Suggested Priorities for 2015-2025 RLTP

When developing an RLTP we are required by the LTMA to include a statement of transport priorities for the region for the next ten financial years. The term priorities is not defined however we have interpreted this to mean either groups of projects, individual projects or specific outcomes. It might be a physical work or it could be an aspirational target (i.e. lowering road toll). The point is there appears to be no restriction on what a priority could be.

Below is a list of suggested priorities, largely taken from the existing RLTS. We have also included priorities around economic development and freight efficient recognizing the importance of the region as a inland port and freight hub.

There is no guidance on how many priorities each region should have. Also there is no guidance on whether these should be ranked. Our view is that ranking these priorities would be beneficial to signal to NZTA what is „top of the list‟ and essential for the region.

Priorities (these have not been ranked)

 Implement the recommendations of the 2010 Joint Transport Study The JTS was completed in mid-2010 by the Transport Agency, City Council, Manawatu District Council and Horizons Regional Council and sets out a framework for the strategic transport network in Palmerston North and Manawatu over the next 30 years.

The aim of the study was to develop an evidence-based network road hierarchy for the Palmerston North – Manawatu area by testing the validity of a number of proposals which have been promoted by the Transport Agency, PNCC and MDC.

These included: o The concept for strategic access across the generally northern side of Palmerston North as suggested in the National State Highway Strategy (2007) between Mt Stewart and the Manawatu Gorge, thereby removing the state highway route from within the urban area of Palmerston North. o Proposals for improved connections between and Palmerston North to cater for commuter flows, including the resolution of issues in the Bunnythorpe area; o The concept of a rural ring road around Palmerston North, incorporating an upstream bridge crossing the Manawatu River.

For the region to operative as a effective freight hub, a number of the JTS recommendations need to be implemented. This work would benefit the entire region, and likely adjacent regions with freight efficiency.

Links to objective: o Enhanced freight efficiency across the region o Enhance the strategic advantage for the freight hub for the Central NI o Better targeted investment for a strategic network

 Implement safety realignments on strategic routes

Some parts of State Highway 1 north of the Desert Road are substandard for a road of this importance, especially when one-quarter of vehicle movements are by heavy commercial vehicles. The Region has advocated for improvements to State Highway 1 north of the region in the Waikato Region in the current RLTS and will continue to do so to ensure a consistent level of service on both sides of the regional boundary.

The region has successfully used Regional funds (R funds) in the past to ensure projects of importance to the Region have been completed such as the Ohingaiti-Makohine Realignment and Foxton Curves realignment.

State Highway 2 north to Hawkes Bay, while now largely fit for purpose due to a number of recent projects, including the Papatawa realignment, still has identified projects to enhance safety, namely Manawatu Hill and Whakaruatapu.

Links to objective: o A safe land transport system o Better targeted investment for a strategic network

 Support retention of current passenger rail services in the Region Passenger services in the region are now limited to the and the (formerly the Overlander). There is growing evidence that the provision of high quality public transport provides economic benefits to a community and supports economic development. The Capital Connection service links the and Horizons Regions together and means commuters have an alternative to reach Wellington rather than private vehicle. This not only provides safety benefits to commuters but also economic development advantages to the region as commuters can work on the train while still living in the region.

Links to objective: o A resilient, multi modal land transport network o A safe land transport network

 Achieve freight efficiency There is a direct relationship between economic growth and freight growth, and if the region is to achieve its economic development objectives there must be an effective, efficient freight system of freight transport. While much of this will be by road, rail could play an increasing part.

The draft GPS has continued emphasis on achieving more efficient freight linkages and building economic growth, something the Horizons Region supports. The Manawatu- Palmerston North area is the crossroads for the lower and much effort has gone into creating a freight hub in Palmerston North, and to a lesser extent Wanganui. Building off the already efficient transport links have been developments at Palmerston North‟s North-East Industrial Zone, Longburn and Wanganui‟s Heads Road. However more can be done to achieve greater efficiency‟s such as the proposed roading hierarchy in the JTS and increasing the use of the Regions rail network.

