He tāone e hāngai ana ki te anamata
A city fit for the future
Wellington is expected to grow by up to 80,000 people over the next 30 years, which will dramatically affect the way our city look, feels, and operates. If we continue at our current rate of car use, our transport network will grind to a halt.
Our goal is to be a city where people of all ages and abilities can safely and easily get around on foot, by bike, scooter or public transport and be less reliant on cars.
Te ara
The route
This project includes 2 improvements for pedestrians, 1 change to improve bus journey times, 2 upgrades to bus stops, and some other changes to make things safer for everyone.
It will see a section of the city’s agreed bike network improved from the current bike lane trial – providing a safer connection from the Central City through to Brooklyn shops.
Project at a glance
The new 2025 design
Two pedestrian improvements on Ohiro Rd:
- one crossing near the intersection with Brooklyn Rd and the other crossing between the two bus stops on Ohiro Rd.
Three bus improvements:
- the two close stops at the top of the hill on Ohiro Rd will be merged into one bus stop.
- the new design will also improve the cycle and pedestrian facility at the bus stop near Bidwill St and at the stop near Washington Avenue.
Cycling
- the section of Brooklyn Rd between upper Nairn Street and Ohiro Rd will have concrete separators where possible, and the lower section of Brooklyn Rd between lower Nairn St and upper Nairn St will retain the low-lying horizontal rubber separator.
- the Ohiro Rd cycleway will be a painted buffer, and some parking will be removed in the narrow section of upper Ohiro Rd (going north) near the intersection with Cleveland St to accommodate this.
Parking
- new car parks in Helen St to replace the removal of car parks on Ohiro Rd mean there is still parking spaces available for car users in the area.
How we got here
In 2023, we asked the community for feedback on possible permanent changes to the trail bike lane. Since then, there has been a change in funding, so the 2025 new permanent design includes fewer features than originally planned. It is important to know that the details of the new design are subject to the completion of maintenance and resealing works happening this summer prior to the cycleway works starting.
In late 2023, Councillors approved a Traffic Resolution for bike, bus and walking improvements for Brooklyn connections following community consultation in July 2023. These changes were approved through the Regulatory Committee and allowed upgrades to the existing transitional route which was installed in June 2021.
The Brooklyn Connections project had an original budget of $6.73 million for permanent upgrades. The project was part of the Bike Network Programme and was meant to get 51% funding from NZTA. After changes to national transport funding in 2024, NZTA funding was not committed to this project. In addition, the 2024 Wellington City Council Long-Term Plan amendment further reduced funding for bike network projects.
The 2025 design has been reduced in scope so it can be achieved with a smaller budget, while aiming to achieve as many of the project objectives and benefits as possible.
Following the evaluation of the trial bike lane, Councillors agreed at the 25 August 2021 meeting of Pūroro Āmua, the Planning and Environment Committee, to consult with the community on more permanent changes, extend the bike route and make the area safer for pedestrians.
Since then, the Council has also consulted on Paneke Pōneke, the bike network plan for the city.
The network was approved in March 2022. Brooklyn Road, Ohiro Road and Cleveland Street are all in the bike network plan.
This consultation is the opportunity to comment on the street changes proposed to make the trial lane permanent and the associated traffic resolutions required. The street changes include an improved bike lane up Brooklyn hill, a safer bike connection to the shops, and making other changes which will make things easier and safer for people who walk, take the bus and drive in this area.
In mid-2021, with funding from Waka Kotahi's Innovating Streets Programme, we installed a temporary uphill bike/scooter lane, from Nairn Street to Ohiro Rd, to trial a safer way for people to get from the central city to Brooklyn.
The intention was always to plan more permanent street changes once people had an opportunity to experience the trial layout and provide feedback.