Our Community Connections Taitā and Avalon projects will connect residents and schools with the heart of their communities, and improve the experience of walkers and cyclists, by providing safer transport options that are good for us and our environment.
The projects are part of Council’s work to build new ways for local people to get around as part of Lower Hutt’s ongoing transformation to be a better place to live, raise families and do business.
The work is being supported by Waka Kotahi’s Transport Choices programme which is about making small, visible changes to our streets and the way people use them, helping people embrace cycling, walking or public transport as a means of travel.
Waka Kotahi will provide up to 95 per cent of funding – approximately $5 million shared across both communities. The Council also received an additional $220,000 to provide undercover bike sheds and racks to the schools and to support the bikes in schools programme.
The proposed route through Taitā will connect residents and schools with the railway station, shopping village, Walter Nash Community and Sports Centre and the arterial travel corridors alongside the rail and river trails, where existing bike safety programmes are located.
For Avalon, we’re upgrading Walter Street and Gordon Streets around local schools which lack safe walking and cycling infrastructure. The upgrade will better connect schools and residents with the nearby train station and beltway cycleway.
Council’s consultation with the community closed on 1 September 2023. Thanks to those who gave us feedback.
We are now revising our design and taking community feedback into consideration while we look at updates to the proposal where possible. The revised designs are then subject to approval from Waka Kotahi and Council.
Update on Community Connections Project
Waka Kotahi has informed affected councils around the country that it would be pausing decisions on all further funding supporting its Transport Choices programme until the agency receives clear direction on the incoming government’s priorities for transport investment.
This means our Community Connections: Tāita and Avalon Project which was waiting on final funding and design approval in November, has now been put on hold. We have written to those people in the community who provided feedback to us during the consultation to update them.
What happens next?
Waka Kotahi has told us it is working as swiftly as it can to provide clarity and we will be able to provide you with further updates on our website when we receive them.
You can learn more about the projects:
Taitā Community Connections Taitā Community Connections | Hutt City Council
Avalon Community Connections Avalon Community Connections | Hutt City Council