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The City Council approves two projects which include new raised pedestrian crossings, bus route improvements, and safer bike routes
December 18, 2023 | Staff Reporter | New Zealand | Community Management
The New Zealand capital city of Wellington has announced the addition of Berhampore and Karori to its sustainable transport network, opening up climate-friendly transport options for thousands more people. Wellington City Council’s Koata HÄtepe Regulatory Processes Committee has given the go ahead for two projects which include new raised pedestrian crossings, bus route improvements, and a further 7.4km of safer bike routes.
Together, Karori and Berhampore have seven schools, so these changes will make it easier for thousands of young people to get to school independently. Many students also travel to high schools in the city and will be able to use the new routes, as will city commuters and many others living in these areas.
The council reports there are areas where it is seeing an increase in development so enabling more transport choices now can prevent already busy streets grinding to a halt in the future. Also, reallocating street space for cyclists, walkers and bus users is crucial to supporting growing neighbourhoods and creating healthy, liveable streets for its children and families.
Safe Option
“Wellingtonians have long asked for greener transport options that are better for the climate. This work ensures that the commitments I made during the campaign to develop a full bike network and take climate action happens,” said Tory Whanau, Mayor of Wellington. “We know that when you give people safer options to get around, they use them. This gets more people out of cars and helps reduce congestion. Over the past year, the number of cycling trips has increased by 46% on the Newtown to city route, and by around 30% on the Botanic Garden ki PaekÄkÄ to city route.”
In Berhampore and Newtown, the changes will fill the gap between the Island Bay and Newtown to city bike lanes, and complete the safe bike route between the south coast and city. The changes include new street layouts on Riddiford, Rintoul, and Luxford Streets, Adelaide Road, and the northern end of the Parade.
The designs were developed alongside a new parking scheme for Newtown and Berhampore. The parking scheme aims to better manage existing parking pressures as well as the impacts of car park removal planned as part of the Berhampore to Newtown walking, bike, and bus improvement project.
Robust Bike Network
The Karori Connections project includes changes on Glenmore Street, Chaytor Street, and Karori Road. Complementary routes already approved follow Birdwood Street, Friend Street, and South Karori Road
Across these suburbs there will be:
Work to install the first of these changes is expected to begin early 2024, with the first changes likely to be additional parking on Dover Street, and pedestrian improvements in both suburbs.
As part of Wellington’s bike network plan (Paneke PÅneke), improvements are already being installed to connect the city to suburbs including Newtown, Ngaio, Aro Valley, Thorndon and the Botanic Garden ki PaekÄkÄ, and Kilbirnie. Karori’s complementary routes were approved earlier in 2023, and work started in October. Work is also under way to complete the harbourside paths around Evans Bay Parade.
Designs are in development for routes in and around Miramar, Strathmore and to Seatoun, and to make more permanent improvements on the route to Brooklyn.