Links to objectives: o Enhanced freight efficiency across the region o Enhance the strategic advantage for the freight hub for the Central NI o Better targeted investment for a strategic network

 Plan for and proactively respond to demographic change and impacts of land use change The Regions population is now more concentrated in the urban areas than it ever has been and the population is also ageing. This has considerable impacts on how people use the land transport network and there are also particular conflicts on the rural-urban periphery where the urban areas in the Region are experiencing, or planning, growth. Making sure that land use panning considers future transport needs is important because if it doesn‟t it may lock the Region into inefficient use of transport resources and is difficult and expensive to mitigate at a later date.

Links to objectives: o A resilient, multi modal land transport network o A safe land transport system

 Efficient, accessible and affordable public transport networks The Region has experienced significant growth in its public transport networks over the past decade however it is a large region with two main centers and a number of small dispersed settlements.

Services in Palmerston North have had significant growth due to the Massey and UCOL Unlimited Access Scheme giving “free” access to transport services for students and staff of these organisations. Increased peak-time services introduced in 2010 has also provided a “carrot” for commuters to increase their use of public transport in Palmerston North. A review of the network in 2014 will determine the future network layout. Wanganui‟s urban bus network has also experienced growth over the last few years.

It is difficult to justify traditional scheduled public transport services within smaller settlements, however innovative transport solutions may be justified for these communities. The issue of rural access will become more acute as populations decline and services are centralised in larger localities.

The Regional Public Transport Plan will set out in detail how the Region will provide public transport services and what levels of service will be provided.

Links to objectives: o A resilient, multi modal land transport network o A safe land transport network

 Increase focus on pedestrians and cycling The decline in walking and cycling over the past 20 years throughout New Zealand and Horizons has been apparent. Lifestyle changes have played a part and the convenience and availability of low-cost vehicles have played their part in this decline.

The draft GPS 2015-25 will encourage progress to be made on improving urban cycling networks and it is hoped that projects previously deferred can be implemented in this timeframe.

The Region plans to continue to promote walking and cycling as convenient and healthy methods for short trips over the life of the Plan, including an ongoing programme of infrastructure improvements.

Links to objectives: o A resilient, multi modal land transport network o A safe land transport network

 Establish a regional network of stock truck effluent facilities The Region transports a large amount of livestock on the land transport network. Thousands of stock truck trips are made each year from farms to meat processing facilities, and to sale yards and between farms, incurring a significant amount of stock effluent discharge onto roads, some of this untreated waste ultimately ends up in the Regions waterways. Stock truck effluent also creates a road safety hazard.

The NZ Transport Agency has a North Island Stock Truck Effluent Strategy aiming to establish a network of stock truck effluent sites around the North Island. The Strategy names three sites in the Horizons Region, Woodville, and as locations for these sites.

The Woodville stock truck effluent facility was completed in 2013 and the aim of the Plan is to complete investigations and construction of the remaining sites during the life of this Plan.

Links to objectives: o Enhanced freight efficiency across the Region o A safe land transport system

 Route security of key regional connectors The Governments focus on economic growth and productivity also relies on the security of key freight routes, therefore a continuing focus of the Plan will be to ensure the Region‟s key connectors remain secure.

State Highway 3 through the Manawatu Gorge is the main east-west connector and provides an important link through the Port of Napier for much export commodities from this Region. However it was closed for an extended period of time during 2011 and the most used alternative, the Saddle Road, was shown to be inadequate to cope with the large volume of traffic over this extended time.

There are other route security issues as well on State Highways 1 north and 4. State Highway 1 north through the Desert Road is often closed in winter due to snow and ice, and is susceptible to closure from the threat of volcanic activity. The part of the route between the Desert Road summit and Taupo in the Waikato Region is narrow and winding with few passing opportunities and therefore any closure impedes the efficient movement of freight and private vehicles.

