Media statement | 30 June 2008

Record investment in land transport infrastructure and services

Land Transport New Zealand has announced a record $2.7 billion of spending for land transport infrastructure and services in the 2008/09 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), an increase of $301m from 2007/08.  

The 2008/09 NLTP sets out a programme of activities which integrate different forms of transport to improve New Zealand’s land transport system.

Funding is being allocated for an ambitious range of projects that will improve the country’s roads and passenger transport services, says Land Transport NZ Acting Chair Paul Fitzharris. 

Mr Fitzharris said funding allocated in this year’s NLTP will allow for growth in passenger transport services, and walking and cycling, while continuing to invest in Police road safety activities and the maintenance and construction of local roads and state highways.

“Good funding and policy decisions made now will help to improve the reliability and safety of our networks, reduce crashes and increase the use of active and shared modes of transport. This will contribute to an integrated transport system which allows users to make choices that have lasting benefits for public health, the economy and our environment.”

Key features of this year’s NLTP include:

• A 24 percent increase in passenger transport investment. The allocation to passenger transport services increases by $62 million to $325 million.  
• Funding for state highway construction has grown by $127 million from last year, to $791 million in 2008/09 – an increase of 19 percent. Funding for local road construction rises by $10 million to $222 million in 2008/09.
• Significant investment in the maintenance of local roads and state highways. This accounts for 38 percent of the NLTP, and has increased $75 million from last year, to $923 million for 2008/09. The increase in maintenance funding is being driven by growth in heavy vehicle traffic, the use of higher quality road surfacing materials and a greater provision for emergency works.
• An increase of $13 million for road policing activities, from $259 million last year to $273 million in 2008/09. This funding provides for road safety enforcement targeting alcohol and drug-affected drivers, speeding and restraint wearing, as well as commercial vehicle investigation, crash investigations, school road safety education and other activities.

A full research education and training programme also forms part of the NLTP, and has been allocated $27.6 million for 2008/09.

This year’s NLTP will be the last which relates to an annual funding programme. From 2009/10, the NLTP will change to a three-yearly funding cycle.

Regional newsletters, a fact sheet and the NLTP book, which details all projects in the 2008/09 NLTP, will be available at www.landtransport.govt.nz/funding/nltp/2008 from 6pm today.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Land Transport NZ Media Manager
(04) 894 6285
0212 763 222

Regional NLTP media statements:

• Road maintenance Land Transport NZ’s focus  for Northland
• Improving travel times Land Transport NZ's focus for Auckland
• Safe and efficient roads Land Transport NZ’s focus for Waikato
• Reducing congestion Land Transport NZ's focus for Bay of Plenty
• Route security and connectivity Land Transport NZ’s focus for Taranaki
• Access and safety Land Transport NZ's focus for Gisborne and Hawkes Bay
• Better connections the priority for Land Transport NZ in Manawatu
• Public transport improvements a priority for Wellington region in 2008/09 NLTP
• Efficiency and safety Land Transport NZ’s focus for Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman
• Maintaining key routes Land Transport NZ's focus for the West Coast
• Better integration  Land Transport NZ’s focus for Canterbury in 2008/09
• Managing traffic growth in Queenstown-Lakes a priority for 2008/09