Grey Street Linear Park not included in Government's cuts

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Funding to instal a dual-lane cycleway, along with speed chicanes on Grey Street, is unaffected by Government moves to halt a range of cycle projects.

Last week Transport Minister Simeon Brown wrote to local councils urging an end to projects.

However, a New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi spokesman said the Streets for People programme, which includes the Grey Street Linear Park concept, was funded out of the Waka Kotahi National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) 2021-24 with a funding assistance rate of up to 90 percent.

“The NLTF is guided by the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport 2021. Thirteen councils across Aotearoa are working on 19 projects that align with their city or district’s strategic plans including walking, cycling, public transport and road safety improvements.

“We are aware a letter was sent from the Minister of Transport to some councils last week which included reference to stopping further work on the development of urban VKT reduction programmes funded by the Climate Emergency Response Fund, which is unrelated to the Streets for People programme.

“At this stage the programme is continuing, with plans in place for safety improvements at Tolaga Bay on State Highway 35 and on Grey Street.”

The Streets for People programme funds two projects here.

The first is the Grey Street Linear Park, led by Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust in partnership with Gisborne District Council, and involves a number of changes to the street. It will comprise a courtesy crossing just before the Childers Road roundabout and just before the Kahutia Street intersection, pavement art, a new pedestrian crossing and a chicane intended as another safe crossing point on Grey Street, but also to act as a traffic-calming device.

A raised table pedestrian crossing at the roundabout will provide a safe place for people to cross the road.

A dual direction cycleway, separated from the road by concrete spacers, will run the length of the road to the Childers Road roundabout.

The Kahutia Street intersection, will be converted into a left-hand-turn-only intersection with the installation of concrete planters to separate the thoroughfare.

Installation of the new layout will start on a trial basis on January 15 and take two weeks to complete.

The second project, led by the Uawa Hei Huarahi Oranga steering group in partnership with the Gisborne District Council, aims to improve safety on State Highway 35 in the Uawa/Tolaga Bay township and shopping area which has a heavy flow of passenger vehicles and logging trucks.

The project aims to slow vehicle speeds, provide additional crossing facilities for pedestrians and connect the northern cycleway through the town centre, and will align with the planned southern cycle trail leading to the historic Tolaga Bay Wharf.

It will also improve the look and feel of the shopping area through planter boxes and shaded areas to sit and rest, as well as displaying work by local artists and stories of the area’s heritage.