Twenty eight transport projects have been given a green light to support safer, greener and healthier travel options that will help reduce transport emissions in Hamilton Kirikiriroa.
Hamilton City Council (on 7 March) approved a final list of climate-friendly projects that will receive significant funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The projects are small to medium transport improvements across the city that include rail level crossing upgrades, bus stop upgrades and new walking and cycling connections.
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Angela O’Leary, said that the Council’s transport strategy, Access Hamilton, had a strong focus on improving safety and connectivity between suburbs as well as reducing emissions and pollution.
“A central part of Access Hamilton’s vision for Hamilton is for a low-emission transport system that everyone feels safe to use. Travel in our city should be a joy, not a chore. Walking, cycling and public transport upgrades are a key part of our strategy to make the city more open and accessible for more people,” she said.
“The same projects that make cities better for people to live in are those that positively contribute to the Government’s and Hamilton’s climate change objectives.”
Councillors specifically asked to keep a close eye over the detail of 16 of projects which are a combination of those costing more than $1.5 million or in an area of particular interest including projects on the Western Rail Trail and Bader Street.
Council’s Public Transport and Urban Mobility Manager, Martin Parkes, said “Our goal is to fix unsafe and difficult parts along key travel routes to make them more accessible for people who walk, bus and bike.”
The funding comes from the Transport Choices fund, part of the Government’s Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which was made available to all councils across New Zealand in 2022. The Transport Agency’s contribution is $33.2 million, with Council contributing an additional $3.8 million to bring the total package of projects to $37 million. The funding was approved by Council on 3 February 2023. Council approved the final list of projects today.
CERF projects are required to be completed by 30 June 2024. Parkes said that while it was a tight timeframe, community consultation would take priority.
“Now that Council has approved the final list of projects, our first priority will be to consult with businesses and residents in each area as the projects develop,” he said.
“It looks like a long list but we’ve done a fair amount of planning already to get to this point. Even if some of these projects seem small they’re essential parts of the larger task of making Hamilton a better place to live,” said Parkes.
The Government published its Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) in May 2022. One of the key actions in the Plan is for New Zealand to reduce its reliance on cars and support people to walk, cycle, and use public transport. Projects that would help achieve this were those that improved the reach, frequency, and quality of public transport, increasing support for walking and cycling, and creating safer, more attractive streets.
The projects will continue to be monitored by the Infrastructure and Transport Committee.
Strategic cycling and micromobility
- Bader Street connection to River Path, and Hospital
- Killarney Road – SH1C Greenwood Street to Western Rail Trail (WRT)
- Gallagher Drive and Kahikatea Drive
- Heaphy Terrace – Boundary Road to Brooklyn Road
- Pedestrian crossing on Brooklyn Road and cycle Lane development
- Claudelands Park Connection
- End of Trip Facilities - Bike and Scooter Parking
- Frankton East / Lake Domain to Western Rail Trail
- Level Crossing – Killarney Road
- Bike Parklets – Grey Street, St Andrews Shops, and Barton Street
- Western Rail Trail (WRT) to Frankton Station
- Rifle Range Road - SH23 (Massey Street) to Avalon Drive (SH1C)
- Hall Street/Mill Street - between Kent Street and Victoria Street
- Riverlea connections
- Killarney Road – Queens Avenue to Western Rail Trail
- Level crossings – Claudelands East and Brooklyn Road
Public transport
- Bus shelter replacements
- Thackeray Street bus stops
- Hukanui Road bus stops
- Horsham Downs Road
- Lake Road/Commerce Street roundabout
- Rotokauri Road / Baverstock Road bus stop and accessibility
- Hyde Avenue bus stop and accessibility
- Pembroke Street bus stops
- Anglesea Street (south) bus stop improvement
Walkable neighbourhoods
- Tristram Street/Anzac Parade – walking and cycling link from Palmerston to Clarence Street
- Hayes Paddock – crossing, bus stop improvement and intersection reconstruction. Bike parking and local interactive space.
- River Road footpath western side – Kirikiriroa Bridge to Comries Road