Next steps considered following public support of a safer and more attractive gateway to Wellington

Feedback from over 1,600 Wellingtonians through public engagement undertaken was considered as part of the business case, including the finding that 72% of the respondents agreed that an option for improvements for people walking, riding bikes, and using the bus in the area would have positive impact.     

“As well as providing for safe, lower carbon and more reliable travel choices for Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road, feedback strongly supported the creation of a more attractive street environment”, says Let’s Get Wellington Moving Acting Programme Director, David Dunlop.

“Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road is a busy route into and out of Wellington, and changes will help the city and region prepare for expected future growth and other important projects such as Te Ara Tupua cycleway (Ngauranga to Petone). The public have endorsed an option that will transform the way we move, work and visit this important gateway to the city.”

The preferred option includes:

• Part-time bus lanes
• A two-way cycle path
• Extending the Hutt Road cycle path
• A new raised central median on Hutt Road
• Intersection upgrades
• Pedestrian crossing improvements
• A review of speed limits
• A more attractive street environment for Thorndon Quay
• A roundabout on Aotea Quay.

“Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road is an important commuter route and retail area. It’s the busiest bus route outside the city centre and the busy cycle route with more than 10,000 bus passengers and up to 1,300 cyclists on an average weekday.”

“This is set to grow with an additional estimated 4,000 bus passengers and 2,700 cyclists by 2036.”

“If this business case is approved by our funding partners, we will be able to start working more closely with the business community on the detailed design work to really make Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road a great destination for Wellingtonians to shop, eat and do business.”

“This will mean further opportunities for people to provide input as designs are developed.”

“Some safety changes have already been made in Thorndon Quay, changing the angle parking to parallel parking, improving safety for cyclists and travel through the area for all users.” *

“There will be further discussions with businesses in the area around the different types and hours of parking needed.”

Construction on Aotea Quay is expected to start in late 2022 and in 2023 for Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road work. 

“We will continue working with the community, and we thank the business and retail community for their engagement to date with the project team, acknowledging the challenges many face with the current Covid settings,” says David Dunlop. 

*These parking changes were part of the Let’s Get Wellington Moving consultation and approved by Wellington City Council traffic resolution on 24 June 2021.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Let’s Get Wellington Moving Media Team on 021 199 4535.

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Notes for editors:

The consultation received 1613 submissions, with 72% of respondents saying the changes would have positive or very positive impacts for people walking, people in buses, and people on bikes.

62% of people agreed or strongly agreed that the proposed changes fit the vision of Let’s Get Wellington Moving to create a great harbour city, accessible to all, with attractive places, shared streets and efficient local and regional journeys.

Specific issues raised in the consultation included the design on the raised median on Hutt Road. The detailed design phase of the project will consider allowing extra breaks on the raised median to allow smaller vehicles to crossover or u-turn. Other issues raised were safety for vulnerable users such as small children, new bus stop locations near key destinations, and widening existing cycle paths.

The full engagement report is available here.

Artist impression looking towards the city of the proposed streetscape for Thorndon Quay

 

Artist impression looking towards the city of the proposed streetscapes for Hutt Road

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: Where does the Let’s Get Wellington Moving Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road Single Stage Business Case fit into the overall process?

A: Let’s Get Wellington Moving is submitting the Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road Single Stage Business Case for consideration by Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council at their Council Committee meetings, to be held on Thursday 24 February. Let’s Get Wellington Moving will also be seeking partner approval from the Waka Kotahi Board in March.

The Single Stage Business Case (SSBC) is to provide Let’s Get Wellington Moving funding partners with a preferred way forward and to seek approval to the release of funding for the project’s next phases of detailed design, which will include further engagement with stakeholders and the public.

Construction on Aotea Quay is expected to start in late 2022 and in 2023 for Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road work.

Q: What were the findings of the public engagement in 2021?

A: The Single Stage Business Case follows public engagement from May-June 2021 where the preferred option was agreed by 72% of respondents supporting improvements for people walking, riding bikes, and using the bus. 

Q: What were the other findings of the engagement?

A:

• We received 1,613 submissions on the proposal with 72% of the respondents saying that it was very important or important to make improvements for people walking, riding bikes and taking the bus on Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road. 62% of the respondents said that these changes aligned with the vision of Let’s Get Wellington Moving to create ‘a great harbour city, accessible to all, with attractive places, shared streets and efficient local and regional journeys.
• Walkers/pedestrians, people that used buses, bikes and e-scooters generally felt the proposed changes would have a positive impact. So did people that travel through and visit the area.
• Submissions from people that drove cars, trucks, motorcycles, lived in the area or had a disability had a mixed response about the impact of the proposed changes.
• Business owners and people that worked in the area felt that the changes would have a negative impact.

Q: Why didn’t you release the community engagement results before this Single Stage Business Case approval stage?

A: Time was needed to collate and analyse the considerable feedback from the public engagement process and for those results to inform the critical Single Business Case stage. The results of that engagement are available here and we are looking forward to further community engagement at the more detailed design stage once the business case is approved.   

Q: Some business and retail owners in the area have concerns about these developments, including the impact on the number of customer carparks. 

A: We acknowledge that providing for more transport choices and increased safety, including for those who walk, cycle, and use public transport, means change that will be initially challenging for those who work, live and own businesses in the area. 

Bolstered by the high public support we must now deliver on these improvements. We will now be working closely with the businesses and retail community on the crucial detailed design stage. This will be similar to our current collaborative work with business, retailers, residents, and others on the final design of Golden Mile project in the central city. 

Q: How will this project improve the Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road?

A: Many people use Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road. As one of the city's most important commuter routes, it’s the busiest bus route outside of the city centre and Wellington's busiest cycle route. On an average weekday, there are more than 10,000 bus passengers and up to 1,300 people on bikes.

New paths proposed as part of this project will complete the walking and biking link into the central city from Ngauranga. This project will also link to Te Ara Tupua, the planned shared path between Ngauranga and Petone, which will enable more people to walk and cycle between the Hutt Valley and Wellington. We’re looking at ways to:

• improve safety for everyone
• give buses more priority
• improve intersections and pedestrian crossings
• provide better walking and cycling facilities
• enhance the street environment to create attractive spaces
• maintain similar access to the Kaiwharawhara ferry terminal for passengers and freight.

Q: Why is the Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road Single Stage Business Case being presented to Councils meeting next week?

A: Let’s Get Wellington Moving is a joint initiative between partners Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The Single Stage Business Case needs approval from the Let’s Get Wellington Moving partners to move forward.

The Single Stage Business Case demonstrates the case for change and will show Councillors how Let’s Get Wellington Moving will progress the detailed design phase through to late 2022.

Q: When will the Single Stage Business Case be presented to the other partner, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency?

A: Let’s Get Wellington Moving will also be seeking partner approval of the Single Stage Business Case from the Waka Kotahi Board in March.

Q: What are the next steps?

A: Approval of the SSBC and funding will allow the project to move into the next phase of detailed design, and implementation funding will also be released for the construction of the Aotea Quay roundabout.

Let’s Get Wellington Moving will further engage with the community including businesses and local retailers, to ensure the design approach is collaborative with consideration to local businesses and retailers. This engagement will occur alongside technical analysis in the detailed design stage, and as the project moves into the delivery phase.

Trials of some design elements developed with the community through stakeholder and community engagement will help complete the detailed design. Following this, construction funding will be requested from the Wellington City Council, Greater Regional Wellington Council and Waka Kotahi partners. 

Q: When will this work start?

A: Construction is expected to start in late 2022 for Aotea Quay, and in 2023 for Thorndon Quay & Hutt Road.