Regional Land Transport Strategy

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A successful transport system is a pre requisite to ensuring Nelson continues to be a healthy and successful community.

Nelson's Regional Land Transport Strategy identifies future transport needs and sets out a plan for ensuring that all users of Nelson's land transport system are able to access the places, people and activities that are important to them, and that goods and those providing services can move into and out of and around our region.

It also sets out methods for addressing related concerns - air pollution, road safety, the unusually high rates of cycle and pedestrian accidents in Nelson, congestion, noise, and the special needs of the transport disadvantaged - those who can't drive or don't own a motor vehicle.

The RLTS signals major anticipated changes in the way people will move into, around and out of Nelson city in response to rising fuel prices.

The Strategy represents a consensus view of the Regional Transport Committee, which comprises representing the relevant objectives and cultural interests:

  • The Objective of Economic Development - Bill Findlater
  • The Objective of Safety and Personal Security - Inspector Brian McGurk
  • The Objective of Public Health - Dr John Moore
  • The Objective of Access and Mobility - Jeremy Glasgow
  • The Objective of Environmental Sustainability - Katy Steele
  • Cultural Interests - Waihere Mason

How it has been developed

Focussing on transport issues in the urban areas, an investigation (North Nelson to Brightwater corridor study) was undertaken by the Nelson City and Tasman District Councils and Transit NZ (now the NZ Transport Agency). Following extensive consultation a long list of potential transport projects was reduced to a preferred package which included:

  • Improved public transport
  • Travel demand management
  • Walking and cycling
  • Traffic management and
  • Roading, which included two alternatives for increasing the roading capacity between Nelson and Stoke.

Following consultation on the preferred package, a transport forum was set up with key stakeholders to make a recommendation to the Regional Land Transport Committee. Its recommendation was:

  • to proceed with the preferred package excluding any increase to the roading capacity which it felt could be deferred for at least five years and
  • to review the roading capacity on an ongoing basis.

What the strategy covers

The long term vision and mission underpinning the Strategy is:

Vision

A sustainable transport future for Nelson

Mission

To have a land transport system that is safe, efficient, integrated and responsive and that meets the needs of current and future generations in ways that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

As such the RLTS covers sustainability, safety, responsibilities, and cross boundary issues.

The law requires a Land Transport Strategy must be kept current for 30 years and be renewed at least every six years. With this in mind, the strategy identifies the short (to 2014), medium (2014 to 2026) and long term (after 2026) funding and planning processes.

What the strategy doesn’t cover

It does not cover an actual detailed programme of works or a budget, including the cost of the implementation. These details are consulted on alongside the Nelson Community Plan process.

Our neighbouring regions

A major issue for Nelson is managing the flow of people and freight between Tasman District and Nelson. Richmond and its hinterland are identified as generating a significant amount of traffic into and out of Nelson. SH6 over the Whangamoa to Marlborough is another key connection for the region. Input will be sought on this draft strategy from the Tasman and Marlborough District Councils.

What the RLTS proposes

It has six major requirements of the strategy (these can straddle policy and activity categories).

1 Environmental sustainability

Ensure land use changes are consistent with the transport strategy objectives.

Require future subdivision design to provide for alternative modes of transport, including cycling, walking and provision for public transport.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector 2001 levels by at least 40% in 2020.

2 Assist economic development

The strategy proposes to reduce peak period delays by 10% by 2018 from values recorded in 2008.

Increase weekday journey to work trips by public transport to at least 10% by 2018.

Increase number of vehicles with more than one occupant in the peak period across Waimea Road and Rocks Road to at least 10% by 2018.

3 Safety and personal security

Reduce casualty numbers (by at least 20% by 2018) with an emphasis on pedestrians and cyclists.

Deliver a transport system that contributes positively to overall levels of personal safety and security.

4 Access and mobility

Improve bus use by providing more routes so that more households have the option of using a bus (80% of households are within 400 metres or five minutes walk of a bus route by 2011).

Change the approach to local road upgrades and design to make them better for pedestrians and cyclists.

5 Public Health

Reduce transport emissions by 2018 from values recorded in 2006.

Increase the numbers of people walking and cycling to work to at least 25% by 2018.

6 Affordability

The ideas in the RLTS must be affordable for the Nelson community and then be delivered within budget.

How this strategy fits with other Nelson plans and policies

The strategy will sit along side:

  • Nelson Community Plan
  • Regional Policy Statement
  • Sustainability Policy
  • Nelson Urban Growths Strategy (NUGS)
  • Heart of Nelson Strategy
  • Cycling and walking strategies
  • Nelson Tasman Physical Activity Plan
  • Social Wellbeing Policy

What Government says about transport

The update of the New Zealand Transport Strategy (NZTS) was published by the Government in August 2008 with the overall vision that:

“People and freight in New Zealand have access to an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system.”

The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding is designed to achieve a more strategic approach to the allocation of funding with particular emphasis on years 2009/10 to 2014/15 and more indicative guidance 2015/16 to 2018/19.

Single car occupancy, injuries and fatalities, public transport, increasing walking and cycling and emissions are amongst the issues targeted by the policy.

Download

Download the Regional Land Transport Strategy (PDF @ 1.2MB) (1.2MB PDF).

Contact

For any queries, please contact Transport Engineer on +64 3 546 0263.