ACT Party unveils six-point transport infrastructure plan

The ACT Party has unveiled a six-point transport policy aimed at reducing infrastructure costs and prioritizing road maintenance and safety. Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court stated the plan seeks to deliver more transport infrastructure from existing funding by implementing tighter controls on how revenue from road users is spent.

The proposed reforms include requiring major projects to publish the lowest-cost safe option alongside preferred designs, prioritizing ‘no-frills, fit-for-purpose’ engineering, and ensuring maintenance funding is protected from being redirected to new capital projects. The party also intends to require funded transport capacity plans in major growth areas to ensure roads are ready before congestion occurs.

A key component of the policy involves restricting the use of the National Land Transport Fund for ‘non-functional art, monuments, and decorative amenity features’ that do not improve journey speed, safety, or reliability. While NZTA estimates that roadside artwork accounts for between 0.2 percent and 1.4 percent of road costs, ACT argues that such spending should be eliminated to address the cost-of-living crisis.