The Government has announced it will spend $32.9 billion into new state highways, pothole prevention, rail, public transport and road policing over the next three years.
It’s part of the latest National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) announced by Transport Simeon Brown in Wellington on Monday.
The programme sets out the spending which backs up the Government’s plans for transport between 2024 and 2027.
The plan includes $5.5 billion for pothole prevention on state highways and local roads and $7 billion for state highway improvements. The NLTP delivers on the coalition agreements to reintroduce the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with a pipeline of 17 RoNS across the country.
Maintenance and operations of state highways and local roads, which are jointly funded by councils, gets $4.6b.
Public transport services and infrastructure investment increased from $4.9b in the last plan to $6.4b. Road policing and safety gets $1.7b.
Meanwhile, $1b has been allocated for rail, down from $1.3b in the last plan.
“The Government is focused on getting transport back on track, delivering the basics well, unlocking economic growth and productivity, and ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely,” Brown says.
“New Zealanders rejected the previous government’s transport policies which resulted in non-delivery, phantom projects, slower speed limits, and an infestation of speed bumps.
“The Government is turning this around with record investment in transport projects that reduce travel times, improve public transport options, and build and maintain our roading network to the safe and reliable standard Kiwis expect.
“Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity, but spending more money will not in itself deliver better results. Our Government is committed to making sure that every dollar is spent wisely on the projects and services needed to grow our economy and enable Kiwis to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely,” Brown says.
The total $32.9 billion forecast investment in the NLTP includes:
- $4.6b in maintenance operations investment.
- $5.5b to prevent potholes on state highways and local roads.
- $8.3b to deliver state highway and local road improvements.
- $6.4b in public transport investment.
- Roads of National Significance listed in the NLTP:
- Alternative to Brynderwyns
- Whangarei to Port Marsden
- Warkworth to Wellsford
- Cambridge to Piarere
- Tauriko West State Highway 29
- Mill Road
- East West Link
- Hamilton Southern Links
- Petone to Grenada Link Road and the Cross Valley Link
- North West Alternative State Highway (SH16)
- Takitimu Northern Link Stage 1
- Takitimu Northern Link Stage 2
- Hawke’s Bay Expressway
- Otaki to North of Levin
- Second Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve upgrade
- Hope Bypass
- Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass
- Roads of Regional Significance listed in the NLTP:
- Penlink
- State Highway 1/29 Intersection
- Canterbury Package – Rural Intersections
- Waihoehoe Road
- State Highway 58 Improvements Stage 2
- Canterbury Package – Rolleston Upgrade
- State Highway 1 Papakura to Drury Improvements
- State Highway 2 Melling Transport Improvements
- Canterbury Package – Halswell
- Second Ashburton Bridge
- Queenstown Package
- Major public transport projects listed in the NLTP:
Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility
Completion of the City Rail Link
Eastern Busway
Northwest Rapid Transit Corridor
Airport to Botany Busway
