Public transport improvements

This page relates to the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

This page sets out the activity classes for public transport improvements and provides links to work category definitions, relevant policies and prioritisation of these activities.

Public transport improvements comprise:

• new public transport services, including enhancing existing services, trial services, and operations that are separate from and additional to the existing services and operations of the public transport continuous programme, even though the same work categories may apply
• all public transport infrastructure improvement-related projects and activities that are separate from the public transport continuous programme, even though the same work categories may apply

Public transport continuous programmes

• Public transport improvements occur in two activity classes:Public transport services
• Public transport infrastructure

The definitions for these activity classes in the Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS) 2024 are:

Public transport services:

• Investment in the operation and maintenance of existing public transport networks, to improve utilisation and/or maintain the level of service.
• Investment in new public transport services to improve the level of service and support an increase in uptake of public transport.

Public transport infrastructure:

• Investment in the maintenance, renewal of, or improvements to existing public transport infrastructure to improve utilisation.
• Investment in new public transport infrastructure to improve the level of service and support an increase in the uptake of public transport.

Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024(external link)

Qualifying for National Land Transport Programme consideration

Qualifying activities comprise public transport improvements within the definition of the public transport activity classes in the Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS) and the appropriate work categories in this knowledge base.

Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024(external link)

All regionally delivered public transport activities proposed for inclusion in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) must be included in a regional public transport plan (RPTP) and regional land transport plan (RLTP).

Approved organisations must comply with the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Procurement manual and procurement rules, as well as any relevant standards and guidelines listed in the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency standards and guidelines register for land transport.

Procurement manual

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency standards and guidelines register for land transport

Public transport improvements work categories

Public transport improvements contain the following work categories:

• passenger service improvements:
  • Work category 511: passenger services – bus 
  • Work category 512: passenger services – ferry
  • Work category 515: passenger services – rail
  • Work category 517: Total Mobility operations
  • Work category 532: low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements
• operational improvements:
  • Work category 421: travel demand management and behaviour change
  • Work category 532: low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements
• asset and infrastructure improvements:
  • Work category 561: public transport facilities and infrastructure improvements – bus
  • Work category 562: public transport facilities and infrastructure improvements – ferry
  • Work category 563: public transport facilities and infrastructure improvements – rail
  • Work category 554: public transport technology systems – improvements
  • Work category 540: rapid transit infrastructure
  • Work category 532: low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements

Public transport improvements can be assigned to either the public transport services activity class or the public transport infrastructure activity class, depending on the work category the activity relates to.

Public transport services and infrastructure

Exclusions

Activities funded as part of the public transport continuous programme, including existing public transport services and the maintenance, operation and renewal of existing public transport facilities and amenities.

Public transport continuous programmes

Developing public transport improvement activities

All regionally delivered public transport activities proposed for inclusion in the NLTP must be included in an RPTP and RLTP.

For information on developing improvement proposals see our page on requirements for improvement proposals.

Quick links – transport investment requirements (webpage yet to come)

For information on low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements, see work category 532.

Work category 532: low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements

Prioritising public transport improvement activities

Public transport activities proposed for funding from the National Land Transport Fund are prioritised under the NZTA Investment Prioritisation Method.

Updated draft Investment Prioritisation Method 2024-27

2024–27 NLTP Investment Prioritisation Method (webpage yet to come)

For information on low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements, see work category 532.

Work category 532: low-cost, low-risk public transport improvements