Policy 2011 1 TRANSPORT Building a Stronger Economy Building world-class “National will invest $9 billion over transport infrastructure the next 10 years to remove bottlenecks and reduce congestion Building a better transport system is vital to transform New Zealand’s future, and to create on our high-use highways through more jobs with higher incomes. the Roads of National Significance. Economic growth is our top priority in transport. After taking office, we reallocated transport We’ll also invest in key regional funding to boost investment on state highway routes to provincial centres to construction by more than $1 billion over three years. This is helping to build a stronger improve route security, reliability, economy, relieve congestion, and improve safety. and safety.” During the recession, we accelerated $400 million worth of “shovel ready” road projects. We’ve also substantially boosted funding for public transport. Key facts Building better roads and rail • Significantly boosted investment in state New Zealand has 700 kilometres of 'high-use highways. highways' – just over six per cent of the state • Lifted investment in public transport: highway network. They carry 35 per cent of total vehicle kilometres on highways and 19 per cent − $1.6 billion to upgrade and electrify of freight volume kilometres across the whole Auckland’s commuter rail system. road network. − $485 million to upgrade Wellington’s commuter rail network. The Roads of National Significance will tackle the chokepoints on these high-use highways. They • Approved KiwiRail’s $4.6b turnaround plan. will improve links between our regional economies, ports, and cities and encourage • Several big projects in our Roads of National business, tourism, and jobs. Significance have opened early. Supporting the repair of Christchurch’s roads is • Public transport patronage is increasing. another top priority, to help rebuild Canterbury. • KiwiRail revenue is growing. The $4.6 billion KiwiRail Turnaround Plan and • The road toll is coming down. investment in upgrading the Auckland and Wellington networks means National is investing • We’re investing $12.2 billion in state almost $7 billion in rail. We’re improving the rail- highways over the next 10 years. freight network, helping KiwiRail become commercially viable, and supporting modern, • Our plan involves making further progress on the Roads of National Significance. reliable commuter services. www.national.org.nz Authorised by G Hamilton, L2 258 – 262 Thorndon Quay, Wellington Policy 2011 Transport 2 National has… Boosted investment in our Boosted investment in public roading network transport Increased investment in state highway projects Investing $1.6 billion to upgrade and electrify by more than $1 billion over three years to Auckland’s commuter rail system and $485 promote economic growth and productivity. million to upgrade Wellington’s commuter rail network. Created a new category of infrastructure project called Roads of National Significance Signed off new agreements with councils in (RONS) and fast-tracked work on these, Auckland and Wellington to complete the including: refurbishment of the network and rolling stock in both cities. This includes funding the − Puhoi to Wellsford purchase of an all-electric train fleet for the − Auckland’s Western Ring Route core Auckland network. − Victoria Park Tunnel Responded to increases in demand for public − Waikato Expressway transport with more subsidy funding (see chart − Tauranga Eastern Link below) in combination with a value-for-money − Wellington’s Northern Corridor drive. − Christchurch motorways. Annual government public transport service subsidy1 Accelerated the completion of important 800 regional roading projects such as: − The Hawkes Bay Expressway Southern 600 $ Millions Extension 400 − The Matahorua Gorge Realignment − Kopu Bridge Replacement 200 − Muldoon's Corner Realignment 0 − The Kamo Bypass Extension 2006-09 2009-12 2012-15* *forecast − Caversham Highway Improvements. 1NZTA public transport service subsidy data Fast-tracked other roading projects to provide economic stimulus during the recession as part of our Jobs & Growth Plan. Released a State Highway Classification that categorises state highways by volumes of traffic, freight, and tourism. This has helped identify roads suitable to be designated as future RONS. www.national.org.nz Authorised by G Hamilton, L2 258 – 262 Thorndon Quay, Wellington Policy 2011 Transport 3 Started to turn around Improved maritime KiwiRail transport Approved KiwiRail’s $4.6 billion 10-year turn- Conducting a value-for-money review with around plan. Maritime NZ to improve services and reduce costs. Provided $750 million in new seed capital to Developed the Qualifications and Operational