Our latest research paper with the Helen Clark Foundation calls for a more joined-up approach to regional transport planning.
'Rethinking Regional Connectivity' looks across road, rail, air and sea transport, asking how the system can better support regional economies, access to essential services and communities when disruption strikes.
Many regions rely on a small number of vulnerable connections, with few realistic alternatives when roads or other links fail. The paper argues that planning should begin with the outcomes a region needs, rather than treating each transport mode separately.
Key recommendations include:
- Plan for outcomes, not transport modes. Road, rail, aviation, ports, and coastal shipping should be compared against shared goals for productivity, resilience, access, and sustainability.
- Protect the lifelines that regions already rely on. A priority should be maintaining and strengthening existing lifeline roads, bridges, rail lines, ports, and airports.
- Build practical alternatives where they add value. Targeted planning in rail, regional aviation, ports, or coastal shipping can reduce the risk of communities becoming isolated.
- Make decisions as a connected system. More coordinated planning and governance would help deliver the best mix of transport options for each region and for the country.
