Council Adopts Transport Plan

22 November 2012

Today’s Christchurch City Council meeting adopted the Christchurch Transport Strategic Plan, the Council’s 30-year vision to develop the city’s transport network.

The Plan aims to keep Christchurch moving forward by providing transport choices to connect people and places, by offering improved access and choice; creating safe, healthy and liveable communities; supporting economic vitality; and creating opportunities for environmental enhancements.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said adoption of the Plan was a significant step for the Council as it would ensure Christchurch recovered from the earthquakes and developed an effective transport network.

“The rebuild provides a rare opportunity for Christchurch to transform the way the city moves and how our transport system performs.”

While the Plan acknowledges the 2010-2011 earthquakes have had a severe impact on the effective functioning of the city’s transport system and there is the need for significant investment during the next decade to repair and recover the transport infrastructure, it is recognised there will be opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the infrastructure during this time.

“We will have the ability to improve travel choice by creating safe environments, easy pedestrian crossings and an attractive public transport infrastructure.

“At the same time, we have the opportunity to strengthen regional connections to the Central City, build increased resilience to our infrastructure and deliver reliable freight connections to the ports and freight hubs.”

More than 40 submissions were received on the draft Plan, which was released for consultation in July. Many of the comments related to concern about the timing of implementation and funding for cycling.

These concerns have been addressed through prioritising the development of a business case for cycling and walking as one of the first implementation actions, the development of a Christchurch-specific Cycle Design Guidelines and by noting the importance of implementing active and public transport through appropriate transitional projects.

The Christchurch Strategic Transport Plan will be available online at: www.ccc.govt.nz/christchurchtransportplan from tomorrow, Friday 23 November.

ENDS

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