of significant activities:

· applies to improvement activities of more than $2 million.

· requires projects and activities to show alignment with the draft RLTP 2024-34 problem and benefit statements and priorities.

· does not include continuous programmes, low-cost low-risk activities, or activities with signed contracts or allocated funding to be prioritised.

· allows business cases (programme, indicative or detailed) to be prioritised, if necessary to demonstrate their importance.

· requires RAG consensus on projects’ and activities’ contribution to transport investment priorities.

The paper further proposed that the activities would be ranked and moderated against the transport investment priorities by RAG members.

Ultimately, the RTC made the following resolution:

“Approves the overall prioritisation process and approach for the Regional Land Transport Plan 2024 as outlined in the report”.

The process subsequently undertaken by the RAG to prioritise significant activities is covered by section 4.2.1 below.

4. Regional Land Transport Plan Programme

A RLTP includes transport activities submitted by Approved Organisations (AO) i.e., local authorities, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and the Department of Conservation (if appropriate). The activity owner submits information into the Waka Kotahi Transport Investment Online (TIO) database ready for extraction into the RLTP^{^[2]}.

The regional programme needs to include the following activities (see draft RLTP, chapter 7):

· Committed activities

· Proposed activities looking for NLTF funding, i.e.

- Prioritised regionally significant activities

- Non-prioritised activities

· Significant activities to be funded from sources other than the NLTF

· Activities of inter-regional significance, and

· Significant activities not yet developed enough to be part of the RLTP but which may come to fruition within the period of the plan.

The following sections 4.1 – 4.6 outline each of the above parts of the programme. The most critical is section 4.2 which outlines the proposed list of significant activities endorsed by the RAG and is the primary consideration of this Workshop Paper.

4.1 Committed activities

The RLTP is required under section 16(6)(c) of the LTMA to include a list of activities that have previously had funding committed through the NLTF. These projects may be in the implementation phase or may be in the process of an extensive pre-implementation phase. The final list of activities will be confirmed with the TAs for inclusion in the final draft RLTP released for consultation. The following is an example for BOPRC:

4.2 Proposed activities – prioritised regionally significant

Proposed activities are those being submitted for funding support from the NLTF for the 6-year period 2024/25 – 2029/30. ‘Significant’ activities, i.e., those improvement activities anticipated to cost more than $2 million, are required to be ranked by order of priority in the RLTP.

The proposed complete list of prioritised significant activities, included as Attachment 2, was finalised by the RAG following the process in 4.2.1 below and has the RAG’s collective endorsement. The score for each project is a consolidated total of its scoring against each of the transport investment priorities. Of note is the number of projects with the same total score – the 30 projects rated as the most significant score between 17 and 22.

The workshop provides an opportunity for the RTC to consider the prioritised list and to propose adding, removing or changing the priority of activities, especially in the light of similar scores. Following this workshop, all RTC feedback will be incorporated into the next evolution of the programme and the draft RLTP 2024-34 – this is likely to be a full draft version to support public consultation.

4.2.1 Prioritisation process

The first step of the prioritisation process was for all the significant activities submitted by each AO to be scored by them through an internal process against a scoring range of 1 (low) to 5 (high), for their contribution to each of the six transport investment priorities. These investment priorities were previously agreed in the RTC at its 31 August 2023 Workshop and include:

1. Reducing road deaths and serious injuries.

2. Transitioning towards a more sustainable transport system to minimise environmental impacts.

3. Enhancing availability of accessible, affordable and efficient travel choices for people, goods and services.

4. An integrated freight system that optimises the efficient and effective movement of goods.

5. Building resilience into the region’s transport system by strengthening essential connections, improving access to alternative routes, and delivering robust maintenance plans.

6. Supporting sustainable regional growth through planning and investing in transport infrastructure and services that lift economic prosperity and enable housing.

Following the initial scoring, a half-day prioritisation workshop was held with all RAG members on 17 November 2023. At the workshop, activity owners presented their proposed activities and the rationale for their scoring. Members then collectively reviewed each AO’s scoring and undertook a moderation process to ensure consistency of approach across the whole proposed programme.

After assessment and moderation of the activities, the initial priority list was updated to reflect the RAG discussions and recirculated to the RAG for finalisation.

4.2.2 Prioritised list by activity class

The following tables summarise the activities, prioritised within each National Land Transport Fund activity class; orange highlighting indicates project currently unfunded.

The full combined list, listed in priority order is included as Attachment 2.

