Transport Choices: Connecting Carterton

Schools Link will improve road safety for kids who are already cycling to and from school, and will make cycling a more appealing option for everyone. Feedback from schools and our community has supported this. That means fewer cars on our roads, especially at the start and end of the school day. We are working with schools and Wairarapa Road Safety Council to encourage and educate kids and their families on the benefits of cycling or using active transport.

We have considered the whole-of-life cost in designs to ensure maintenance costs are kept as low as possible. Maintenance schedules and costs will be included in the annual operating roading budget.

Our community and schools told us cycling along SH2 can feel unsafe. Connecting kids with their schools is important, and making SH2 safer for walking and cycling helps this.

This project is funded by Waka Kotahi through their Transport Choices programme. Transport Choices is part of the government’s Climate Emergency Response Programme, formed out of the Emissions Reduction Plan and Budget 2022 to help make it easier for people to participate in a low carbon transport system.

This project has been funded and supported by Waka Kotahi as part of its Transport Choices Programme. The project will need to get final sign off by them prior to being implemented. Other routes have already been investigated and were unable to proceed.

Bidirectional [two-way ]cycleways allow more space. Riders can often ride two abreast or in small groups. Physical separation can offer a level of safety and security for riders. They take up less space, as a buffer/separator is only required on one side.

We accept vehicles are used to get between towns in Wairarapa. But most of central Carterton is accessible by bike, and our terrain is welcoming for walking and cycling. We have wide streets, slow traffic and our township is relatively compact.

The cycleways have been reviewed by expert engineers at Waka Kotahi. The standards are high, and we would be unable to get funding if the cycleways were not built to the recommended standard. The plan is subject to a Safety System Audit, and it formalises and improves the paths for walkers and cyclists.

We accept vehicles are used to get between towns in Wairarapa. But most of central Carterton is accessible by bike, and our terrain is welcoming for walking and cycling. We have wide streets, slow traffic and our township is relatively compact.

There will be fewer parks available on the eastern side of High St South and some adjoining streets in the affected section, Affected businesses have been contacted and alternatives are easily available in these spaces.

We accept vehicles are used to get between towns in Wairarapa. But most of central Carterton is accessible by bike, and our terrain is welcoming for walking and cycling. We have wide streets, slow traffic and our township is relatively compact.

Carterton District Council applied to a contestable fund for three projects. The Transport Choices programme provisionally awarded us $918,720 for cycleways and $180,000 for bike storage facilities at schools.

No worries. Visit cdc.govt.nz/haveyoursay and put a question through our Connecting Carterton survey, or email connectingcarterton@cdc.govt.nz and we will do our best to get back to you.