Carless Golden Mile up for public discussion
Plans to remove private vehicles from the city’s Golden Mile and reduce Wellington’s central city speed limits to 30kmh are back on the table.
They are two of the early objectives of the $6.4 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) programme and were put out for public feedback yesterday.
LGWM programme director Andrew Body said central Wellington had the highest number of pedestrians in the country, with about 4500 pedestrians using Featherston St alone on a typical weekday morning.
‘‘The central city is one of our fastest-growing residential neighbourhoods, and home to 40 per cent of the region’s jobs.
‘‘We want to make it more pleasant and liveable, so people feel safer walking and biking,’’ Body said.
‘‘If people need to drive into the central city, we want to ensure they’re going at a speed that reflects the liveable city people told us they want.’’
Speed limits on main streets (the waterfront quays, Cable and Wakefield streets, and Kent/Cambridge Terrace) would remain at 50kmh, Body said.
‘‘It’s important different speed zones are easy for road users to understand and follow. That’s why we’re proposing 30kmh on city streets and 50kmh on the main roads through the city.’’
It’s not the first time the proposal has been put forward.
It was first raised in 2011, and put back on the agenda again in 2014 when it was voted down by Wellington City councillors after gaining approval from two transport committees.
Councillors and others who opposed the idea said the lower speed limit was not necessary outside business hours. The proposal was put back on the table again in 2016 but failed to get approval.
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the proposal should have been approved in 2014 and he was confident it would be this time.
The council is one of three partners in the LGMW project, along with the New Zealand Transport Agency and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
‘‘I think the council backing will be even stronger. Moves have been made towards next steps on making walking, cycling and public transport safer.
‘‘That’s been a pretty consistent message from councillors and wouldbe councillors over the past few months.’’
Although still subject to a business case, the Golden Mile proposal is likely to include the removal of private vehicles from most, if not all, of that stretch of road in favour of public transport, walking and cycling.
The Golden Mile runs along Lambton Quay, Willis St, Manners St and Courtenay Place, and has more than 80 car parks.
Feedback will be open until December 15.