Convention centre to suck up city car parks
More than 20 central city car parks will be scrubbed to make way for Wellington’s new convention and exhibition centre, the city council has confirmed.
Councillors agreed in a video meeting yesterday to remove 21 parking spaces on Cable and Wakefield streets to provide access to the facility when it opens in 2023.
A motorbike parking area on Cable St will also be removed.
The car parks will be scratched to allow for traffic lightcontrolled pedestrian crossings on both streets, as well as a widened footpath in front of the complex on Cable St and a loading zone for visitors on Wakefield St.
Cable St will also feature a new vehicle crossing, with eight parking spaces to be lost. Thirteen car parks will go on Wakefield St, with an existing loading bay to be relocated.
City councillor Jenny Condie, who presented the paper, said as well as ensuring safe pedestrian and vehicle access to the centre, the changes would provide an improved pedestrian link between the waterfront and Courtenay Place.
The facility will have no onsite parking, with the expectation that most people will use public transport or taxis.
Buses will be able to use an existing parking area at Te Papa.
Councillors agreed unanimously to the changes, including a late amendment to look into relocating the Cable St motorbike parking area.
Push for temporary cycleways
The council also pushed ahead with plans for temporary changes such as pop-up cycleways to help ease public transport demand.
Seven projects were put forward for approval under the New Zealand Transport Agency’s innovating streets fund, which aims to promote physical distancing by supporting active transport modes such as cycling and walking.
The projects will cost about $2 million, with NZTA to fund 90 per cent of the cost.
They include pop-up cycle lanes on Featherston St; uphill on Brooklyn Rd; Evans Bay Pde between Greta Point and Cobham Drive; and Onepu Rd between Leonie Gill Pathway and Rongotai Rd.
Also proposed are a bus lane and protected cycle lane on Victoria St; a one-way shared path between Shelly Bay and Scorching Bay; and a widened footpath on Stout St near Wellington Railway Station.
Deputy Mayor Sarah Free said the changes were welcomed by public transport provider Metlink, which would have significantly less space on buses because of distancing rules.
Councillors Sean Rush and Diane Calvert voted against the proposal.
Skateboard and e-scooters on roads
Councillors unanimously agreed to support NZTA’s proposal to allow e-scooter and skateboard riders to use on-road cycle lanes.
The proposal is part of an NZTA package addressing safety concerns over the use of devices like e-scooters and skateboards on footpaths. It suggests riders of those devices — other than accompanied children — should use on-road cycle lanes where possible, and travel no faster than 15kmh on footpaths.
Councillor Iona Pannett wanted to reduce the speed limit to 10kmh, but councillors voted the idea down.
Meanwhile, the council has reminded people free parking under lockdown ends Tuesday.