Chapter G1 Creating an assessment profile

G1.5 Guidance on the effectiveness rating

Introduction

This section gives general guidance for rating the effectiveness of activities and combinations of activities for developing an assessment profile.

The effectiveness rating is a measure of the contribution that the proposed solution makes to achieving the potential identified in the strategic fit assessment and to the purpose of the LTMA and the relevant NZTS objectives.

Higher ratings are provided for those proposals that provide long term, integrated and enduring solutions.

Evidence required

Sufficient evidence must be provided to support the effectiveness rating. This includes as appropriate:

• project feasibility report (PFR)
• a study
• a strategy
• an activity management plan (AMP)
• a scheme assessment report (SAR).

The evidence needs to be included in LTP online.

Minimum considerations

Evidence must be provided to demonstrate that the activity or combination of activities delivers on each of the following:

• the potential identified in the strategic fit assessment including the regional dimension of the GPS impacts
• the purpose of the LTMA (affordable, integrated, sustainable, safe and responsive land transport system)
• the relevant NZTS objectives (economic development, safety and personal security, access and mobility, public health, environmental sustainability)
• has considered:
  • all relevant problems, issues and opportunities
  • all appropriate alternatives and options
  • any adverse effects or impacts
• is an affordable solution
• the scale of the proposed solution is appropriate to the potential identified in the strategic fit assessment.

Requirements for high rating

A high rating for effectiveness must only be given if the activity or combination of activities delivers on each of the following:

• meets all the low and medium rating criteria
• improves integration within and between transport modes, where appropriate to the activity
• provides a solution that integrates land transport, land use and other infrastructure, where appropriate to the activity
• supports networks from a national perspective, where appropriate to the activity
• is an optimised transport solution.

Reference: For guidance on optimisation, see section G1.4.

Requirements for medium rating

An activity or a combination of activities must only be given a medium rating for effectiveness if it meets each of the following:

• meets all the low effectiveness criteria
• is part of an accepted strategy, activity management plan or macroscope
• is significantly effective in achieving the potential identified in the strategic fit assessment
• provides a long-term solution with enduring benefits appropriate to the scale of the solution
• provides a solution that considers land use strategies and implementation plans, where appropriate to the activity.

Requirements for low rating

To achieve a low rating, all activities or combinations of activities must comply with the minimum criteria for effectiveness set out in this section.

Strategic fit potential

To be effective, activities and combinations of activities must have a significant effect on the potential identified in the strategic fit assessment. This potential must specifically consider the regional dimension of the GPS impacts.

Reference: For detail on the regional dimension of the GPS impacts, see section B1.5.

For example, if a new and improved infrastructure activity for local roads has a medium rating for strategic fit because of the potential for significant 'Improvements on key routes in journey time reliability', then the effectiveness assessment must focus on the contribution of the activity to addressing this.

Significantly effective in achieving this potential means that the potential is largely achieved.

Contribution to LTMA purpose and NZTS objectives

Activities and combinations of activities should make a contribution to achievement of the purpose of the LTMA and to the relevant NZTS objectives. Although these are requirements that regional land transport programmes and the National Land Transport Programme must meet, the contributions from individual activities and combinations of activities need to be taken into account by the NZTA in approving activities or combinations of activities for funding.

Standard considerations relating to the LTMA purpose and the NZTS objectives are set out in section G2.8.

Consideration of problems, alternatives/options and adverse impacts

Standard considerations relating to alternatives and options are set out in section G2.8.

Affordability

Standard considerations relating to funding and affordability are set out in section G2.10.

Accepted strategy, AMP or macroscope

Accepted strategy, AMP or macroscope means:

• a strategy or plan that has been supported by the NZTA in accordance with section B4.7
• the macroscope of a package or project that has been endorsed by the NZTA in accordance with section C9.5,

or

• where formal support or endorsement has not been given by the NZTA, the NZTA is satisfied that the strategy, AMP or macroscope is adequate.

Enduring benefits

In urban and semi-urban areas, transport solutions are often only enduring if they are part of a package of activities balancing demand and supply measures and if they optimise the function of each transport mode taking into account local constraints and opportunities.