MEDIA RELEASE

Have your say on the region’s transport priorities

For immediate release: 31 March 2009

For the first time the Regional Transport Committee is developing a document called the Regional Land Transport Programme which prioritises the region’s key transport projects.

The Programme lists in priority order what work could be undertaken during the next three years to make our region easier to move around and what these projects will cost

It is based on projects submitted by the Regional Council and all the city and district councils in the Bay of Plenty as well as the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

The Regional Transport Committee, made up of representatives from Environment Bay of Plenty, district and city councils, NZTA and other stakeholder groups, has now developed a draft priority list from the submitted projects.

The Committee is now consulting with the public on behalf of Environment Bay of Plenty to ensure the list reflects the community’s views.

Regional Transport Committee Chairperson Jane Nees said the Programme was about more than just funding for roads.

“It will set out how much money will be allocated to services, infrastructure and facilities including bus stops, footpaths, bicycle lanes and walking school buses as well as projects to make the region’s roads safer for all users including road safety campaigns,”Councillors Nees said.

With central Government recently naming the Tauranga Eastern Motorway as a road of national significance, this has strengthened the case for this planned project to attract national funding.

A draft copy of the Regional Land Transport Programme is now available. Bay of Plenty residents have an opportunity to give their views on the proposed priority list from Monday 30 March 2009 until Thursday 30 April 2009. Hearings will be held in May 2009 and the final Regional Land Transport Programme will be adopted in June 2009.

ENDS

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