Investment in walking and cycling continues
Walking and cycling are big topics at the moment, with active transport recognised as playing a significant role in transitioning to a sustainable transport system and meeting our climate goals.
We’re seeing unprecedented commitment to walking and cycling related projects that re-imagine streets to make them more people friendly. Healthy Families Hutt Valley is continuing to work with our Hutt City Council colleagues so that health and wellbeing outcomes feature alongside climate and congestion reduction goals.
The recently released National Land Transport Plan lays out the investment. For the Hutt Valley this includes:
$7 million for the Eastern Bays Shared path
$21 million for walking and cycling relating to the RiverLink project including a dedicated walking and cycling bridge over Te Awa Kairangi awa
$179 million for the Nga Urunga to Pito-One project connecting the Hutt Valley to Wellington
In July, Hutt City Council opened the Beltway Cycleway; an important part of the Lower Hutt Cycleway network extending from Taitā to Waterloo. The Beltway Cycleway provides a completely separated cycleway creating a safe and enjoyable route to travel up and down the valley. It has been heavily used during the recent lockdown and continues to grow in popularity for commuter, recreational riders and families.
The Knights Road Connection Project has also reached an important milestone. Kick started by the Waka Kotahi Innovating Streets for People fund, the project aimed to create more safe and people-friendly journeys down Knights Road. Knights Road is a key connector route between the Beltway Cycleway, public transport, schools and the Lower Hutt CBD, and eventually to RiverLink. In July, Hutt City Council endorsed the decision for the trial layout to remain in place while options for a permanent design are investigated as well as agreeing to bring forward work to create a better connection from the Beltway to Knights Road.
We’re on the way to creating a connected network of active transport routes in Lower Hutt which is vital to enabling our people to be more active more often. We know that those people who are more active in their daily lives are happier and healthier and we want to see that being a reality for our whole hapori whānui.