Russian traffic police officers stand guard during patrol on a road near venues at the Olympic Park near Sochi January 7, 2014. Russian forces went on combat alert in Sochi and tightened restrictions on access to the Black Sea resort on Tuesday as part of
IN PHOTO: Russian traffic police officers stand guard during patrol on a road near venues at the Olympic Park near Sochi January 7, 2014. Russian forces went on combat alert in Sochi and tightened restrictions on access to the Black Sea resort on Tuesday as part of measures by President Vladimir Putin to ensure security at next month's Winter Olympics. Reuters/Kazbek Basayev

The New Zealand government has announced an investment of $38.7 billion in land transport system in the next 10 years to strengthen regional networks, public transport, cycleways and to improve road maintenance. This was announced by Transport Minister Simon Bridges while releasing the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport. The minister remarked that investment in the transport sector drives economic development and productivity. The GPS 2015 outlines the agenda for improvement programmes for the next decade. The Scoop News report said the minister hoped the GPS 2015 will redefine the government's focus on economic growth and productivity, road safety and also in value for money investments.

Triennial Report

The GPS is issued by the Ministry of Transport every three years to communicate what it wants to achieve in land transport and earmarks funding for road policing, road safety promotion, state highways, local roads and public transport. The GPS 2015 envisages more than $3 billion allocation each year for the next 10 years in terms of road improvements, maintenance, public transport, road safety, walk ways and cycling.

According to the minister, the government is committed to the development of high quality connections between New Zealand's key areas of production, processing and export centres. For that purpose, GPS directs funding towards priority transport initiatives, including continuing the Roads of National Significance programme.

The government raised money for the project with higher petrol excise duty and road user charges. An additional $1 billion also comes from the contribution of local governments annually. The GPS 2015, for the "first time enters into direct funding towards regional improvements with allocation of $90 million a year, for non-urban areas to develop strategic networks," Bridges noted. The government expects the funds raised for land transport will be managed and invested effectively and deliver the right infrastructure and services to the right level and at the best cost. The New Zealand Transport Agency will be tasked to develop a National Land Transport Programme to give shape to the GPS before it comes into force on July 1, 2015.

Green Party Criticism

Meanwhile, the Green Party criticised the government for spending too much on land transport without strengthening public transport through urban rail development. "Spending over $33 billion on roads over the next 10 years while only investing $5 billion into alternatives like rail, bus rapid transit, walking and cycling is a huge misallocation of resources," said Transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter, reported TV Nz.