$591m transport package for the Bay of Plenty

040615bf3 Traffic backed up on Hemo Road after a crash at the intersection of Hemo Road and Old Taupo Road on Thursday morning 4 June 2015 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser

The NZ Transport Agency has announced a $591 million transport package designed to grow industry and jobs, improve safety, and support economic development and population growth in the Bay of Plenty.

An estimated $255m will target continued economic productivity and growth, advancing key projects such as the Baypark to Bayfair upgrade and Hairini underpass.

The public transport system will receive $45m, with an additional $8.5m to provide school buses for children in Tauranga, while projects designed to get more people walking and cycling, such as the Rotorua Cy-Way and the Omokoroa to Tauranga cycleway will receive funding totalling $9m.

The $591m investment is the region's share of the $13.9 billion 2015-2018 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), a partnership between local authorities - who invest funding on behalf of communities - and the Transport Agency, which develops the programme and invests funding from petrol taxes, road user charges and vehicle registration and licensing fees.

The Transport Agency's acting Waikato Bay of Plenty regional director, Robert Brodnax, says a large part of the investment in the Bay of Plenty recognises and supports the vital part the region plays in New Zealand's social and economic success.

"The Bay of Plenty is one of four regions including Northland, Auckland and the Waikato that make up the upper north island, an area that is vital to the growth of our country," he says.

"The upper north island is home to over half of New Zealand's population, and generates more than 50% of the national GDP. More than half of all freight moves through this area and roads freight figures are forecast to increase by 59 per cent by 2042.

"The Bay of Plenty is also growing, and it is important that our investments support that regional growth.

"Off the back of our investments in the soon-to-be-opened Tauranga Eastern Link, our focus for the next three years in the Bay of Plenty will be on building a safe and efficient transport network to enable local growth, enable easy access for rural goods to markets and people to city-based services.

"This will ensure the region can continue its significant contribution to the nation's economy and growth."

The chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee, councillor Jane Nees, says the programmes funded in the NLTP will support expected growth in urban areas in the western Bay of Plenty, while ensuring efficient access to the Port of Tauranga from Auckland, Waikato and the rest of the region.

Mrs Nees says the investment programme is closely aligned with the Bay of Plenty Regional Land Transport Plan, which makes the case that investment in the Bay of Plenty transport system is critical to enhancing the performance of our regional and national economy.

"The mix of programmes funded will achieve this while also addressing safety, resilience, public transport and active modes of transport," she says.

"I also welcome the move towards more integrated planning for road and rail, as the lack of this has been of concern to the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee in the past."

Mr Brodnax says improving safety on roads in the Bay of Plenty will continue to be a major focus for the Transport Agency, with investment planned on routes such as State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Waihi, and SH2 Wainui Road to Opotiki.

"High-risk intersections will be a major focus over the next three years,"Mr Brodnax says.

"We will also continue working to improve safety and provide more reliable travel times between Pokeno and Tauranga via Waihi, and SH29 on the Kaimai Range.

"Safety improvements are also planned for the Piarere junction - the SH1/SH29 turn off to Tauranga - which is great news for Bay of Plenty people that regularly travel that route.

"With our Safe System partners, the NZ Police and local authorities such as the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, we will also continue to target factors that contribute to fatal and serious crashes in the Bay of Plenty including speed, drink and drug driving, high-risk driving and not wearing restraints."

Mr Brodnax says public transport, and cycling and walking projects will also receive significant investment over the next three years, as councils and the Transport Agency work together to offer people a variety of travel choices, and reduce congestion on roads.

"The Transport Agency and Bay of Plenty Regional Council will spend an additional $8.5m to provide Tauranga school students with public transport choices.

"This funding will benefit all road users, not just those using the bus. We expect the changes to contribute to a 25 per cent increase in passengers on buses, which will reduce congestion on roads and save up to five minutes travel time on some routes."

Other NLTP highlights in the Bay of Plenty include:

$4.9 million will be invested into roads safety promotion and education activities targeting regional issues

$244m will be invested in maintaining and renewing the road network, with $141m for local roads and $103m for state highways - a six per cent increase on the previous NLTP

Investigations into how the road and rail network can complement each other and ways to ease the pressure of future freight growth on the region, and looking at the future needs in the approaches to Rotorua and Tauranga

The $13.9 billion forecast expenditure for 2015-18 marks a 15 per cent increase compared to the previous 2012-15 NLTP.

National and regional NLTP documents, Q&As and other information is available on the Transport Agency website at www.nzta.govt.nz