Greenroads
The Transport Agency is using Greenroads® as a tool to assess the sustainability performance of high-value state highway improvement projects. Greenroads assessment and certification applies to the detailed design and construction stage of a project.
A recommendation to certify a project to Greenroads will be made at the detailed business case stage for state highway improvement projects with an estimated capital value over $15 million that will be delivered via design and construction, alliance or public-private-partnership delivery models.
If a selected project is consented, the Transport Agency will determine the appropriate Greenroads certification level and include that in the tender documents for detailed design and construction. During the procurement phase, project teams tendering for projects subject to Greenroads will be required to provide evidence that they can achieve the desired certification level.
Successful tenderers will be contractually required to seek Greenroads assessment during the detailed design and construction stage and certification by project opening.
Why Greenroads?
The Transport Agency delivers environmental and social outcomes as part of the design, construction and operation of state highway projects. These outcomes are delivered as part of the Agency’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility, and to address opportunities or risks raised during the public engagement and approvals processes.
By using Greenroads, the Transport Agency builds its understanding of how state highway environmental, social and economic outcomes rate against an international framework and can communicate these outcomes to interested parties. Greenroads allows project teams to be recognised for the outcomes they achieve. The Transport Agency is using Greenroads to understand how committed outcomes rate on an international scale, not to seek additional outcomes.
What is Greenroads?
Greenroads is an international sustainability rating system for roadway design and construction, which is applicable to any road construction project.
It provides a collection of sustainability best practices and awards points for achievement of credits. Four certification levels (ratings) are available depending upon the total score - bronze, silver, gold or evergreen.
A Greenroads rating is sought by the project team and certified by an independent third party, providing a benchmark against other roading projects in New Zealand and internationally.
For more information please visit the Greenroads website or the Highways information portal .
Greenroads certification
To date the following state highway projects are seeking (or are required to seek) Greenroads certification.
Contact us
Email us at environment@nzta.govt.nz to stay informed on Greenroads progress in the Transport Agency , or for more information.
What is Greenroads?
Greenroads is an international sustainability rating system for roadway design and construction, which is applicable to any road construction project.
It provides a collection of sustainability best practices and it awards points for achievement of credits. Four certification levels (ratings) are available depending upon the total score.
The sustainability rating is certified by an independent third party, providing a benchmark against other roading projects in New Zealand and internationally.
Find out more on the Greenroads website
Potential value for New Zealand’s state highway projects
Our state highway network is critical to New Zealand’s economic and social prosperity. However, while delivering positive outcomes, our state highway projects may also create negative environmental and social impacts due to consumption of resources and energy, effects on human health and natural and cultural environments and changes to amenity and accessibility.
We are reviewing the value of implementing Greenroads on our high-value capital projects. This allows us to demonstrate whether we are delivering acceptable environmental and social outcomes by providing a benchmark of our performance relative to our statutory approvals and also against international practice. Greenroads may also allow us to create value and cost savings by allowing greater opportunities for innovation in environmental performance.
Greenroads pilot project
We commissioned the Greenroads Foundation to complete a New Zealand Greenroads pilot project, assessing at a high level how five state highway improvement projects might perform within the Greenroads rating system. The assessments demonstrated that capital projects over at least $10 million in value are likely to be eligible for certification; with some projects demonstrating practical and economic opportunity to achieve at least bronze or silver level certification.
A pilot report on A-lined assessments completed on Transport Agency projects will be uploaded once available.
Next steps
We are currently testing the value of Greenroads implementation via our internal approval processes. Meanwhile the Wellington Gateway Partnership is required to achieve a silver Greenroads certification for the Transmission Gully project.
Find out more about Transmission Gully
Contact us
Email us at environment@nzta.govt.nz to stay informed on Greenroads progress in the Transport Agency , or for more information.