Road safety ideas wanted by city council

Palmerston North City Council is seeking feedback on how it can make part of Featherston St safer.

In the past 10 years there have been 270 crashes, including a fatality, in the stretch between Botanical Rd and North St. Pedestrians and people on bikes were involved in 29 of these crashes.

Waka Kotahi is funding pedestrian improvements and a new or upgraded cycleway in this area. Between Palmerston North Boys’ High and Central Normal schools, it will fund 90 per cent as part of its Streets for People project, and the other portion receives 51 per cent funding.

Pedestrian improvements and a cycleway are just some elements of making the area safer though and the council is also keen to hear feedback on how else it could improve safety, chief infrastructure officer Sarah Sinclair says.

Improvements could be made to the streetscape (such as planting trees, street art or seating around shops) or other things like changing parking restrictions.

“Over the last month we’ve been talking to businesses and schools on the street and now we want to hear from residents, commuters and others who use the street regularly and know the street best,” Sinclair says.

“This is a good time to think about what is important for you on the street and whether you have any concerns about safety. Do you feel safe walking along our footpaths, biking on the existing cycleway, or navigating the street in your vehicle? How could your experience be improved?”

You can share your thoughts by filling out an online form at pncc.govt. nz/featherston by December 9 or by going to a drop-in session:

Highbury Flea Market, Sunday, 8am to noon

Palmerston North Boys’ High School (Ian Colquhoun Hall), December 1, 5.30pm to 7pm

Fly Palmy Arena 2 Foyer, December 5, 5.30pm to 7pm

Once this feedback is received, the council will work on a design and another city-wide feedback period.

“We’re expecting this to happen in early 2023 and will keep you updated when this takes place. A trial will occur for the portion between Boys’ High and Central Normal schools,” Sinclair says. “The design will not include planter boxes.”

The Featherston St cycleway was identified as one of the top priorities in the council’s 2019 Urban Cycle Network Masterplan, which aims to provide a network of safe cycleways to encourage more people to choose to ride bikes.

This project also forms part of the Palmerston North Integrated Transport Initiative, a 30-year plan and a package of transport projects to improve freight efficiency over time and make the urban area of the city safer.