The road transport industry is welcoming the Government’s National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) over the next three years with a focus on freight and roading network improvements.
The $32.9 billion NLTP highlights Roads of National Significance (RoNS) and Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS) with $8.3b allocated to deliver state highway and local road improvements.
Transporting New Zealand interim chief executive Dom Kalasih says the investment set out in the NLTP will provide “a much-needed boost” to economic growth and productivity, and ensure the transport system is moving people and freight safely and efficiently.
“Transporting New Zealand has been emphasising the need to focus on transport fundamentals for a long time, and this NLTP gets the balance right.
“The NLTP will support regional connections through Roads of National and Regional Significance projects, ensure a big focus on network maintenance and resilience, and provide targeted investments in public transport, safety and network efficiency.”
Kalasih says it was also encouraging to see the NLTP emphasise the role of freight in delivering economic growth and prosperity.
“93% of all freight in New Zealand travels by road, so improving our roading network is essential if we want to get out of the current economic slump and drive real growth.
“Our members are going to be really encouraged to see NLTP referencing the need for freight-friendly roads and bridges, and stronger and more weather-resilient road surfaces.
“That’s how we can get more efficient higher productivity motor vehicles and heavy battery-electric trucks delivering the freight task, reducing emissions and improving safety outcomes,” Kalasih says.
Meanwhile, National Road Carriers chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers says the NLTP confirms funding for the roading network as the Government had promised.
“The RoNS and RoRS are a welcome return to structured planned investment of the transport network and is in line with what NRC called for pre-election.
“A long-term plan for addressing the infrastructure deficit and providing certainty will drive down cost, enabling more to be done to return the network to a state that enables productivity and supports economic growth.
“With this increased certainty we hope to see the doors opening in terms of investment opportunities, both from local and international investors, and the contractors we need to attract to deliver the programme of work,” Tighe-Umbers says.
