Thursday 3 September 2015

Committee recommends approval of two Central City transport projects

Christchurch City Council meets next week to consider the Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee’s recommendation to approve the scheme designs for two Central City transport projects which deliver a suite of improvements for all kinds of travel.

These two schemes include sections of Hagley Avenue, St Asaph, Tuam, Antigua and Montreal streets near Christchurch Hospital; and sections of Durham Street / Cambridge Terrace.

The Committee also asked staff to provide more information on the transport project proposed for Manchester Street particularly about the staff recommendation to locate the proposed bus super stop on Manchester Street either side of the Worcester Street intersection. This additional information will be considered by the full Council at its 10 September meeting.

Jointly led by the Council and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), this is the third group of Central City transport projects needed to deliver An Accessible City – the transport chapter of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan. An Accessible City was prepared by CERA in partnership with the Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, the New Zealand Transport Agency and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee Chair, Councillor Phil Clearwater says, "The aim of these schemes is to reflect the road use hierarchy in the transport chapter of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan: An Accessible City, enhance the urban environment and balance the requirements of all road users. The Committee must also carefully consider the views and preferences of people with an interest in the decision.

"We have received well-thought-out submissions that have prompted us to take a closer look at aspects of these designs. We have made changes to the Hospital Corner and Durham Street / Cambridge Terrace scheme designs to deliver what we believe is a much-improved package of proposals.

"We have also received submissions on the proposed location of the Manchester Street bus super stop from adjacent property owners and heritage groups. At this stage, we do not believe we have enough detailed information on this in order to make a recommendation we are comfortable with. We have asked staff to provide this information to the Council for its 10 September meeting."

Feedback from community organisations on the Hospital Corner set of designs focused on concerns about the proposed shared cycleway and footpaths proposed on St Asaph and Antiqua streets not providing enough physical separation between pedestrians and cyclists for such a busy area.

Transport Infrastructure Rebuild Unit Manager Steffan Thomas says, "As a result of submissions we have significantly altered the design at Hospital Corner to introduce a greater degree of separation between pedestrians and cyclists, similar to a ‘Copenhagen-style’ cycle facility recently installed on Colombo Street. This will help manage the competing needs of cyclists and pedestrians and I trust this will be good news for people who were especially worried about that aspect of the plans.

Concern was also raised by cyclists and pedestrians about the proposed shared paths along the Durham Street / Cambridge Terrace corridor.

"Following discussions with key stakeholder groups, the project team has retained the shared paths within these two schemes as they are generally considered more appropriate in the context of Te Papa Ōtākaro /Avon River Precinct, where alternative route choices for pedestrians and cyclists are more readily available than at Hospital Corner," Mr Thomas says.

The Committee is also recommending the Council approve traffic control and parking restriction changes associated with the Hospital Corner and Durham Street / Cambridge Terrace projects. The resolutions associated with Manchester Street project will remain on the table until the 10 September Council meeting.

The CERA-led, Council-supported consultation on scheme designs for the three projects was undertaken from 28 April to 26 May 2015, with 102 submissions received.

To view key recommended proposed changes for each scheme as a result of feedback and further technical advice, visit www.ccc.govt.nz/AACtransportprojects

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