Testing a new active transport pathway
Hutt City Council wanted to design a safe, attractive temporary pathway that would encourage active transport along Knights Road between Waterloo Station and the Lower Hutt CBD. The trial pathway was positioned to create better connections between the Lower Hutt CBD, local schools, homes and workplaces, and the public transport and active transport facilities at Waterloo Station.
The Council wanted to develop a road layout that would ensure the road continued to work well for visitors and residents, as well as services such as public transport, rubbish collection, and street sweeping. A road layout that achieves these outcomes could then be applied on key routes to connect the network of cycleways and shared pathways in Lower Hutt to each other and to the places people need to go.
We used temporary trials to test solutions that were co-designed with Hutt City residents and businesses who regularly use the spaces. By using temporary trials, we were able to:
- test new ideas cheaply
- involve a wide range of people from the community in decisions
- watch what happened in real time and adjust interventions as needed
- educate the public on changes and why they were occurring
- inspire and enable positive changes.
We designed and built a website for the project to provide a central place for the community to access the latest project information and to house a digital survey/engagement tool. We used various print and digital mechanisms to gather feedback and drive people to the online platform, including mailbox consultation drops, public signage, and social media campaigns.
This high-profile project was delivered to a very high standard, as required by the Local Government Act. It was crucial that we consulted and engaged with the community correctly, and that we were accurate and transparent in everything we did.
The project led to permanent changes to the Waterloo intersection. Council also committed to general repairs and safety improvements that were raised by an independent safety review and the community during the engagement. This work contributed to Council’s decision to increase investment in active transport initiatives, including provision for bikes and faster wheels.
