In 2003 Government passed the Land Transport Management Act and published its New Zealand Transport Strategy. These initiatives were heralded as a new way of thinking about transportation infrastructure investment. In particular, this signalled a departure away from the singular cost-benefit driven decision making process into a new multiple objective decision making framework. This paper examines the application of the Land Transport Management Act to the Western Corridor Transportation Study. The study process is described and the implications of the Land Transport Management Act on the study process. The lessons learned in this exercise are highlighted. The question is posed as to whether this is really a “brave new world” or simply government’s legislation catching up to what transport planners have been doing for years. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213716.
Abstract