Changes for St Asaph Street recommended

Christchurch City Council meets next week to consider the Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee’s recommendation to approve traffic changes for St Asaph Street that include a separated cycleway on the south side of the street.

The scheme is part of travel network changes supporting improved traffic flow and better cycling facilities in the Central City and is part of the An Accessible City programme of works. This is the transport chapter of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan prepared by CERA in partnership with Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury and the NZ Transport Agency.

Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee Chair, Councillor Phil Clearwater says, "One aim of this project is to provide a separated cycleway between Ferry Road and Antigua Street which will connect with other cycleways.

"An Accessible City" travel network changes try to balance the requirements of all road users – so this scheme balances the delivery of a cycleway with maintaining the efficiency of St Asaph Street as a priority car and bus route which will continue to carry west-bound traffic via a one-way system.

"Key features for St Asaph Street include a better cycle network, an improved one-way street network and an enhanced street environment.

"The Committee has carefully considered responses from the public and businesses who are affected by the proposed changes. We received some detailed and thoughtful feedback and as a result we have proposed some amendments to the original scheme," says Cr Clearwater.

Thirty nine submissions were received covering a range of topics. These included on-street car parking losses, the provision and type of facilities for cyclists, the removal of the two-way traffic section between Madras Street and Ferry Road, the proposed removal of the exit from High Street to St Asaph Street and traffic speed.

As a result of consultation some changes were made to the proposal including:
• Additional car parking spaces, more time restricted parking spaces, changes to and additional taxi stands
• Additional road markings for pedestrians and cyclists at the new bus stop layouts
• Providing space for a new tram terminus at the south end of High Street
• Planting a number of native tī kōuka (cabbage) trees in the proposed landscaped area at the High Street intersection.

A proposal to change the speed to 30 kilometres per hour along St Asaph Street, or parts of it, will need to be considered as part of a separate consultation as there is a different process to follow regarding road speeds.

Public consultation on the proposed scheme took place from mid-September to early October 2015.

Further information about all the An Accessible City transport projects is available online at www.ccc.govt.nz/AACtransportprojects

General information about the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and An Accessible City can be found at www.ccdu.govt.nz/the-plan

ENDS

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