State Highway Improvement Priorities

Significant Improvement Activity (>$2M)

SH29A Tauriko NC Stg 3 PT Corridor

Connecting Mount Maunganui

Rangiuru Business Park Interchange

SIP Programme 2024-27 (BOP)

Malfroy Road / Old Taupo Road (SH5) Intersection Upgrade

Opotiki town entrance intersection improvements

SH29 Tauriko NC Stg 2 Omanawa Bridge

Western Bay of Plenty Managed Lanes

SH30A Urban Revitalisation, Connect Rotorua

Takitimu North Link Stage 1 Revocation

TNP SH29 Tauriko West Network Connection

SH2 Awakeri to Opotiki Resilience

Investment Management Priorities

Significant Improvement Activity (>$2M)

Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Planning PBC

Spatial Plan - Transport System Programme

SH29 Piarere to Tauranga

Spatial Plan - Urban Transport Model

New Transportation Model (TTM)

TSP Programme Management

UFTI monitoring framework

Local Road Improvements Investment Priorities

Significant Improvement Activity (>$2M)

Cameron Rd Multi-Modal Stage 2 (17th Ave to Barkes Corner)

Connecting Mount Maunganui (Hewletts Road)

Western Corridor Growth Management - Tauriko West Connections

Papamoa East Interchange (PEI) - Eastern Corridor Growth (HIF)

Spatial Plan - Additional River Crossing IBC / DBC

Whakatane West integrated growth and resilience improvements

Lund Road resilience project

Tauranga Eastern Corridor Growth - Te Tumu Internal Infrastr

Welcome Bay Road Improvements

Domain Road upgrade (urbanisation of southern sections)

Pokairoa/Ngamotu - Rerewhakaitu Resilience (SH5 Alternative)

Thornton Road - Blueberry Curves - Safety Improvements

Western Corridor Ring Route (SH29-SH36 & Keenan UGA)

Network-wide Resilience - Whakatāne DC

Chapel Street Bridge resilience works

Matua Bridge Resilience

Shaw Road - Mill Road RAB Connection

Turret Road Bridge Resilience

Waihi Road Bridge Resilience

Western Corridor Ring Route (SH29 to SH36)

Brookfield Road network improvements to support OSP outcomes

Cambridge Road - access to housing at Smiths Farm

Arterial Route Review and Implementation

Truman Lane Reconstruction

Walking & Cycling Investment Priorities

Significant Improvement Activity (>$2M)

Ōmokoroa Transport Improvements

Cambridge Road multimodal upgrade

Bethlehem to Otumoetai cycleway

Marshall Ave Footpath upgrade

Matua area pedestrian and cycle improvements

Te Puke to Maketu Road

Accessible Streets for Otumoetai (Area B)

Accessible Streets for Mount Maunganui (Area A)

Tara Road Cycleway

Arataki to Papamoa East Multimodal Stage 2

End of Trip Facilities and Bike Parking in the City Centre

Maunganui Road Walking and Cycling improvements

Travel demand management (TDM) and behaviour change

Willow Street Cycle Connection

Grenada Street Cycleway

Grey Street Cycle Provision

Public Transport Infrastructure Priorities

Significant Improvement Activity (>$2M)

Connecting the People (15th to Welcome Bay)

VKT Reduction Programme

Arataki to Papamoa East Multimodal Stage 2

Rangiuru Business Park Multi Modal Transport Improvements

National Ticketing Solution (NTS)

CBD PT Hub (Long-Term) SSBC

Bethlehem bus facility

TSP036 Arataki Bus Facility Construction

Existing Te Okuroa Drive Bus / HOV lanes (Parton Road east)

Mount Maunganui Bus Facility

TSP028 Bus facility imp Tga Crossing

Brookfield Public Transport Improvements

Public Transport Services Priorities

Significant Improvement Activity (>$2M)

PT S&I Transformation (UFTI)

Park and Ride Trial Pāpāmoa (IMP-12)

Bus decarbonisation improvements (region-wide) (IMP-08)

Passenger Rail - Hamilton to Tauranga (IMP-10)

4.3 Proposed activities – non-prioritised

Improvement activities below the $2 million threshold and those deemed ‘business as usual’ are excluded from the prioritisation process. A list of such activities will be confirmed with each TA for inclusion in the final draft RLTP released for consultation. The excerpts from the BOPRC programme included below are provided as examples.

· Investment management transport planning activities - prepare the ground for future RLTPs and longer-term investment, through development of modelling, appraisal and business case capability.

· Continuous programme activities - ongoing ‘business as usual’ activities relating to state highway and local road maintenance, public transport services, road safety promotion and road policing. Approved Organisations apply for continuous programme funding on a 3-year cycle aligned with respective AO Long Term Plans and their local share contributions.

· Low-cost low-risk (LCLR) activities - an LCLR activity has an individual total cost, from design through to implementation, within the LCLR threshold of $2M. Approved Organisations apply for LCLR funding on a 3-year cycle aligned with the LTP.

4.4 Significant activities funded from other sources

There are land transport activities in the region which make a significant contribution to the objectives of the RLTP that are not eligible for NLTF funding or are funded from other sources. The majority of these are being delivered by KiwiRail or Tauranga City. For example, KiwiRail funds its improvements through Crown funds and operating profits. Tauranga city requires significant investment in the local road network. Much of the work required to increase existing capacity and provide new roads and access is funded by TCC through developer contributions and local rates. While the non-NLTF activities are funded from other sources, they do still form an important part of investment in the Bay of Plenty’s transport system.

