Big changes are being proposed for the Ōtūmoetai Peninsula to make it safer and easier for people to walk, cycle and catch a bus around their neighbourhoods and into the city centre.

New traffic lights at key intersections, separated cycleways for all ages and abilities, bus priority measures and improved infrastructure are all included in a new design unveiled by Tauranga City Council's Accessible Streets for Ōtūmoetai project on the back of community consultation last year.

The changes will affect people living in Bureta, Ōtūmoetai, Matua, Cherrywood, Brookfield, Bellevue and Judea, as well as Waihi Road, Chapel Street and Cameron Road towards Harington Street, with residents now invited to provide feedback on the early design.

Tauranga City Council Director of Transport Brendan Bisley says the project aims to make roads safer for everyone and provide a variety of transport choices.

'By 2050 the Western Bay of Plenty will be home to an estimated 258,000 residents which will create one million extra trips on our transport network every year. There is already significant congestion in places, and because our city is built on narrow peninsulas there isn't room to build more roads.

'A large number of local trips on the Ōtūmoetai Peninsula could be taken by foot, bus, bike or scooter, so we need to provide safe, healthy and environmentally friendly transport options to help manage future congestion. While we recognise that most people will still travel by car, we also need to plan ahead to give our community better options”

Tauranga is one of the country's most car-reliant cities. However, local residents have previously asked for better options so they can safely walk or cycle to places such as shops, parks, schools and workplaces.

The project aims to make the peninsula, including Waihi Road and Chapel Street, safer for everyone. Photo: Tauranga City Council/Supplied.

Over the past five years, 112 people have been injured along the roads where changes are proposed, including people who were driving, cycling and walking. 'The community will benefit from this project by improving safety for everyone,” Brendan says.

'We have designed separated cycleways for all ages and abilities, safer intersections and pedestrian crossings, changes to road layouts to improve the safety of our streets, particularly around schools, improved bus stops and bus shelters as well as improved bus journey times at key locations. The early design has also carefully considered impacts on traffic flow as well as other impacts on local residents and parking has been retained as much as possible.”

Public consultation is now open until 12 July 2023. Local residents are invited to have their say online at https://letstalk.tauranga.govt.nz/projects/accessible-streets-for-otumoetai-peninsula.

Community drop-in sessions will also be held on Tuesday, 4 July and Wednesday, 5 July at Atrium Café on Ōtūmoetai Rd (12pm-2pm and 4pm-6.30pm) so people can view the design in person and chat to the project team.

'This community feedback will then be considered to develop a business case,” Brendan explains. 'We will also undertake an economic evaluation to determine if the money invested would return the benefits we anticipate. This project will only go ahead if the business case is considered feasible and approved for funding by Council and central government.”