Transport plan gives region $300m

The top of the south will get close to $300 million of the Government’s planned $16 billion spend on transport, with a focus on cycleways and public transport.

Nelson projects that would benefit from the funding included the Tahunanui cycle network connection, and the Nelson East to Matai path, the NZ Transport Agency said.

Nelson City councillor and chair of the regional transport committee Mike Rutledge said the announcement matched the Nelson council’s plans well.

‘‘It’s still very very top-line. There will be detail coming out in the next few weeks, but from what I can see it is very well aligned with what [the committee] put into our regional land transport plan,’’ he said.

Rutledge said there were many key council projects included in the NZTA announcement, including cycling, public transport, and the detailed business case for the Southern Link and Rocks Rd walking and cycling project.

‘‘The work that the committee and council did to very quickly work on our plans to get them aligned with the new GPS [Government Policy Statement for transport] has paid dividends, and NZTA have endorsed what we’ve done.’’

In terms of public transport, investment will go towards improving public transport ‘‘both within and between Nelson and Richmond’’, according to the NZTA report summary.

Tasman district will share the focus on public transport and cycling, as well as continued recovery work on State Highway 60 over Takaka Hill.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the $295m investment was to be used over the next three years to strengthen the transport system across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

Of the funding, $62 million was going towards ‘‘programmes and projects . . . that will save Kiwis’ lives by preventing accidents or reducing their severity’’, Twyford said.

‘‘This will include revamping intersections to stop collisions, installing median barriers in highrisk areas, and increasing road policing.’’

A further $7.5m will go towards public transport, $4.3m to walking and cycling projects, and $128m for local road development and upkeep.

‘‘State highways continue to receive the largest share of funding, with a total of $135 million,’’ Twyford said.