Transfund News No. 1 July 1996 - National Roading Programme

This the very first edition of Transfund news following the launching of the Crown agency as the dedicated land transport funding agency, separated from Transit New Zealand (which remained as the state highway manager).  The edition was understandably focused on the 1996/1997 National Roading Programme, Transfund's first. It had previously been called the National Land Transport Programme reflecting funding for both roads and public transport, but the new emphasis was to reflect Transfund's role as essentially a purchaser of road maintenance and improvements, and public transport services, on behalf of motorists.

 Key elements were:

• $743.7m ($1.45b in 2023 prices) in total spending for the year (compared to $675.9m the previous year, a 10% increase).
• The increase reflected a Budgetary increase of $122.9m over the subsequent three years.
• The benefit/cost threshold for capital spending was reduced from 5:1 to 4.5:1 for the 1996/97 year and to 4:1 for the 1997/98 year. This reflected Government confidence in Transfund ensuring quality of spending and the general Budget entering surplus (enabling a greater proportion of fuel tax revenue to be directed to the National Roads Fund).
• The three-year cap on passenger transport funding was removed.
• Passenger transport funding was increased by $13.5m to replace funding removed due to abolition of regional fuel taxes.
• Additional spending was otherwise focused on increased maintenance, minor safety projects, new state highway construction projects, bridge reconstruction, continuation of seal extension.
• Major projects to start included:
• Albany-Silverdale section of the Albany-Puhoi realignment (SH1 Northern Motorway)
• Otira Viaduct SH73 Canterbury
• Stoke Bypass SH6 Nelson
• Orewa River Bridge Auckland
• Thorndon motorway viaduct seismic upgrade SH1 Wellington
• The newsletter contained a table comparing the previous year's spending by output class.

Transfund News July 1996 No.1 Pg1

Transfund News July 1996 No.1 Pg2

Transfund News July 1996 No.1 Pg3

Transfund News July 1996 No.1 Pg4

In Transit December 1994/January 1995 No. 59 - the storm damage issue

 

In Transit December 1994

In Transit December 1994

In Transit December 1994

In Transit December 1994

In December 1994, Transit NZ was reporting on reconstruction over the past year on highways in Milford and Haast due to rainfall. However, it was able to fund reconstruction and restoration from its existing funding under the National Land Transport Programme.  It notes over 100km of road had been rebuilt or repaired, following massive rock falls and slips demolishing large segments of highways and burying bridges.  Christchurch was also hit, but it was noted that major projects were not badly affected.

This issue also reports:

• Construction of the Eland-Glengarry realignment on SH5 (Napier-Taupo Road) realigning 5km of state highway (and having a BCR of 7.6) 
• Decision to build passing bays in Homer Tunnel, partly because large tour coaches find it difficult to pass in the tunnel. The passing bay proposal had a lower BCR than the funding threshold, but funding was approved due to its strategic importance to tourism.
• Series of projects in Wellington including realignment of 1km of SH58, Martinborough flood relief bridge, Newland flyover construction commenced, Whangamoa Hill deviation on SH6 Marlborough underway, design of the Stoke bypass commenced, planning for bypasses of Ruby Bay and Motueka.
• Major public consultation on options for SH1 between Porirua and Waikanae, these were in response to Transmission Gully not being able to be funded in the foreseeable future.  Noting Transmission Gully was estimated to cost $150m at the time and not expected to be funded for at least 15 years (2009).  However, the Transmission Gully route was still to be designated to protect it from development and to give landowners certainty. 
• All Northland state highways will be sealed by 1996 following a contract to seal the last 10km of SH12 through Waipoua Forest, noting special root bridges were designed to avoid damaging kauri tree roots.
• Contract awarded to realign the Waiau Bridge and approaches in north Taranaki on SH3.
• Waikato projects including four-laning of Fairy Springs Road in Rotorua, sealing of the last 6km of SH25 Coromandel, Pokeno bypass, Mangatawhiri Bridge realignment and Tamahere deviation (Waikato Expressway).
• Auckland projects including completion of the Bombay Hills motorway extension, commencement of construction of the Mangere motorway (connecting the Mangere Bridge with the Papatoetoe Bypass and including the Airport motorway connection) and completion of the Upper Harbour highway interchange on the Northern Motorway.