Stocktake of road asset modelling

An important part of REG’s work is promoting the value of good modelling of future asset renewals, and the importance of good data for all asset management. 

To that end a stocktake was undertaken in 2016 of the extent of long term road asset analytics, including DTIMs modelling activity for renewals and maintenance planning for RCAs. The report is available here.

We were pleased to note in the report (section 2.1) “more than half of councils have undertaken modelling during the past couple of years, notably increasing the active modelling status compared to 2012.”

Also, “Analyses and case studies have proven that the robustness of the model if calibrated and used in conjunction with robust data, stands beyond questioning. Optimisation analysis has demonstrated a 15 to 25% efficiency gain. Furthermore, the analysis allows councils to develop a roadmap towards achieving certain levels of service expectations on respective ONRC classes.”

The report includes some key learnings from the RATA cluster of local authorities’ collective observations:

- Issues related to traffic data quality and gaps affecting ability to model.

- As with most councils condition related data tends to be visual rating and roughness alone which are poor indicators of pavement health; a wider set of pavement condition data, e.g. for rutting through high speed data capture, improves modelling reliability.

- Across all councils modelled, only about 15% have wider FWD type pavement strength data.

ONRC moderation management

We’ve been receiving queries on how to manage changes in an Approved Organisation’s classification over time. The following approach is proposed for the 2016-17 year (noting it may change in future years):

- There is no intention to require a full re-moderation process in 2017.

- AOs can action minor changes to reflect errors in the original classification at any time. It is recommended that AOs document the changes and the basis for the changes for both AO and Transport Agency reference.

- Additions and deletions to the network (e.g. new subdivisions) will typically be added at the end of each year, or during the year if required. We expect that the combination of items 2 and 3 would be less than 1% of the network length in any year.

- AOs will continue to supply their statistics returns to the Transport Agency annually.  The Agency will continue to take the annual RAMM ‘snapshot’ at the end of each financial year (July).

- The Annual Report refresh in the REG PMRT and changes to the NZTA classification web maps will be based on the annual snapshots and actioned as soon as possible after the updated information has become available.

- Material changes that affect the wider network and other agencies should be raised with the other agencies, as well as the relevant Transport Agency Planning and Investment contact. This would include boundary roads and inter-regional roads where there may be a change of more than one classification level to ‘routes’.

Thanks to Julie Muir

Julie Muir has stepped back from her REG leadership role to make more time for her new role as Executive Manager - Infrastructure Services at Central Otago District Council. She will continue to be a member of the group.

Julie has been with REG since its inception and instrumental in its development. She has been visionary in applying the principles and aims of the programme in her own transport network, which is now an exemplar of best practice for others to follow.

Many of you will know of Julie’s excellent work leading the development of the ONRC Performance Measures. Faced with a daunting and sometimes controversial task, she and her group were rigorous, tenacious and bold and we will all benefit from their efforts for a long time to come.

We thank Julie for her wonderful work, and we look forward to her continued contribution.

Jim Harland
Chair, Road Efficiency Group
 

ONRC update

New faces
Suzy Ratahi has taken over from Julie as chair of the ONRC subgroup. Suzy is Road Network Operations Team Leader at Timaru District Council. We also welcome Stuart Woods, Principal Transport Planner at the Transport Agency’s Christchurch office. Membership of REG is voluntary so we really appreciate their decision to step up.

Standard reporting
Standard reporting on customer outcome measures will be sent to each RCA in draft format in April. This will help RCAs to “assess, evaluate and challenge” their ONRC results within peer groups and nationally, and begin to inform their programme case and identify any issues/help to evaluate options.

RCAs are encouraged to re-run their data checks and undertake an updated “Data input from RAMM” in the online tool.

New case studies

The ONRC subgroup will release six case studies over the next couple of months which will be posted on the REG website. They are:

Supporting Trucks on the Network - Waimate District Council

Are Our Roads Safe When it's Wet? - Matamata Piako District Council and Fulton Hogan

Integrating ONRC and Maintenance - Selwyn District Council

Enabling Customers to Choose - Waitaki District Council

How Road Users Experience Safety - Wellington City Council

ONRC Inspections and Performance - Selwyn District Council

Travel Time Reliability - Christchurch Transport Operations Centre
 

REG Champions

The REG Champions convened on 22 February for their first meeting of 2017.

The champions are local experts, and they are available for roading managers to call on when developing your investment stories.

It was a highly engaged meeting with a group of strong professionals and we thank them for their attendance.

They are at the other end of the phone, or can meet with you if needed - don't hesitate to get in touch:

Garry McGraw - Kaipara DC
Gordon Naidoo - South Waikato DC
Natalie Rooseboom - Tauranga CC
Shawn McKinley - Central Hawkes Bay DC
Carolyn Copeland - South Taranaki DC
Joe Hewitt - Wellington CC
Rhys Palmer - Nelson CC
Yvonne Warnaar - Waimakariri DC
Alison Tomlinson - Queenstown Lakes DC
Michael Jacobson - Christchurch CC

Performance Measures Reporting Tool

The ONRC Performance Measures Reporting Tool (PMRT) continues to develop, further aligning with the finalised performance measures. Version 7.0 is planned to roll out in late February and includes:

- Input functionality for measures based on data that is not currently in RAMM, such as Accessibility and Resilience.

- Trend information for relevant road safety measures, to replace the current "average" calculation.

Version 8.0 is planned for March/April and will include Peer Group/My Region/National results in reports.

Analysis is also underway to determine how trends based on historical data can be displayed within the tool.

Some users have requested copies of the scripts behind the PMRT that they can run in RAMM SQL. This will allow users with good RAMM knowledge to verify and better understand their results. These will be shared with those who have requested it, and will be available to all users soon.

As always user feedback is welcomed so let us know how the tool is meeting your needs!  You can email us at roadefficiencygroup@nzta.govt.nz

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-March 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.