Transportation Strategy for Consultation
The Wakatipu community is being asked for input on the draft Wakatipu Transportation Strategy, available from today (Monday).
This is now stage three of the consultation as part of the Wakatipu Transportation Study, a joint initiative involving Queenstown Lakes District Council, Transit New Zealand and the Otago Regional Council.
“Delivering this strategy is critical to the future of the Wakatipu Basin,†Queenstown Lakes District Council transportation manager Denis Mander said.
The process of developing a strategy began with community feedback to highlight areas of concern, which in turn became an options paper.
“We then sought feedback on the options which has inputted directly into the draft strategy. Now we are calling on the community to get involved again, look at what is being proposed and give us feedback,†Mr Mander said.
Transit New Zealand regional transportation manager David McGonigal said having a strong strategy in place was vital for ensuring increasing traffic volumes on the area’s roads could be managed.
“Without the strategy, in particular the passenger transport elements, the Wakatipu area will experience severe traffic congestion,†Mr McGonigal said.
That congestion would bring with it problems around accessibility, air quality and other environmental factors that none of the study partners wants to see the area having to deal with, he said.
“The draft strategy highlights the importance of introducing an improved passenger transport service and enhanced parking as soon as practical, while getting on with the investigation and design work for changes to the road network,†Mr Mander said.
Ultimately the success of the strategy would be determined by acceptance of the passenger transport, cycling and walking improvements by the local community, as they came on stream, he said.
Highlights of the draft strategy include:
The introduction of an enhanced, high frequency passenger transport network.
The operation of bus priority measures on Frankton Road.
A series of roading improvements such as improved intersections, and additional link roads in Frankton and Kelvin Heights.
Further investigation into the protection of a future new eastern route to link Frankton Flats and the Queenstown CBD.
A ferry service between Kelvin Heights and the Queenstown CBD.
Changes to the management of parking and signage, with a focus on improving access for short stay parkers.
Park and ride facilities for Frankton, Gorge Road and Kelvin Heights.
Travel demand management, to make people aware of alternatives to using their car.
“The strategy will affect everybody living, working and visiting in the area so it’s vital that the community does take the time to find out more,†Mr Mander said.
Information sessions had been scheduled to allow residents to find out more about the proposed draft strategy.
Two sessions would be held at the Queenstown Primary School on Wednesday May 9 beginning at 3.30pm and 5.30pm in the school hall. A third ‘drop-in’ session would be held at the Queenstown Event Centre on Wednesday May 16 from 3-7pm.
Comment on the draft strategy would now be open through until June 1. The draft strategy is available in an information document that would be widely available from today at the Council, Transit and ORC offices and on their websites.
For further information please contact:
Denis Mander 03 441 0499 or David McGonigal 03 477 8527
This is now stage three of the consultation as part of the Wakatipu Transportation Study, a joint initiative involving Queenstown Lakes District Council, Transit New Zealand and the Otago Regional Council.
“Delivering this strategy is critical to the future of the Wakatipu Basin,†Queenstown Lakes District Council transportation manager Denis Mander said.
The process of developing a strategy began with community feedback to highlight areas of concern, which in turn became an options paper.
“We then sought feedback on the options which has inputted directly into the draft strategy. Now we are calling on the community to get involved again, look at what is being proposed and give us feedback,†Mr Mander said.
Transit New Zealand regional transportation manager David McGonigal said having a strong strategy in place was vital for ensuring increasing traffic volumes on the area’s roads could be managed.
“Without the strategy, in particular the passenger transport elements, the Wakatipu area will experience severe traffic congestion,†Mr McGonigal said.
That congestion would bring with it problems around accessibility, air quality and other environmental factors that none of the study partners wants to see the area having to deal with, he said.
“The draft strategy highlights the importance of introducing an improved passenger transport service and enhanced parking as soon as practical, while getting on with the investigation and design work for changes to the road network,†Mr Mander said.
Ultimately the success of the strategy would be determined by acceptance of the passenger transport, cycling and walking improvements by the local community, as they came on stream, he said.
Highlights of the draft strategy include:
The introduction of an enhanced, high frequency passenger transport network.
The operation of bus priority measures on Frankton Road.
A series of roading improvements such as improved intersections, and additional link roads in Frankton and Kelvin Heights.
Further investigation into the protection of a future new eastern route to link Frankton Flats and the Queenstown CBD.
A ferry service between Kelvin Heights and the Queenstown CBD.
Changes to the management of parking and signage, with a focus on improving access for short stay parkers.
Park and ride facilities for Frankton, Gorge Road and Kelvin Heights.
Travel demand management, to make people aware of alternatives to using their car.
“The strategy will affect everybody living, working and visiting in the area so it’s vital that the community does take the time to find out more,†Mr Mander said.
Information sessions had been scheduled to allow residents to find out more about the proposed draft strategy.
Two sessions would be held at the Queenstown Primary School on Wednesday May 9 beginning at 3.30pm and 5.30pm in the school hall. A third ‘drop-in’ session would be held at the Queenstown Event Centre on Wednesday May 16 from 3-7pm.
Comment on the draft strategy would now be open through until June 1. The draft strategy is available in an information document that would be widely available from today at the Council, Transit and ORC offices and on their websites.
For further information please contact:
Denis Mander 03 441 0499 or David McGonigal 03 477 8527