CASE FOR NATIONAL TRANSPORT FRAMEWORK

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 286, 9 May 1989, Page 4 (Supplement)

CASE FOR NATIONAL TRANSPORT FRAMEWORK

AUDIT OFFICE ARGUES FOR NATIONAL TRANSPORT FRAMEWORK The Audit Office is calling for a national decision making framework to more effectively identify roading needs and enhance the planning process. In a report on road planning tabled in Parliament last month, the Audit Office says that the road system is a national asset which vitally affects national economic and social performances. "As such it requires that strategic planning is managed on a national basis incorporating policy development and co-or-dinated planning and decision making to: allow roading authorities to develop clear strategic objectives; have in place a system that is simple, fair, open, and responsive to community needs; and ensure the availability of adequate information, skills, and funding." The report says that the changes outlined by the Minister of Transport, the Hon Bill Jefferies, in the discussion paper "Reform of Government Roading, Road Safety and Urban Transport Programmes" should, if implemented, help establish the required national framework. The Audit Office report supports the setting up of a Land Transport Authority proposed in the

discussion paper and says this should be responsible for policy, standards, research, and allocation of resources. It also says that the new authority should review the partnership between national and local authorities in road management and delegate more decision making powers to local and regional roading authorities. The report recommends that many minor matters, presently dealt with by the National Roads Board, could be handled more effectively at the local level where they are more likely to be better understood. The report maintains that the NRB's 3 year programme for new works is not long enough and is concerned that the NRB does not get all the information it requires for effective planning. While recommending that new road works be programmed over five years as the minimum period instead of three the Audit Office has welcomed moves by the NRB , to implement a national computer based roads management system. "This will enable it to enhance the planning process and carry out more effective post project reviews," it stated. The Audit Office report also says that road design and maintenance is being hampered by a lack of

knowledge of the location of major non-injury accidents thereby reducing the level of road safety being incorporated into designing roads. In addition it highlights

major distress caused to communities in the path of proposed road works as a result of long delays in the planning process. The report recommends that all significant road accidents be reported and

a review of the existing planning law be undertaken to establish a clear time limit between the designation of land for roading purposes and a commitment to a particular scheme.