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NZTA update: Moving to safer, more efficient and effective TTM

We’ve started our step-change to more efficient and effective TTM by working on specific actions with our TTM suppliers and contractors who are very supportive. Together we’ve made a great start, but we have more work to do. The actions we’re working on with our contractors will focus on safety, value for money and minimising disruption to people’s journeys.

We’re committed to improve our customer’s experience, so we’ve focused on issues frustrating them as they travel through worksites – we want TTM setups that are safe, easy to understand and prompt removal of road cones and equipment as soon as they are no longer needed. With our contractors, we’ve also put a continuous improvement plan in place ahead of our next busy maintenance and renewals season starting in spring. We’ll continue to regularly monitor TTM setups at all worksites across the network for maintenance activities and capital projects.

At a wider transport system level, we’re in the process of adopting the risk-based approach to TTM on our state highway network. Pilots continue to test different work activities like cyclic maintenance, emergency response, and processes at worksites in Northland, Horowhenua Manawatu, Marlborough, and North Canterbury. July marks the official end of the ‘pilots’ and we’re expecting the NZGTTM will become the standard approach to TTM on our state highways with some new capital contracts starting this month. Data and insights from the pilots are being analysed, and we’ll share this with the sector once this work is finalised.

An updated state highway assurance programme is being trialled over the winter in time for launching it in spring in time for the 2024/25 summer maintenance season. As part of this, TTM reporting will now be integrated into NZTA’s monthly contractor H&S reporting. TTM and roadside safety reporting will be integrated into NZTA’s standard H&S processes, covering both routine and event reporting, including:

  • Improving and expanding reporting of worker-related incidents and other road user events.
  • Capturing more detailed TTM incident data for better analysis.

From 1 August 2024, new questions and requirements will be introduced to key suppliers and contractors to report TTM-related events. These changes, developed collaboratively, include four additional questions for significant roadside/TTM events. This aligns with our Contractor Expectations for HS&W reporting.

Working with the Road Efficiency Group, we’re preparing to start quarterly reporting of TTM metrics as required by all RCAs – the first report due in October will include:

  • TTM as a percentage cost of NLTP expenditure (per quarter).
  • Number of TTM site inspections completed.
  • Number or percentage of sites inspected that were redundant.

Further information on the processes and reporting methodology will be shared with the sector in due course.

The GPS also includes a direction to reduce TTM expenditure. To help with this, NZTA expects that long-term cost efficiencies will come from the risk-based approach driving fit for purpose TTM setups, and a significant uplift in high quality renewal activities and integrated delivery, over a sustained period. This will over-time reduce the requirement for smaller fixes and low-risk activities, therefore helping to reduce TTM and costs overall.

Read more about how we’re rolling out the risk-based approach to TTM on the NZTA website.

Vanessa Browne National Manager Programmes & Standards, NZTA