SH2 Tauranga Northern Arterial – secondary investigation funding

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

To seek the Board's approval for funding secondary investigation of the NZ Transport Agency's SH2 Tauranga Northern Arterial project in the Bay of Plenty Region.

Date of decision

24 April 2009

Resolutions

The NZ Transport Agency Board:

1. approves funding for the secondary investigation of New Zealand Transport Agency's SH2 Tauranga Northern Arterialproject, at an estimated cost of $4.50 million from R funds, subject to a hold point before changes to the designation are notified to allow the Group Manager, Regional Partnerships and Planning to confirm the revised macroscope;
2. notes that funding of further stages for this project will be subject to the SmartTransport Partners meeting the conditions of support for the Northern Corridor Strategy, as set out in Board paper 09/04/0179;
3. notes that the construction cost for the Tauranga Northern Arterial is estimated at $196 million, the 95th percentile construction cost is estimated at $245 million and the 5th percentile at $164 million;
4. notes the reasons for this decision are as set out in the Reasons for recommendation section; and
5. agrees to take Board paper 09/04/0176 out of Committee when the Board has published the notice of decision.

Reason for the decision

The assessment profile for this activity has been determined as being of medium seriousness and urgency, medium effectiveness and low efficiency.

The project will address issues of severe congestion on a route where levels of service are already poor and traffic growth rates are high. The wider strategic context provided by the Northern Corridor Strategy gives a good level of confidence that opportunities for improved public transport services and walking and cycling provision will be implemented on the existing SH2 alignment. The project is also consistent with the proposed transport impacts to be included in the revised Government Policy Statement, and there is sufficient evidence of positive contributions to the wider LTMA objectives to recommend funding. We confirm that the matters in sections 20(2) and 20(5) of the LTMA have been satisfied, and that the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.

If you would like details of how the assessment profile for this activity was determined, please email us at boardsecretariat@nzta.govt.nz.