New road surfacing technology is among key innovations to get funding from the Government’s $15 million transport solutions fund.
Kiwis up and down the country have stepped up to the call to put forward their solutions to help solve some of New Zealand’s biggest transport challenges.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency received more than 110 applications for the initial round of funding after transport minister Michael Wood first announced the initiative in June. Applicants came from the private sector, research institutions, communities, iwi and universities.
The fund aims to solve issues such as reducing emissions and creating more sustainability in the sector.
In addition to the financial support, the successful applicants will also be supported by Waka Kotahi with access to data, transport expertise, help to navigate land transport regulation, and support with real-world testing of solutions.
Among successful applications was research to develop a sustainable process using solvents for the recycling of chipseal, in which the bitumen and aggregate are separated and can be re-used in road surfacing.
Wood says the Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it “safer, greener, and more efficient for now and future generations to come”.
“However we know we can’t solve some the challenges we face alone, that’s why we went looking for Kiwi ingenuity to help find solutions to some of our global transport challenges.
“New Zealand is a country full of creative, innovative people and to help us successfully meet the problems facing the transport sector we need to tap into that creativity by jointly accelerating solutions,” he says.
After a thorough evaluation process, 24 applications have been approved to receive a total of $4.2 million in the first funding round, which asked applicants to respond to three key challenges:
- accelerating the use of recycled materials and sustainable practices
- integrating low emission first and last-mile travel solutions
- providing under-served communities with greater access to transport options.
Funding approved in the initial application round of three transport challenges includes:
- Accelerating the use of recycled materials and sustainable practices
- $141,000 to develop a sustainable process using solvents for the recycling of chipseal, in which the bitumen and aggregate are separated and can be re-used in road surfacing
- $182,000 for a trial to determine the feasibility of using recycled textile fibres in different types of asphalt
- $240,000 to design, test and trial, high-performing, low carbon concrete mixes
- Providing under-served communities with greater access to transport options
- $206,000 for a ‘lease to buy’ e-bike trial, offering low-cost e-bikes or e-bike conversions to people who are underserved on a ‘lease to buy’ scheme, with affordable low-interest repayments
- $100,000 for a community-driven accessible transport trial in Eastern Bay of Plenty, to support seniors/pākeke, as well as people with disabilities, by increasing access to shared transport options in their local community
- $60,000 for an e-bike incentivisation test and trial in Māngere
- Integrating low emission first and last-mile travel solutions
- $508,000 to pilot a small micromobility hub at Auckland’s Panmure Station and a network of mini hubs in the surrounding neighbourhood. The hub will include e-scooters and e-bikes, secured bike parking with power outlets for charging and high-visibility wayfinding to enhance accessibility
- $156,000 for the development of a ‘total cost of journey’ calculator, to build and prototype a logic-based system that presents people with information about their travel choices comparing the costs and environmental impacts of private vehicle vs public transport use.
- $41,000 for a trial of e-scooter rental and recharging on electric buses – providing e-scooters for rental by coach passengers and the conversion of existing zero-emissions commuting coaches to include e- scooter charging capability as a first and last mile zero- emissions solution.
*Click here for a full list of successful applicants.