support the KiwiRail Turnaround Plan. This will Limits framework. be invested in new track, rolling stock, and locomotives to improve the reliability of the Investigating feasibility of new interisland ferry freight network. terminal at Clifford Bay. Published port productivity data to improve the flow of exports through ports. Made roads safer Enhanced aviation Passed new legislation to tackle: services − Cell phone use in cars Put in place the SmartGate system with − Drugged driving Australia to make trans-Tasman airline travel − Illegal street racing easier. − Reckless young drivers Reduced Aviation Security passenger levies. − Recidivist drink drivers. Conducting a value-for-money review with the Civil Aviation Authority to improve services See our Road Safety policy for more details. and reduce costs. Furthered negotiations for international air Made the SuperGold Card traffic rights. sustainable Passed legislation to implement the Cape Town Convention. Increased funding by $9 million over the next two years and maintained transport entitlements for SuperGold Card holders. www.national.org.nz Authorised by G Hamilton, L2 258 – 262 Thorndon Quay, Wellington Policy 2011 Transport 4 Our results so far Big progress on Roads of Better National Significance rail Five of the seven RONS are currently under • KiwiRail revenue grew $17 million in the construction, employing around 1500 people 2010/11 year. directly. Highlights include: • Hobsonville Motorway on Auckland’s More passengers using Western Ring Route opened six months early. public transport • Victoria Park Tunnel completed. • Public transport patronage in Auckland and • Construction underway on Waikato Wellington increased by almost 14 per cent Expressway, Tauranga Eastern Link, and the between 2007/08 and 2010/11. Christchurch Southern Motorway. Public transport patronage • Wellington’s Transmission Gully project 2 120 Auckland and Wellington referred to a Board of Inquiry for a nine- month fast-track consenting process. 100 • Investigation work underway on the Puhoi to 80 Wellsford motorway extension. Passengers (Millions) 60 Better 40 roads 20 • Completed major projects including the Hobsonville Deviation, Manukau Extension, 0 '05/06 '06/07 '07/08 '08/09 '09/10 '10/11 Taupo Bypass, Pyes Pa Bypass, Hawke’s Bay expressway extension, Dowse to Petone 2 upgrade, and Dunedin’s SH88 upgrade. NZTA public transport patronage data • Created 550 jobs directly and 1200 in associated trades by fast-tracking roading projects in our Jobs & Growth Plan. • In 2010, the second-lowest death toll on the roads was recorded. www.national.org.nz Authorised by G Hamilton, L2 258 – 262 Thorndon Quay, Wellington Policy 2011 Transport 5 What we will do next… 1. Keep building Evaluate four new RONS projects for better roads development following final completion of the first three RONS projects (Victoria Park, Waterview, and Tauranga Eastern Link): Invest $12 Billion over 10 years in State Highway construction. − State Highway 29 between Hamilton and Tauranga. Complete construction on: − State Highway 1 between Cambridge − Christchurch’s Southern Motorway and Tirau. Stage 1. − Further development of the Hawke’s − The Ngaruawahia and Te Rapa Bay Expressway. sections of the Waikato Expressway. − State Highway 1 North and South of − The Tauranga Eastern link. the current Christchurch motorway projects. Construct New Zealand’s largest-ever roading project, the Waterview Connection Continue to develop key regional roading on Auckland’s Western Ring Route, including projects that will enhance productivity and two three-laned tunnels bored economic growth, including the Rotorua under Avondale. Eastern Arterial and the Waiwakaiho Bridge in New Plymouth. Start construction on: Improve the resilience of key inter-regional − The Christchurch Western Bypass and the Southern Motorway Stage 2. freight routes like Mt Messenger on State Highway 3, and the Manawatu Gorge. − The Basin Reserve Flyover and the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway on the Wellington Northern Corridor. 2. Rebuild − The Cambridge and Rangiriri sections of the Waikato Expressway. Canterbury Design and consent the Transmission Gully Provide funds from the natural disaster section of Wellington’s Northern Corridor contingency in the Land Transport Fund to (construction due to start in 2015/16). help rebuild Canterbury’s roading infrastructure. Finalise the design and consenting of the Puhoi to Warkworth section of the Puhoi to Work with the Canterbury Earthquake Wellsford RONS, and prepare for a Recovery Authority Horizontal Infrastructure construction start in 2014/15. Alliance to accelerate the co-ordinated rebuild of crucial Christchurch infrastructure. Construct replacement Waitaki River bridges