The RLTP provides a detailed three year (2009/10 to 2011/12) breakdown of the transport activities planned in the region by the various approved organisations who have responsibility for transport. It also provides an indicative 10 year financial expenditure forecast of anticipated expenditure and funding sources within the region.

The organisations responsible for transport in the Canterbury region

The RLTP contains the bid for transport related expenditure activities from the following approved organisation that exist within the Canterbury region:

• Ashburton District Council
• Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury)
• Christchurch City Council
• Department of Conservation (Mt Cook)
• Hurunui District Council
• Kaikoura District Council
• Mackenzie District Council
• Selwyn District Council
• The New Zealand Transport Agency
• Timaru District Council
• Waimakariri District Council
• Waimate District Council

Note: Activities of Waitaki District Council are not included in this RLTP. Waitaki District Council activities are included in the Regional Land Transport Programme for the Otago region.

The rail network forms an integral part of Canterbury's transport system. Rail programmes, which are undertaken by the New Zealand Railways Corporation, are funded directly by Treasury and not through the National Land Transport Fund to which this RLTP relates.

Development of the RLTP

Responsibility for preparing this Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP) lies with the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee (RTC). The RLTP is prepared in order to bid for funding assistance from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF). The NLTF is administered by the New Zealand Transport Agency on behalf of the New Zealand government. The RTC has prepared this RLTP on behalf of the Canterbury Regional Council as required in the Land Transport Management Act 2003, as amended in 2008. The RTC is not accountable for the delivery of this programme. It is a forecast of anticipated revenue and expenditure and a proposal for funding support from the National Land Transport Fund, not a funding commitment. Delivery of the programme is reliant upon approved organisations and the Agency securing the funds and delivering the activities.

This RLTP contains activities that have been submitted by the District, City and Regional Councils in Canterbury. It also contains activities proposed by the New Zealand Transport Agency (the Agency), that operates the State Highway network, and the Department of Conservation (DOC), that provide some public access roads on conservation land. The RLTP provides regional coordination and a mechanism for applying regional priorities to proposed activities.

Strategic context and transport priorities

National context

The Canterbury Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP) has been prepared with regard to the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding 2009/10 – 2018/19 (GPS). The GPS outlines what the government is seeking to achieve through investment in the land transport network from the National Land Transport Fund.

Regional context

The Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy 2008-2018 (RLTS) provides the strategic context for this RLTP. The RLTS is supported by a Canterbury Transport Regional Implementation Plan (CTRIP). CTRIP identifies and evaluates all improvement activities in the Canterbury Region that provide regional benefits. The evaluation included the prioritisation of activities throughout the region. This evaluation forms the basis on which the priorities in this RLTP have been developed.

Statement of regional transport priorities for the RLTP

The Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy outlines the high level vision, goals and targets for the Canterbury region. These high level goals are broken down further in the Canterbury Transport Regional Implementation Plan. In this document sub-regional transport outcomes are identified for the 3 sub regional areas, Northern Canterbury, Greater Christchurch and Southern Canterbury.

These transport outcomes form the transport priorities for the region and are as follows:

• Reduce conflict between modes
• Improve safety
• Improve quality of access routes to tourist destinations
• Route security and provision of alternative routes
• Improve primary freight routes and connectivity between population and growth centres
• Improve the environment

• Ensure access to Christchurch is maintained
• Maintain strategic transport links while maintaining and enhancing the quality of built environments
• Increased use of public transport
• Increased use of active modes
• Good quality access to and between townships
• Support/enable agreed urban growth policies and directions
• Enhancing movement of people and goods on strategic corridors
• Minimise adverse impacts on and improve social and urban environments
• Provide high quality walking environments
• Efficient management of parking
• Appropriate provision for business servicing

• Safe and efficient freight movement
• Provide safe access for commuters especially alternative modes
• Improve safety
• Improve travel time reliability
• Reduce conflict between modes
• Improve the opportunities for active modes
• Improve the passenger transport system
• Improve connections to arterial routes

These transport priorities form the basis of the evaluation of effectiveness of activities in achieving regional benefits for the purpose of prioritising activities within the RLTP.