BOP Regional Land Transport Plan open for consultation
Regional Land Transport Plan open for consultation
Whether you drive or walk, cycle or take a bus the region’s land transport network affects everyone. From people who have a business to anyone who purchases goods that have been moved on our transport networks, the level of impact may change, but it’s unavoidable.
That’s a key reason why people should have their say on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan according to Regional Transport Committee Chair Stuart Crosby.
The draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2018 has opened for consultation, with the draft document setting out the direction that our transport system will take over the long term.
“In one way or another, land transport impacts us all, from the time it takes us to get to work or school each morning to the cost of the goods we buy,” Mr Crosby said
“Is the time we spend travelling a joy or a curse? Is it helping or hindering our health and wellbeing? Are we creating the services and building the infrastructure we’d be happy to pass on to our children and grandchildren?”
The draft Plan has been prepared by the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee and sets out the priorities and activities the region will work towards in the next six years while maintaining a long term view on what might happen in the future.
It prioritises integrated planning, demand management, and network optimisation approaches before investing in expensive new infrastructure, and determining which outcomes are most important to the Region.
“This isn’t a guaranteed programme - it is our combined ‘what we want to do’ list with the final say on how funds are allocated determined by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).”
The Plan is the way the Region seeks
central government funding for activities ranging from road
safety, to walking and cycling, to public transport and road
improvements. It is a requirement under the Land Transport
Management Act 2003.
The prioritised list of the
top 15 activities
is:
1. TNP SH29 Tauriko
West Network Connections. Project to deliver SH29
freight and safety objectives while providing appropriate
access to Tauriko West and the Tauriko Industrial Estate.
Lead agency: NZTA
2. Eastern Corridor Growth
projects. Infrastructure to support residential
growth in the Tauranga Eastern Corridor (high growth urban
area). Includes Papamoa East Interchange with Tauranga
Eastern Link to enable development in the Wairakei and Te
Tumu Urban Growth Areas. Lead agency:
TCC
3. Western Corridor Growth Management –
Tauriko West Connections. New transport connections
for Tauriko and Tauriko West urban growth areas. Lead
agency: TCC
4. Cycle Action Plan Implementation.
Construction of improved cycle infrastructure on
key routes to implement the Tauranga cycle action plan. Lead
agency: TCC
5. SH29 Kaimai Summit to Tauriko.
Safety and efficiency improvements on the key route
between Hamilton and Tauranga. Lead agency:
NZTA
6. W2T Waihī to Ōmokoroa (Safer Corridor).
Safety improvements on the SH2 corridor between
Waihī and Tauranga. Lead agency: NZTA
7. Public
Transport Priority for key routes. Signal
pre-emption, clearways and priority lanes for Tauranga city
loop services. Lead agency: TCC
8. Totara Street
Improvements. Construction of improved cycle
facilities and level crossings for primary cycle route.
Changes to road cross section to better accommodate truck
turning movements. Lead agency: TCC
9. New
Tauranga bus services. Provide increased public
transport service levels in Tauranga following the
optimisation of urban and school buses at the start of 2018.
Lead agency: BOPRC
10. SH2: Wainui Rd to Opotiki,
NSRRP. Safety improvements to reduce deaths and
serious injuries. Scope includes Matekerepu and Kukumoa Road
Route Security Improvements. Lead agency:
NZTA
11. W2T Omokoroa to Te Puna (Transformed.
Capacity and safety improvements on the SH2
corridor between Waihī and Tauranga. Lead agency:
NZTA
12. Eastern Corridor, Connect Rotorua (Stage
2: Iles Road to Rotorua Airport) SH30.
Capacity improvements on section of Te Ngae Road
between Iles Road and Rotorua Airport. Lead agency
NZTA
13. SH2 Opotiki to Gisborne (Resilience and
Safety). Measures to protect link from various
environmental risks and improve road safety. Lead agency:
NZTA
14. Improvements to Key State Highway
Intersections. Intersection improvements - TCC
contribution to NZTA projects at Elizabeth Street, Takitimu
Drive and Barkes Corner. Lead agency: TCC
15. W2T
Katikati Urban (previously Katikati Bypass). The
realignment of SH2 to create an alternative route (bypass)
around Katikati. Lead agency: NZTA
The plan is open for
consultation until 23 March 2018. To download a copy of the
draft Plan or make a submission, visit www.boprc.govt.nz/landtransportplan
Funding
decisions will be published by the NZTA in the National Land
Transport Programme in August 2018.
Key dates
• 9 February
2018 – Public consultation
opened
• 23 March 2018 – Public
consultation closes
• 11-12 April 2018
– Hearings
• 7 May 2018 –
Deliberations
• 8 June 2018 –
Regional Transport Committee makes a recommendation on the
Plan to the Regional Council
• 21 June
2018 – Regional Council considers Plan for
approval
• 30 June 2018 – Final Plan
submitted to NZ Transport Agency
• 31 August
2018 – NZ Transport Agency releases National Land
Transport
Programme