A report tabled to the regional transport committee outlined how a 2009-12 expenditure of more than $475 million was predicted to drop by about 16% to a forecast spend of about $395 million, for the period from 2012-15.
The figures outline the transport project budgets from Otago's six district and local authorities, and the New Zealand Transport Agency's state highway spend, which contribute to the overall regional land transport programme.
The figures were a realistic projection of the funding priorities for projects which local authorities have considered and outlined in the Otago regional transport strategy - a document which sets out a 30-year-vision, ratified by the ORC in August.
The transport committee and its members were in a better position to understand what projects were likely to gain funding approval from central government, given the recent completion of an initial programme outline for 2009-12, Mr Woodhead said.
During that time, a total of 77 transport projects around Otago had either been abandoned or suspended by local authorities, many because of funding difficulties.
Of the 197 transport projects initially proposed under the 2009-22 transport programme, 91 have been completed, a report from ORC policy and planning director Fraser McRae detailed.
Mr McRae told the committee 21 projects had been carried over to the programme's next three-year funding projection, while most of the 44 suspended projects were awaiting the preliminary completion of a separate component before they could go ahead.
The number of abandoned projects, 33, or about 16%, during the past three years, was disappointing, he said.
Committee member Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden said councils had to be realistic about funding for transport projects.
The number of abandoned projects was a reality check for the whole region, she said.
Ms van Uden questioned why the Dunedin City Council had not provided reasons why it had abandoned transport projects, when other local authorities had managed to.
Mr Woodhead said the number of dropped projects "[struck] at the integrity of the process".
"We need to be realistic and pragmatic about what can be achieved.
[Councils] need to make decisions based on what is achievable, because that is what will attract funding, not a wish list," he said.
Council staff needed to bear those comments in mind when setting their respective transport programmes, he said.
Mr McRae said the council figures were an indication of transport expenditure priorities for the next three years and these could change.
"These are very much a snapshot of a work in progress," Mr McRae said.
There has also been a significant downwards shift in expenditure forecast by the NZTA for its State Highway network throughout Otago.
NZTA southern director Jim Harland said projected expenditure for new and improved infrastructure for state highways for the 2012-15 period would drop more than $20 million.
The decrease from an expenditure of almost $60 million to a forecast figure of about $39 million reflects the completion of major projects, such as the $20 million stage 1 upgrade to SH1 and the Caversham bypass.
A 2009-12 expenditure of state highway renewals of about $42 million is now forecast to drop to about $36 million from the NZTA.
The projected expenditure on transport by local authorities falls within six broad categories, including programmes for local roads, such as renewals (resealing programmes), maintenance and operation programmes, and new and improved infrastructure projects.
Walking and cycling projects are also managed by respective local authorities around Otago.
The NZTA attracts the bulk of its funding for state highway programmes. The ORC is responsible for public transport services and infrastructure across the region.
