Reducing our emissions from road transport
Making it easier for everyone to move around in our growing city
Opening up our streets for people of all ages and abilities
Connecting the places where people want to go
Big changes are planned across the city for a low carbon future and to make sure there is enough good quality housing available for our growing population and generations to come.
These include a new draft District Plan, Let’s Get Wellington Moving’s proposals to build mass rapid transit between the city and Island Bay, and the development of Paneke Pōneke – our plan to develop a citywide network of safe biking and scooting routes over the next 10 years for all ages and abilities. This includes the important link between the south coast and city via The Parade, and through Berhampore and Newtown.
In November 2021, Councillors agreed in principle that they would like to make safety improvements on The Parade, subject to consultation, to complete the Island Bay section of the southern connection from the city to the south coast as part of the citywide bike network.
The expectation is that these changes will be in place until mass rapid transit facilities and stations are built, which could be 10 years away. The alternative option before Councillors was to build the agreed 2017 design at a cost of up to $14m, knowing it could be replaced by mass rapid transit (light rail or bendy buses).
We’re making a start on the city to Newtown section of the southern route from early 2022. The improvements we’re proposing for The Parade will complete the Island Bay section of the southern route.
We have some essential planned road resealing to do on The Parade in March/April and would like to take the opportunity to address concerns that have been raised through safety audits and by the community to make The Parade safer.
The community now has an opportunity to provide feedback on the street and parking changes (traffic resolutions) required to make these safety improvements.
These include:
In addition to the proposed safety improvements, the Council has agreed to make other improvements in the main shopping area. Our public space team will be in touch with businesses and others in the coming months to explore the possibilities.
We’re seeking feedback on whether we’ve got these proposed safety improvements quite right.
If there is something related to a change near your property that you think we should be aware of, please let us know as part of your feedback so we can adjust and fine-tune the detailed design.
We also want to hear from people who travel along The Parade by bike/scooter, on foot, on the bus or driving. We’re not asking whether there should be bike lanes on The Parade. The proposed changes are to improve things for all the different ways people use the street.
This is not a vote – your feedback will be considered alongside a whole range of other things.
Let us know what you think by 5pm, Sunday 13 February 2022.
As part of decisions made in June 2020 on the city’s Long-term Plan 2021-2031, Councillors voted to invest $226m in a safe, connected citywide bike network.
They requested a new bike network plan (Paneke Pōneke) to get changes made more quickly – to make things safer and easier for more people of all ages and abilities to bike (or scoot), and to reduce transport carbon emissions as part of meeting the city’s climate action goals.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving has confirmed there are four options for future mass rapid transit routes, all of which include The Parade. This will bring significant changes in future years.
In November 2021, Councillors agreed in principle that they would like to make safety improvements on The Parade, subject to consultation, to complete the Island Bay section of the southern connection from the city to the south coast as part of the citywide bike network.
The expectation is that these changes will be in place until mass rapid transit facilities and stations are built, which could be 10 years away. The alternative option before Councillors was to build the agreed 2017 design at a cost of up to $14m, knowing it could be replaced by mass rapid transit (light rail or bendy buses).
The bike lanes on The Parade were installed in 2015 following community engagement and consultation.
Options for improving the bike lanes and street layout were developed with the community in 2016-2017 (Love the Bay) and a substantial redesign was agreed to by Councillors in 2017. During the design work that followed, detailed topographic information showed that rebuilding the bike paths at footpath level along the length of The Parade, which was a key feature of the 2017 design, was going to be challenging and exceed the available budget.
The improvements being proposed now will help achieve the Love the Bay objectives, which were developed in collaboration with the community to shape the 2017 design brief for The Parade. These changes will improve safety, make the layout cohesive and intuitive for all users, and contribute to a pleasant and welcoming environment.
The project was put on hold due to the funding shortfall. It did not qualify for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency funding unless it was planned and built as part of the whole southern connection between the city and Island Bay.
In 2018 and 2019, we engaged with people in Mt Cook, Newtown and Berhampore on options for this section of the city to south coast route. This work was also put on hold due to uncertainties over funding and possible mass rapid transit routes (work that was happening as part of Let’s Get Wellington Moving).
Transforming this route is part of:
It’s also a step towards better walking, biking and public transport networks.
Transport is Aotearoa’s fastest growing source of carbon emissions and 34% of Wellington City’s carbon footprint – so changing the way we move is by far the most effective way we can personally take action.
Read detailed documents about this project including traffic resolutions and plans
Read moreRead about work that happened on this project in the past
Read moreView image sliders that compare the current layout with the proposed changes
Read more