Cycling, walking boosted in strategy
Transport plan aims to reduce car use
A30-year “big picture” transport strategy has been formally adopted by Waipa¯ District Council. The strategy was agreed following a six-week consultation period this year. More than 170 submissions were received, traversing issues ranging from climate change to public transport and the desire for a third river crossing in Cambridge.
The strategy has an emphasis on decreasing reliance on private vehicles, either through improved public transport or by encouraging safe cycling and walking. This reflects government policy on reducing carbon emissions.
Regional policies and plans were also taken into account with service delivery group manager Dawn Inglis emphasising Waipa¯ does not “exist in a bubble”.
“When planning long-term for transport we need to be aware of what our neighbours are doing and what the Government is planning and is prepared to support,” Inglis said. “This is a big picture strategy that clearly sets out a direction of travel and will ensure investment decisions are taken within an agreed framework.”
The strategy has confirmed the need for a third bridge in Cambridge, noting money was set aside last year for a business case to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The business case will make a pitch for government funding to help pay for it.
Key transport priorities for the district include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in more travel options including growing public transport use through extended services and frequency.
There will continue to be an emphasis on road safety and maintaining rural roads.
Key transport projects for Te Awamutu include the proposed Te Awamutu Western Arterial.
In 2006 council recognised the need for an alternative traffic bypass away from the town centre with a designation for a Te Awamutu Western Arterial around the western edge of the town.
Council has recently completed a business case to review the designation and whether it still achieves its purpose and provides an affordable outcome.
The review was completed in October last year and identified the following recommendations:
Improving the existing transport network — amenity, traffic management and safety improvements, walking and cycling (urban mobility network), and Mutu Street formalised as an alternative strategic corridor for vehicles that aren’t stopping in the town centre;
Retaining only the southern section of the designation, which can be used in the future to enable access to the growth zones in the southern section;
Continue to develop the next stage of this business case to further investigate the Western Corridor Alignment including an alternative northern section, which is proposed to make use of the existing Station Road Corridor and include an upgrade
to the Rewi Street Railway Crossing Overbridge.
Prioritising urban mobility networks in Te Awamutu and Kihikihi
The Urban Mobility Business Case has a 37km network of planned investment of walking and cycling routes across Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi connecting key destinations such as schools and shops.
In Te Awamutu it incudes an extension of the Kihikihi pathway further into the central business district, linking to Te Awamutu Intermediate School, and then linking to the Events
Centre / Library and then Te Awamutu College.
To achieve the full benefits of the urban mobility networks and enhance users’ experiences, the council will also invest in local safety improvements (e.g. speed reductions) and proactively manage parking around town centres and schools to promote more walking and cycling.
There are a number of benefits to investing in urban mobility networks:
Many people both live and work in Cambridge and Te Awamutu. That means many daily short car trips could be done by walking or cycling, 19 per cent of vehicle trips are 3km
or less, and 32 per cent of vehicle trips are 6km or less;
The compact size and relatively flat geography of Te Awamutu makes the town ideal for more walking and cycling trips;
And 90 per cent of homes in Te Awamutu are within 20 minutes walking distance and 10 minutes cycling distance from the town centre.
The 2022-2052 Waipa¯ Transport Strategy will be reviewed in five years and is now available online at waipadc.govt.nz/ transportstrategy