Summary of submissions

Submitters were generally supportive of the draft plan, see table above for more details.

Objectives and priorities

A high proportion of submitters supported the proposed objectives and priorities (82% and 89%, respectively). With most submitters considering the current objectives and priorities outlined in the plan as important or very important.

Headline targets

The draft had revised headline targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries, greenhouse gas emission and increasing freight movement by rail and these were supported by just over half of the submitters.

Some submitters raised concerns about whether headline targets should be changed, with some of the following points raised:

  • higher headline targets eg could encourage faster change
  • lower headline targets eg could save money
  • insufficient investment to achieve the headlines targets, particularly for greenhouse gas emissions.

The Committee supported retaining the targets – to keep the plan affordable and feasible – as the main targets which submitters sought changed were set nationally and required coordination with national efforts outside of the plan.

Investment priorities

Our revised investment priorities and their weightings were well supported. These are used when ranking the specific transport activities proposed by the each of the region’s councils, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and the Department of Conservation.

New investment priorities and the weightings are listed below:

  • Create a well-maintained network *top priority
  • Manage risk of exposure to extreme events (35% weighting)
  • Support and develop connected public transport and active transport networks (30% weighting)
  • Implementing safer systems (Road to Zero) (25% weighting)
  • Support and develop freight systems connecting to air, rail and sea (10% weighting).

Investing in connected public and active transport networks had the highest level of support of all the priorities. Submitters comments on this priority, had common themes including bus services improvements, bus priority lanes, park-and-ride facilities, dedicated cycle lanes and connected cycling networks, pedestrian infrastructure in Greater Christchurch.

Light passenger rail was also raised by a few submitters. With comments in support of developing ‘turn up and go’ services to connect smaller towns with central Christchurch, and rail services that connect areas within Canterbury and with other regions.