Today the ViaStrada transport team met for an early breakfast in Redwood and then cycled into work along a recently completed bus priority corridor. This initiative was part of the team's continuing professional development (CPD) and of course a good opportunity to socialise.

The Main North and Papanui Roads bus priority corridor was opened in October 2009 with a number of part time bus lanes and signal improvements in operation. The bus lane outside the café was working well, the general traffic sat in long queues while the buses flew past! Travelling the corridor on a bicycle was great as we could easily and safely pull over and observe operation of the corridor, of particular interest was how the shared bus-bike lanes were operating for both users.

Dr Glen Koorey joined ViaStrada temporarily. Glen is widely known as a transport lecturer at the University of Canterbury, where he teaches courses on Transportation and Traffic Planning, Traffic Engineering and Management, Highway Geometric Design, Road Safety, and Engineering Design.

He was with us from 1 March to mid-May 2010, working from our Christchurch office. This temporary appointment was the first part of Glen's sabbatical leave from the university this year. Following that, he went on a study tour through the USA and Europe.

Season's greetings to all our clients, colleagues and peers from the ViaStrada team. We hope you all have a relaxing break, and a safe, enjoyable and healthy 2010.

Our Christchurch and Nelson offices are closed for the summer holidays and will reopen on 5 January 2010.

For a number of reasons we have decided to close our offices in Auckland and Dunedin.  ViaStrada still has the most comprehensive and integrated traffic and planning team in Christchurch, with support from Nelson, and we will continue to offer our professional services around New Zealand.  Further information on our eight services is available here.

Working on projects can (and should) be fun. Here Axel, Megan, Jeanette and John talk through an issue on a recent project while John writes the report.

For the third year running, ViaStrada entered teams in the 6 hour blast at McLeans Forest Park on the banks of the Waimakariri River about 20 km north of Christchurch. Our "A" team brought home some silverware against some very stiff opposition!  Well done to John, Axel and Rick.

A number of changes to the Resource Management Act came into effect on October 2009. These changes are intended to improve consent processes.

Contact one of our planners who can advise on these new changes.

The Hornby to Prebbleton section of the Christchurch to Little River Rail Trail is the third section to be completed. It was officially opened today by mayors Bob Parker (Christchurch City) and Kelvin Coe (Selwyn District).

ViaStrada was engaged by Christchurch City Council to undertake the scheme design of the 3.6 km long Hornby to Prebbleton section.

ViaStrada directors Axel Wilke and Andrew Macbeth have been appointed as project engineers to the NZ Cycleway Technical Assessment Group (TAG), under a contract between the Ministry of Economic Development and ViaStrada.

Some ViaStrada staff, especially Axel and Andrew, work exclusively for the TAG on NZCT initiatives, including the seven "Quick Start" projects and the 13 "Phase Two" projects approved for feasibility studies. They are thus not available for project applications for the NZCT, so that conflicts of interest can be avoided. If you would like engineering and planning support for new local or regional initiatives, please contact Warren Lloyd (Christchurch).

The Cycle Trail Design Guide developed by ViaStrada for this project was published in March 2010.

The Nelson office received a surprise decision from Tasman District Council declining consent for a high profile proposal for a crematorium, memorial gardens and café at the Gardens of the World near Richmond.