Transport minister Gerry Brownlee defended the governments strategic investment in the Roads of National Significance programme in a speech to the Road Transport Forum conference last week.
“When we came into government in 2008 we introduced the Roads of National Significance Programme because successive governments had neglected transport infrastructure, and we faced what we assessed to be about a 30 year catch-up task,” says Brownlee.
“Between 2005 and 2012 total road travel – in terms of kilometres travelled – was almost unchanged.
“There are likely to have been a number of contributing factors, including the Global Financial Crisis, population changes, and technology changes affecting the way people meet and communicate.
“Heavy vehicle traffic was affected more than light traffic, dropping by over 4% in 2009 – clearly an impact of the GFC.
“But now we are seeing that vehicle kilometres travelled are beginning to increase again.
“Heavy vehicle traffic on all roads increased 2.1% in 2013, while light vehicle traffic grew 1.4%.
“NZ Transport Agency traffic counts for State highways shows a 4.1% growth in heavy vehicle travel in the year to May 2014.
“New Zealand’s vehicle fleet is also growing.
“Average vehicle ownership growth has increased more than twice the speed of population growth, and recently released data shows new car purchases at their highest level since 1981.
“These increases are not only because of population increases and the improving economy, but also because of the choices people make about their preferred modes of transport, and this is in the face of the biggest investment in public transport seen in decades.
“So the case for investing in strategic State highways through the Roads of National Significance programme has been proved correct.
Brownlee continued to say that based around New Zealand’s five largest population centres, the RoNS programme will encourage economic growth, rather than wait until the strain on the network becomes a handbrake on progress.
“RoNS are an investment which recognises around 92% of New Zealand’s freight tonnage is moved by road.
“Updated data from the Ministry of Transport’s National Freight Demand Study suggests New Zealand’s freight task will grow from 236 million tonnes in 2012 to over 373 million tonnes by 2042.
“An efficient freight industry with access to cost effective transport will therefore be more important than ever to the competitiveness of New Zealand businesses.
“The first RoNS project, the Victoria Park Tunnel, was completed in 2012.
“Most of the six remaining projects will be completed over the next six years, delivering travel time savings, safety and productivity increases.
“The benefits of those completed or only partially completed roads are already being felt, with NZTA measuring an average travel time saving of five minutes per trip across three completed sections of highway.
“Here in Auckland, the RoNS programme includes the $1.4 billion Waterview Connection – part of the government’s $2 billion investment to complete the Western Ring Route.
“The other RoNS projects are:
· Wellington’s Northern Corridor, including Transmission Gully;
· Christchurch’s Northern, Southern and Western motorway corridors;
· Tauranga’s Eastern Link;
· State highway 1 from Puhoi to Wellsford; and
· the Waikato Expressway.
“Each of these is a key connection, where investment will help people and freight move quickly, safely and efficiently.
“I am pleased to report that progress on the RoNS is proceeding on budget, and on time.
“The faster these projects are completed, the earlier the economy and New Zealanders will benefit,” Brownlee concluded.