4.5 Activities of inter-regional significance

A potential list of significant inter-regional activities has been obtained from Te Kaunihera a Rohe o Waikato (Waikato Regional Council) and Te Kaunihera o Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne District Council). This list will need to be reconfirmed for inclusion in the final draft RLTP released for consultation. A list of activities to support the boundary between Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay is still in development.

Bay of Plenty - Waikato

Activity	Description
East Coast Main Trunk Rail Network	Provide safe and reliable journeys for people and freight and support urban development within this nationally strategic corridor. Investments will support capacity and maintenance requirements across the network.
SH1 Cambridge - Piarere	Offline extension of the Waikato Expressway to improve safety and reliability. Safety improvements to existing section of SH1, include replacing SH1/SH29 T-intersection with roundabout (NZUP).
Tauriko Network Plan	Transport solutions to support development in the Tauriko West area. To include upgrades to SH29, 29A and 36 to provide travel choice and protect strategic freight routes to/from the Port.
Takitimu North Link (NZUP) Stage 1	Project to provide transport choice and protect strategic freight routes to / from the Port. Includes a new four-lane expressway; separated shared path; Omanawa bridge replacement; public transport prioritisation improvements; and revocation of existing SH29 to local road.
Tauranga – Te Puna (alternative to SH2)	Package of work focused on improving road safety, providing more reliable journey times, and supporting growth along one of New Zealand’s fastest growing travel routes.
SH2 Paeroa to Waihī	Extension of Waihī bus service to connect to Paeroa.
SH2 Paeroa to Waihī	Road safety improvements.
SH30 Rotorua Eastern Corridor - Stage 2	Safety and connectivity improvements that accommodate future growth and provide people with better travel choices.

Bay of Plenty – Gisborne

Activity	Proposed Solution
SH2 Tairāwhiti Wairoa Resilience Strategic Response – Recovery & Rebuild	Investment to replace damaged infrastructure and ensure resilience to withstand future events. Includes enhanced resilience of Tiniroto Road as local road detour between Wairoa and Gisborne.
SH 2 Waioeka Gorge (Gisborne to Ōpōtiki)	Inter-regional improvements. Includes bridge strengthening to enable full HPMV capability between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki.
SH35 Resilience Programme Ōpōtiki to Gisborne	Replacement of damaged / destroyed infrastructure and resilience improvements to withstand future events.
Gisborne to Wairoa / Napier multi-modal resilience connections	Business case (road, sea, and rail) to examine options for alternative routes and modes of travel in the event of further resilience challenges on this corridor
SH38 Resilience Programme Wairoa to Murupara	Business case for minor resilience enhancements, focus on retaining access between Wairoa and Waikaremoana.

4.6 Significant activities not yet developed enough for inclusion

These activities are not yet developed enough to be part of the RLTP or were not proposed due to an AO’s own prioritisation process, but may come to fruition within the period of the Plan.

5. Next Steps

Once RTC members have considered the draft RLTP 2024-34 programme, including the draft prioritised list of significant activities, staff will incorporate all the feedback received.

Given the recent change in Government, it is likely that there will be a new GPS released in 2024. Any significant changes will mean the project list priorities may need to be reviewed and possibly amended so that the programme demonstrates consistency with the national priorities.

The next key milestone in the process will be to seek a decision from the Committee at the RTC meeting on 13 February 2024 to approve the release of a draft RLTP for public consultation.

RLTP timeframes

Date	Milestone	Requirement/Task
15 Dec 2023	RTC workshop	Prioritisation of significant activities
18 Dec – 22 Jan 2024	RAG meeting – 22/1	Consideration of RTC prioritisation/ feedback Final draft activity list
9 Feb	RTC meeting	Approve draft RLTP for public consultation and proposed consultation approach Hearings panel appointed
23 Feb – 24 Mar	Consultation period	Issue RLTP document and statement of proposal Clearly publicise consultation and feedback process, including opportunity to work in with LTP consultation
10 – 12 Apr	Hearings	Review of public consultation feedback on programme priorities Presentations/supporting documents for hearings
7 – 8 May	Deliberations	Details of public consultation feedback and hearings and recommendations for proposed RLTP changes
22 May	RTC meeting	Adoption of final RLTP document and programme and recommendation to Regional Council
5 June	Regional Council adopts RLTP	Report summarising investment story and prioritised programme
14 Jun	Final RLTP submitted to Waka Kotahi
31 Aug	Government adopts 2024/27 NLTP
Early Sep	Waka Kotahi releases 2024/27 NLTP Final RLTP published	Comms around prioritised activities and funding

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Copy of Report to 31 August 2023 RTC - Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-2034 - Strategic Framework and Prioritisation Process ⇩

Attachment 2 - Full List of Prioritised Projects ⇩

[1] A technical advisory group comprised of transport officers from the Regional Council, city and district councils and Waka Kotahi.

[2] The LTMA s.16(4) states that "An organisation may only propose an activity for inclusion in the regional land transport plan if it or another organisation accepts financial responsibility for the activity." Without an ‘owner’ the activity will not be accepted by Waka Kotahi.