State Highway 4 is often used as an alternative route if the Desert Road is closed however it is also prone to its own route security issues, being prone to slips. The road is also very windy and would benefit from more passing opportunities.

Links to objectives: o Enhanced freight efficiency across the Region o A safe land transport system o Better targeted investment for a strategic network

 Efficient road maintenance and delivery In 2011 the Government established the Road Maintenance Taskforce to identify opportunities to increase the effectiveness of road maintenance. The Taskforce reviewed significant costs to the sector and existing business practices. Of particular note, they reviewed asset management, risk management and procurement methods.

As a result of the Taskforces‟ work the Roading Efficiency Group (REG) was established in 2012 in order to drive value for money and improve performance in maintenance, operations and renewals throughout the country. Driving value for money is one of the key focuses of the GPS.

Three key areas of focus will be: o Implementing the One Network Roading Classification (ONRC) to standardise data and create a classification system which identifies the level of service, function and use of all local roads and state highways. o Best practice asset management to share best practice and advice with road controlling authorities. o Collaboration with the industry and between road controlling authorities to share information, staff and management practices.

The NZ Transport Agency has also recently reviewed the Funding Assistance Rates (FAR) it provides to approved organisations. The outcome for most road controlling authorities in the Region is a reduced FAR which may negatively impact on the delivery of current levels of service.

Links to objectives: o Better targeted investment for a strategic network o A safe land transport system

 Improved connectivity of north-south and east-west connectors The standard of north-south and east-west connectors has long been a concern to the Region. However with the announcement of the north of Levin to Wellington Airport Road of National Significance, major safety and alignment issues will be addressed in order to improve safety and travel time variability on this part of State Highway 1.

The difference in standard of State Highway 1 north between the part of the highway in the Horizons Region and Waikato Regions has also long been a concern of the Region. Horizons has long advocated for a number of improvements in the Waikato Region however due to other projects in Waikato having a higher priority few of these projects have proceeded to date.

East-west connectivity is largely constrained by the occasional closure of the Manawatu Gorge (SH3) due to wet weather. State Highway 3 also currently passes through Palmerston North and traffic currently informally bypasses the city through a network of local roads. The outcomes of the JTS aim to address this through ultimately upgrading and designating these local roads to SH3. Other projects that aim to ensure better and safer connectivity such as Whakaruatapu and Manawatu Hill on State Highway 3 connecting Hawkes Bay have been advocated through the current RLTProgramme.

SH3 to Taranaki is largely of an appropriate standard however there are a couple of pinch points in the Taranaki Region, that if addressed, would improve the connectivity between both regions. These projects being the Tangahoe Bridge and Normanby Overpass projects.

Links to objectives: o Enhanced freight efficiency across the Region o Enhance the strategic advantage for the freight hub for the central North Island o Better targeted investment for a strategic network o A safe land transport system

 An appropriate network of tourism routes The Regions principle areas of tourism are the Volcanic Plateau in the Ruapehu District, the Whanganui River in Whanganui National Park and the Rangitikei District.

The numbers of tourists in the Region are expected to grow in the following years so providing an appropriate network of tourism routes is important in fostering economic growth in some of the Regions smaller communities that rely on tourists.

In the past few years the Whanganui River Road and the Napier- roads have been sealed. Both of these roads are expected to play an increasing role as tourist routes in the Region.

Other routes that could be upgraded over the course of this Plan that could reap tourism benefits are State Highway 43 and Route 40 both of which run between Ruapehu District and Taranaki.

As a result of expected increases in demand in cycle tourism from the completion of touring routes that form the New Zealand Cycle Trail, the Region should ensure that access to and from these trails is adequate to support this projected demand.

Links to objectives: o Better targeted investment for a strategic network o A safe land transport system o A resilient, multi modal land transport network