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Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy adopted by region-wide group

Environment Canterbury

Thursday 15 December 2011, 5:26PM

By Environment Canterbury

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CANTERBURY

This week, the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee adopted a future-focused, 30-year Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS).

Committee Chair Rex Williams said the strategy had a broad base of support throughout the development process, including from the New Zealand Transport Agency, councils in the region, the private sector and general public. “Most of the submissions - from organisations as diverse as Federated Farmers and cycling advocacy group Spokes - were in support of the strategy’s overall direction. The overriding message is to finish what has been started, better maintain what we have got and then move to a more balanced future,” he said.

“This would see the completion in the short to medium term of large roading projects already planned and under construction, followed by gradual increase in the types of investments that meet the evolving travel needs of urban and rural communities.

“Increasingly, we need to make sure that future travel needs can be met in safe, efficient and affordable ways that respond to population trends and the increasing costs of motoring.

“The strategy, if implemented as planned, will also create the opportunities for significant benefits to public health and see Canterbury making its contribution to national objectives for climate change and energy efficiency.”

Key submission points received during the public consultation period and reflected in the final strategy include:

  • the need to support the recovery of greater Christchurch after the earthquakes
  • the need to emphasise the importance of some regional highways not included in the Government’s “Roads of National Significance”
  • the need to identify and communicate to central Government the changes required in funding to effectively implement the strategy.

 

The strategy is a statutory document to guide future investment decisions to ensure that Canterbury people have an affordable, integrated, safe, resilient and sustainable transport system, offering a choice of transport systems and options.

“It has been important to ensure the strategy is fit for purpose across Canterbury and is aligned with the milestones set out in the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Strategy,” said Rex Williams. “It will provide an over-arching set of objectives for the long term future of the greater Christchurch transport system and the regional transport networks it sits within. It will future-proof the transport system and help us realise long term aspirations.”

The Regional Land Transport Strategy 2012-2042 has been prepared by the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee - which brings together representatives from Environment Canterbury, the New Zealand Transport Agency, city and district councils and community representatives appointed by Environment Canterbury.

The strategy is to be adopted by Environment Canterbury commissioners at their first meeting in 2012 and then forwarded to the Minister for Transport, Hon Gerry Brownlee.