Travelling by car to Nelson city will take longer as Waka Kotahi priorities public transport and active travel in its traffic plan for the city.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is forging ahead with plans to add priority lanes to Rocks and Waimea Rds along with a slew of traffic lights through Nelson’s main traffic corridors.
Nelson City Council is being asked to endorse Waka Kotahi’s NZ Transport Agency’s preferred Nelson Future Access programme at a full council meeting on Thursday.
If they don’t it will likely mean no new investment from the agency into the city’s transport network.
The programme is designed to roll out over 30 years and aims to increase the availability of attractive walking and cycling paths as well as public transport options close to planned dense housing developments.
If endorsed, the business case will be put before the Waka Kotahi Board on 16 December for it to consider and approve the final business case. That would then allow works to begin in 2022, subject to funding approval.
Near term proposed Projects to be progressed over the next three years would include the installation of traffic lights at the Parkers Rd / Tāhunanui Dr intersection, Waimea Rd / Franklyn St intersection and the Motueka/Tipahi St intersection.
Traffic lights at Waimea Rd / Franklyn St will progress, even without council endorsement of the business case, as it is part of the Government’s ‘Road to Zero’ safety improvements for walking and cycling.
The programme also includes additional cycling facilities on Washington Rd and a cycling link between Railway Reserve and Waimea Rd. However, there has not yet been funding assigned from the National Land Transport Plan for these projects.
A new section of cycle path between the Motueka/Tipahi St and Hampden St/Waimea Rd intersections, including lights at the Motueka/Tipahi St intersection, would connect to a cycle route developed as part of council’s Innovating Streets trial. This would also combine to form the Victory to Waimea cycle route.
Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says council endorsement of the business case is essential for the programme to move forward and progress to be made.
“Council is encouraging the community to transition to more sustainable modes - choosing active and public transport more often for their journeys. To make progress in our region, investment and support will be required from Waka Kotahi for a variety of projects and programmes that support a move toward a more sustainable transport system."
She says the preferred programme offers a “real opportunity to make our waterfront more people focussed with a wide boulevard for walking and cycling proposed for Rocks Road”.
The reinstatement of the southbound clearway at the intersection of Bisley Ave and Rocks Rd within the next three years is also on the list to improve afternoon peak period traffic.
The lane would be a parking lane outside of these hours.
The southbound clearway was first instigated in 2007 but, by 2013, it was removed and turned into permanent parking after safety concerns were raised.
The business case recommends that this merge lane be made permanent following a safety review and “considerable concern” about safety from the community.
A speed review of Rocks Rd has also been recommended.
Staff recommend council endorses the business case after four years of work on the project.
Between four and 10 years from now, the programme would see a 5m wide walking and cycling facility on Rocks Rd/SH6.
This was first estimated to cost between $60-70m in June 2020 but has already doubled in cost and is now expected to cost between $140-166M.
If council does not endorse the proposal, the board will not consider the business case, which is the product of four years of work and engagement.
Waka Kotahi estimates it can shift 6-8 per cent of private vehicle trips to “lower carbon and healthier” forms of transport by 2048.
