AMP Strategic Cases

Although the deadline for draft Activity Management Plans has been extended to 31 August, the Transport Agency still wants to see strategic cases now and assist with their development in a timely manner.

The business case approach requires a thinking and discussion process which cannot be approximated at the last minute.

At this stage, roading managers should have identified their investment story after completing their Point of Entry discussion and reviewing their evidence base. Please call your regional P&I contact and share your draft with them.

REG is monitoring completion of strategic cases so that we can provide proactive assistance to those who are behind track as the 31 August deadline approaches.

The dates for submission of firm bids and final bids are still October 2017 and December 2017 respectively.

New case studies

There are five new case studies on the REG website. They are closely focused on applying the ONRC Performance Measures in real life situations:

Safety: a system for managing temporary hazards in Timaru

Safety: a cost effective skid resistance programme in Matamata-Piako

Safety: management of safety rails by Wellington City Council

Accessibility: supporting trucks on Waimate's network

Resilience of access: Waitaki District Council

Data update

REG has had some queries about what to include in the Original Cost information to be recorded in RAMM.

To clarify, Original Cost for Surfacing (work category 212) should include: payment to contractor to construct surfacing (including any preparatory milling), amendments to service covers, reinstatement of road markings and raised pavement markers, cost of design and supervision of work. 

Original Cost for Rehabilitation (work category 214)  should include: payment to contractor to construct the renewed section of road including drainage works (where funded from pavement rehabilitation), pavement preparation and construction amendments to services and/or covers, surfacing, reinstatement of road markings and raised pavement markers, cost of design and supervision of work charged to NZTA work category 214 - Sealed Road Rehabilitation (improvement works funded from work category 341 - Minor Improvements should not be included). 

It is noted that rehabilitation work can be extensive and include significant work on formation (earthworks), external service relocations, although these need to be included where they have been charged to the Sealed Road Rehabilitation work category to understand the cost drivers in this work.  

All of the costs should also be attributed to the Surfacing Record (first coat seal applied as part of the project) and Work Category 214 entered, as it is this “original cost” and “work category” which will be used in the ONRC Performance Measures Reporting Tool (PMRT).  The reason for this is that attributing cost to the constituent pavement layer components is seen as very complex.

Investment Assessment Framework

The Transport Agency thanks those who have provided feedback and suggested improvements to the Draft Investment Assessment Framework (IAF) for the 2018-21 National Land Transport Programme.

Your feedback is helping to refine the IAF, guidance and tools to release to the sector to guide development of the NLTP over the next year.

We are analysing and reviewing the feedback and will respond via the NZ Transport Agency website in the near future.

Bob Alkema
National Manager Investment
NZ Transport Agency

Thanks to Lynley Hutton

Lynley Hutton has resigned from REG and the Transport Agency to take up a position at Advisian.

Lynley has made a significant contribution to the New Zealand transport sector through both her government and academic work.

She led the development of the Road Maintenance Taskforce which resulted in the formation of REG to implement its recommendations. Since then Lynley has served on the Capability and Enabling work group of REG, helping us to stay true to the vision.

As most of you will know, membership of REG is voluntary and Lynley has been generous with her time.  We wish her all the best for the future.

Business case and AMP milestones

The timeline for developing your LTP and activity planning is getting tighter - this list of milestones shows where you should be.

(note: we have continued to include milestones that have passed as a checklist for progress and a reminder of the process.)

Understand the context for your AMP

May-August 2016: Review current strategy and start developing your strategic case. Complete self-assessment. Early engagement with key stakeholders and begin Point-of-Entry discussions with NZ Transport Agency (Round 4,5&6 workshops).

Resources: State Highway AMP, Auckland Transport 2015-18 AMP, Central Otago DC 2015/16-25/26 AMP Review, Auckland Transport ONRC gap analysis; REG online case studies.

Develop your AMP (timing variable between regions)

August-September 2016: Trial CLoS and performance measures and assess gaps in data. Identify network performance issues (Round 5&6 workshops).

Resources: REG online case study: Maintaining and renewing sealed pavements under the ONRC; ONRC Performance Measures – a general guide for using CLoS and performance measures.

October-November 2016: Develop a programme of activities to address network performance issues by assessing against defined strategic case problems (Round 7 workshops).

January-April 2017: Undertake gap analysis and identify benefits (Round 8 workshops).

Resources: REG online case study: Improved Option Selection - forward works programme optimisation.

May-August 2017: Identify programmes requiring investment or disinvestment.

Resources: REG online case study: NZTA programme review process.

July-October 2017: Finalise BCA AMP to enable engagement in LTP/RLTP process.

Resources: NZTA and regional councils available to advise.

December 16 2017: deadline for final bids.