Govt pumps $330m into NZ cycleways

NZME.

25 Jun, 2015 06:56 PM2 mins to read

Cycling is popular in Tauranga, which will reap the benefits of a multi-million dollar Government boost. Photo/file

A third of a billion dollars will be pumped into cycleways in cities and towns across New Zealand, the Transport Minister says.

Simon Bridges said today 41 cycleways will get funding in what he called the "biggest investment in cycling" in the country's history.

Local government authorities are chipping in, adding to cash from the Urban Cycleways Fund and the National Land Transport Fund.

From those three cities, Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington would between them receive cycleway funding of $208.72 million.

Outside the three largest cities, Bridges' hometown Tauranga would receive the biggest bonus, at $14.61m.

Palmerston North, Napier-Hastings and Dunedin would be the next biggest beneficiaries of money for accelerated projects.

Mr Bridges' ministry today explained $296.54m of new spending on "accelerated" cycleway projects.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said the new investment across 41 projects added to earlier spending on cycleways and was good news.

"Getting more New Zealanders cycling will relieve congestion during peak travel times, connect people with a greater range of employment, education and social opportunities and contribute to a more environmentally sustainable future for our transport network," the agency's chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said.

The agency said the total investment in cycling in New Zealand over the next three years was expected to be from $380m to $400m, delivering over 250km of new urban cycleways.

"The projects announced today will draw on the $90m remaining in the Urban Cycleways Fund, as well as $107m from the National Land Transport Fund, and $99m from local government," Mr Bridges said.

He said 13 cycleways were already announced in January and today's announcement built on that.