Repairing Christchurch's earthquake-damaged roads and boosting public transport in Auckland and Wellington are among the priority projects that will benefit from $36 billion in the Government's transport plan.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce today released the Government's policy statement on land transport funding, which outlined priorities for expenditure from the National Land Transport Fund and determines how money was allocated.
The statement, which comes into force next July, includes plans to invest about $36 billion over the next decade.
"Continued funding for state highways and the roads of national significance will help encourage business, tourism and jobs, and will improve road-user safety," Mr Joyce said.
"Providing the support necessary to repair the land transport network in Christchurch is also a top priority."
The plan includes increased funding for public transport services to upgrade the Auckland and Wellington rail systems, although Mr Joyce said a large amount of funding for the infrastructure was being made outside of the National Land Transport Fund.
"Taken together, the National Land Transport Fund investments and the parallel rail investments we are making are a huge investment in transport for a country of New Zealand's size," he said.
Mr Joyce also announced the establishment of a Road Maintenance Task Force, aimed at finding ways to cut costs for roading authorities.
The group is made up of individuals from local government, industry, and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), and will be convened by the NZTA.
"The task force will identify opportunities for efficiencies in road maintenance and renewals. It will also identify innovative products and best practice methods of procurement, and encourage their uptake through the country."
Mr Joyce said he expected the task force to be fully established by August, and would complete its investigations and report by April.
