infonews.co.nz
INDEX
GOVERNMENT

"Rebuild Christchurch" Encourages Public to Have Their Say on Transport Plan

Thursday 13 December 2012, 9:40AM

By RedPR

1222 views

CHRISTCHURCH

“The right direction for the rebuild and revitalisation of the CBD.”

That’s how Deon Swiggs of Rebuild Christchurch is describing the tone of feedback the organisation has received regarding the CCDU’s transport plan proposed for the city.

“Overwhelmingly the comments and engagement both on rebuildchristchurch.co.nz and in social media suggest most people feel the plan is in line with what they want for the city in the future,” he says.

Swiggs says to date the majority of feedback around the CCDU’s proposed plan has seen more than 20,000 people interact and contribute feedback relating to key areas of the transport plan. However, he says, there are still areas about which people have questions.

“One of these is the future of bus lanes. Before the earthquakes, there were around 40 bus routes around Christchurch. The proposed plan suggests having seven core routes but with a shorter wait time due to more buses being available,” he says.

Rebuild Christchurch says feedback also suggests people like the idea of slower traffic, pedestrians being made a priority and more cycle and bus lanes.

“We would encourage members of the public to look at the plan and contribute to the feedback the CCDU is wanting,” Deon Swiggs says. “This is a major issue and will be an important part of the rebuild and recovery of our city.”

The plan, which can be found on the Christchurch Central Development (CCDU) website details what residents can expect to see on the streets of Christchurch in the future.

Swiggs highlights some of the details people may be particularly interested in including how cyclists could travel in a road lane specifically for them instead of the current white line and green cycle area.

There are also proposals to replace the white line with either another kerb or a rumble strip (road surface that makes a noise if car tyres move over it), thus creating a safer space between the cyclist and traffic. There’s been a proposed speed limit of 30km/hr for areas inside and close to the CBD which he says feedback suggests people feel this will create a safer area for pedestrians with some streets being classified as “pedestrian only.”

For more information regarding the plan please see the CCDU website, ccdu.govt.nz. Comments on the plan close at 5pm on Friday, February 1st  2013.

For interview please contact Deon Swiggs 0275794447 or deon@rebuildchristchurch.co.nz

About Rebuild Christchurch: www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz

The Rebuild Christchurch Foundation was established to support and bring together the communities of Christchurch and Canterbury following the 2010/11 earthquakes.