Submission
Proposed Regional Land Transport Programme 2009-2012
To Regional Transport Committee
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Freepost Authority Number 3156
PO Box 11646, Manners Street
Wellington 6142
From Cycle Aware Wellington
PO Box 27 120
Wellington 6141
Contact person: Illona Keenan
Telephone number: 971 5602
E-mail address: illona@wildlands.co.nz
Date: 18 April 2008
Yes, we would like to present our submission in person
Introduction
Who is Cycle Aware Wellington?
We are a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving conditions for existing cyclists and encouraging more people to bike more often. We are the local advocacy group for cyclists who use their bikes as a means of transport. Since our inception in 1994, we have worked constructively with Greater Wellington on a wide variety of projects.
1 Support the projects in the RLTP 2009-12
We support the first and second priority activities.
We would like to stress the importance of including active transport modes in the design stages of all roading works as it is a lot cheaper to design for and build safer cycling and pedestrian facilities while doing other work than having to retrofit roads that have been made unsafe for active modes during modifications.
However we are concerned with the prioritisation of the third priority projects.
1. Absence of the Great Harbour Way as a project.
The Great Harbour Way is a key part of Wellington's cycling and pedestrian network. The Great Harbour Way is a cycling and walking route around Wellington Harbour. (http://www.greatharbourway.org.nz/). It needs to be included in the Regional Land Transport Programme.
Decision sought
Include the Great Harbour Way as a project and ensure that any roading works undertaken in or around the proposed route of the Great Harbour Way include in their design and implementation phase provision of cycle and pedestrian facilities that will dove tail into the Great Harbour Way concept.
2. Of particular concern is the ranking of roading improvements before public transport improvements.
GW 10 Year Plan states “Trips made using public transport mean fewer private car trips, resulting in lower levels of congestion, reduced environmental impacts and fewer injury-accidents” therefore public transport projects such as projects 3 Rail Network improvements, 6 Station upgrades, 13 Bus improvements, 16 Rail electronic ticketing should be of the highest priority and come before other roading projects.
Decision sought
Readjust the priorities so that public transport improvements are rated higher than other roading projects.
3. We are opposed to the proposal to build a flyover at the Basin Reserve, and we are opposed to the flyover being listed as the number two transport priority for the region. We are also opposed to any suggestion of a grade separation solution at the Basin Reserve.
The vaste majority of submitters opposed the flyover through the Ngauranga to Airport Corridor Study submission process, and we are concerned that grade separation will not enhance the environment for pedestrians and cyclists while having a detrimental impact on Wellington’s iconic cricket ground and important open space. We are very concerned about the lack of public consultation on this project and that this project was approved before its effects were properly considered and before a full design was presented for public consideration. We are especially concerned that Councillors have approved the funding for this project with no clear idea of what the impact on the Basin Reserve and environs will be.
Decision sought
Drop this project from the Regional Land Transport Programme and that alternatives to the proposed flyover be presented by the Council for public consideration as a matter of urgency.
I do however support the initiative to make improvements to Adelaide Road. The Council’s plan to develop the area as a mixed use area is a good one and I agree that the various modes of transport need to be accommodated. However this should not result in the defacement of the Basin Reserve, as is the current plan.
Proposed Regional Land Transport Programme 2009-2012
To Regional Transport Committee
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Freepost Authority Number 3156
PO Box 11646, Manners Street
Wellington 6142
From Cycle Aware Wellington
PO Box 27 120
Wellington 6141
Contact person: Illona Keenan
Telephone number: 971 5602
E-mail address: illona@wildlands.co.nz
Date: 18 April 2008
Yes, we would like to present our submission in person
Introduction
Who is Cycle Aware Wellington?
We are a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving conditions for existing cyclists and encouraging more people to bike more often. We are the local advocacy group for cyclists who use their bikes as a means of transport. Since our inception in 1994, we have worked constructively with Greater Wellington on a wide variety of projects.
1 Support the projects in the RLTP 2009-12
We support the first and second priority activities.
We would like to stress the importance of including active transport modes in the design stages of all roading works as it is a lot cheaper to design for and build safer cycling and pedestrian facilities while doing other work than having to retrofit roads that have been made unsafe for active modes during modifications.
However we are concerned with the prioritisation of the third priority projects.
1. Absence of the Great Harbour Way as a project.
The Great Harbour Way is a key part of Wellington's cycling and pedestrian network. The Great Harbour Way is a cycling and walking route around Wellington Harbour. (http://www.greatharbourway.org.nz/). It needs to be included in the Regional Land Transport Programme.
Decision sought
Include the Great Harbour Way as a project and ensure that any roading works undertaken in or around the proposed route of the Great Harbour Way include in their design and implementation phase provision of cycle and pedestrian facilities that will dove tail into the Great Harbour Way concept.
2. Of particular concern is the ranking of roading improvements before public transport improvements.
GW 10 Year Plan states “Trips made using public transport mean fewer private car trips, resulting in lower levels of congestion, reduced environmental impacts and fewer injury-accidents” therefore public transport projects such as projects 3 Rail Network improvements, 6 Station upgrades, 13 Bus improvements, 16 Rail electronic ticketing should be of the highest priority and come before other roading projects.
Decision sought
Readjust the priorities so that public transport improvements are rated higher than other roading projects.
3. We are opposed to the proposal to build a flyover at the Basin Reserve, and we are opposed to the flyover being listed as the number two transport priority for the region. We are also opposed to any suggestion of a grade separation solution at the Basin Reserve.
The vaste majority of submitters opposed the flyover through the Ngauranga to Airport Corridor Study submission process, and we are concerned that grade separation will not enhance the environment for pedestrians and cyclists while having a detrimental impact on Wellington’s iconic cricket ground and important open space. We are very concerned about the lack of public consultation on this project and that this project was approved before its effects were properly considered and before a full design was presented for public consideration. We are especially concerned that Councillors have approved the funding for this project with no clear idea of what the impact on the Basin Reserve and environs will be.
Decision sought
Drop this project from the Regional Land Transport Programme and that alternatives to the proposed flyover be presented by the Council for public consideration as a matter of urgency.
I do however support the initiative to make improvements to Adelaide Road. The Council’s plan to develop the area as a mixed use area is a good one and I agree that the various modes of transport need to be accommodated. However this should not result in the defacement of the Basin Reserve, as is the current plan.
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