NEWS RELEASE

4 March 2011

Lower speed limits for Oriental Bay and the east?

Wellington City Council is consulting with the community on proposals to lower traffic speed limits in Oriental Bay, on the seaside route around the northern end of Te Motu Kairangi/Miramar Peninsula and in the Miramar, Strathmore Park and Seatoun shopping areas.

The proposal is to lower the speed limit from 50kmh to 30kmh in the shopping areas and from 50kmh to 40kmh in Oriental Bay and on the coastal road between the Miramar Cutting and Awa Road at Worser Bay.

The Council believes the reduced speed limits will make the busy and popular harbourside routes and the shopping areas safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists – however it wants to hear the community’s views first.

“Lower speeds create a safer environment for all road users in busy suburban shopping areas,” says Councillor Bryan Pepperell, the Council’s Walking, Cycling, Motorcycling and Safety Portfolio Leader. “People in local areas recognise the risks and for years we have had residents, local communities, schools, businesses, Police and residents’ associations asking us to reduce the speed limits through these areas.

“We adopted a proposal to lower speed limits in 21 suburban shopping areas in 2009, with the aim of reducing the speed limit to 30kmh over four years. Since then we’ve progressively introduced lower speed limits in five shopping areas after consulting with local residents, businesses and our key stakeholders.”

As well as speed reductions in the three shopping areas, a speed reduction is proposed on Oriental Parade (and side streets) between Cable Street and Carlton Gore Road Road and on the Miramar Peninsula coastal route which comprises Shelly Bay Road, Massey Road and Karaka Bay Road.

To reinforce the proposed lower speed limit on the Miramar Peninsula coastal route we propose to install eight sets of speed cushions, some of them removable. These are similar to speed humps but allow larger vehicles to straddle them, and cyclists to avoid the humps.

“This proposal reflects the large number of walkers and cyclists in these areas and improves safety for all road users particularly on the peninsula route where there is no footpath or cycle lane,” says Cr Pepperell.

The proposals are available online and in brochures people can pick up from the Miramar and Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) libraries or the Central Library. They include maps and recent vehicle and crash data.

People can let the Council know what they think of the proposals by filling out the online submission form in the ‘public input section’ at www.Wellington.govt.nz or on the back of the brochures and sending or posting it by 5pm Friday 1 April.

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