Skip to main content

New Zealand launches draft ITS plan

The New Zealand Government has released a draft intelligent transport systems action plan for public consultation. The plan, announced by by Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee, is open for consultation until 17 January 2014. It and sets out the government’s strategic plans takes a high-level, multimodal multi-agency approach to the introduction of new ITS technologies in New Zealand over the next four years. New Zealand has some specific challenges to the introduction of intelligent transport systems in
November 21, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The New Zealand Government has released a draft intelligent transport systems action plan for public consultation.  The plan, announced by by Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee, is open for consultation until 17 January 2014.  It and sets out the government’s strategic plans takes a high-level, multimodal multi-agency approach to the introduction of new ITS technologies in New Zealand over the next four years.

New Zealand has some specific challenges to the introduction of intelligent transport systems including low population density, distance from international markets, the long narrow form of the country and the limited number of alternative routes should state highways or the main trunk line be unavailable.

“Intelligent transport systems have the potential to transform the operation of all modes of transport, but it is important that is introduced in a coordinated way so as to get the greatest benefit for New Zealand.

“I have asked the Ministry of Transport to lead the consultation to confirm that the government’s strategic aims are clear and that they will identify and remove barriers to the introduction of intelligent transport systems,” says Brownlee.

Brownlee says New Zealand already has some intelligent transport systems technologies in use. “Traffic control centres in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch rely heavily on technology to gather information on traffic conditions, adjust traffic signals and provide real-time information for travellers in order to operate the network efficiently.

“These deliver real-time congestion information to road users, and are increasing the carrying capacity of the Auckland motorway system by using motorway ramp signals.

“Vehicle manufacturers are also introducing advanced driver assistance systems such as self-parking cars and blind spot warning systems.”

Related Content

  • Western Australia releases ITS master plan
    October 1, 2014
    Main Roads Western Australia has released its transport blue print to address advances in technology and rapid population growth. The Main Roads Intelligent Transport Systems Master Plan is set to guide Main Roads on a strategic journey to ‘smart roads, safe journeys’ by 2020. Developed through an extensive consultation process involving stakeholder workshops and industry submissions, the ITS Master Plan provides a strategic plan to deal with key challenges such as congestion, big data and automated and
  • New cycle & bus routes for Wellington 
    March 7, 2022
    New Zealand capital authorities have agreed development of safe, connected bike network
  • US Cities push for smarter poles
    June 25, 2018
    US Cities The need to connect existing infrastructure has led various US transit authorities into imaginative alleyways: David Crawford examines some new roles for street furniture. US cities are vying with each other in developing schemes to create a new generation of connected places. Their strategies include taking advantage of their streetlight poles’ height and ubiquity to give them new roles in supporting intelligent nodes. They are now being equipped for collecting real-time data on key transport
  • Cost benefit goes under the microscope
    August 21, 2017
    Conventional cost benefit analysis (CBA) of plans for urban smart mobility initiatives needs serious rethinking, according to a recently-completed European study. The three-year Evidence Project (the Project) emerged in response to concerns about the availability and quality of documented research – including CBA – required to prove that investment in sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) can be economically beneficial. Covering 22 sectors ranging from electric vehicles to shared spaces, the Project clai