Project costs nearly double
Solving conflicting demands for safer cycle lanes and on-street parking on College St is likely to add more than $1 million to what was expected to be a $1.3m project.
The Palmerston North City Council has been asked to approve revised plans for the 4.6-kilometre road which is a busy vehicle thoroughfare and is planned to be a priority cycle route.
The council has spent several months attempting to resolve objections to its plans through the Awapuni shopping centre, which prompted a backlash from businesses and residents over the loss of parking. The work was put on hold while more consultation was carried out.
The latest version of that part of the plan adopts local wishes to create a slow-speed area through the shopping centre, five on-street parks indented into the berm to retain the buffer for the cycle lane, and parking time limits.
The total cost of the solutions, including the indented parks at $15,000 apiece, has been estimated at $91,500.
But it is the cost of providing indented parking along the balance of the route that will take the lion’s share of the extra $1m staff are asking the council to approve.
Council transport and infrastructure manager Robert van Bentum said earlier proposals had provoked concern about the loss of on-street parking.
For the section from Botanical Rd to Batt St, the reaction had been so strong against plans to eliminate on-street parking altogether that a public meeting was called in May 2018 and the work was put on hold.
The latest proposal for that section involves removing the existing 82 car parks, and creating 38 indented parks at a total cost of $570,000.
The section from Batt St to Victoria Ave passed College St Normal School, where parking demand peaked at 3pm, school pick-up time.
The council is likely to have to pay the extra $1m itself.
The original proposal to reduce the number of parking spaces from 153 to 55 would be softened by installation of 19 indented parks, costing $285,000.
Between Panako Place and Botanical Rd, the 72 parks would be reduced to 13, supplemented by another 10 indented parks at a cost of $150,000.
The section from Maxwells Line to Nairn Cres, near the shopping centre, would see 115 parks reduced to 46, more than double the observed demand, so no extra spending was needed.
Van Bentum said the council was likely to have to pay the extra $1m itself, as there was currently no NZ Transport Agency subsidy available for on-street parking.
Residents and cyclists are expected to attend this morning’s council meeting when the councillors decide whether to approve the plans and extra spending.