Cycleways, bus lanes in $350m transport package

Eleven new bus priority lanes and 242km of cycleways (including for e-bikes) feature in the $350 million Transport Choices package to be distributed across 46 Kiwi councils.

“The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport infrastructure system to make it safer, greener, and more efficient for now and future generations to come,” says transport minister Michael Wood in announcing the Transport Choices package 2022-24.

“Our Government’s commitment to infrastructure investment continues to play a critical part in securing New Zealand’s economy and supporting communities to thrive,” he adds.

Wood explains the package will support more people to choose different ways of getting to where they need to go safely and enable more kids to get around under their own steam.

“The package will fund additional bus stops, bus prioritisation lanes, new cycleways, improvements to transport infrastructure around schools and improved walking access for neighbourhoods,” he says, pointing out it will also help meet targets in the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) released in May this year.

“Delivering on projects such as these helps address our current infrastructure deficit while also meeting future needs caused by population growth and climate change.”

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will now work with successful councils in a two-stage process.

The first stage is to further refine and scope project proposals, with construction beginning on some projects by June 2023.

The Transport Choices package funding will help Hamilton City Council deliver on its transport strategy focusing on travel choices, emission reductions and reduced reliance on private vehicles, says deputy mayor Angela O’Leary.

Tauranga City Council Commission chair Anne Tolley says the funding will complement other initiatives underway and help deliver safer, healthier and more climate-friendly ways of moving around the city.

Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell says it will help deliver better transport options for children and the wider community to walk, cycle and catch buses.

New Plymouth welcomes the move to invest in the city’s cycling infrastructure, while the Horizons Regional Council says the funding injection will enhance public transport infrastructure service improvements in Palmerston North and Whanganui next year.

Hutt City mayor Campbell Barry says the new funding will reduce the burden on ratepayers as important transport projects are progressed around Lower Hutt.

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger says the funding will help get the ball rolling on more transport choices, especially in the Linwood area, while Dunedin also welcomes the funding which will improve road safety there and provide more sustainable travel choices.

Auckland Transport intends enhancing the north-western busway and its feeder routes to improve travel times.