Standardised approach to RoNS in Christchurch

After extensive planning, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun construction of a nine-year, $700M+ series of projects, the Christchurch Roads of National Significance (RoNS).

The RoNS will bring major changes to the built environment, land use and transport patterns. Various (sometimes conflicting) objectives and policies within and between jurisdictions complicate the land use and transport planning processes. At the local level, a coherent policy framework is needed to plan for and respond to these changes.

Christchurch City Council (CCC) staff needed to resolve a number of significant issues with NZTA as they arise at different times for each RoNS stage. These issues included whether and how pedestrians and cyclists should be accommodated on the corridor, how to address severance issues (the ability of people to cross from one side of the corridor to the other), public transport considerations over the next 30 to 50 years and the management of urban sprawl. Other issues included sustainable stormwater management, noise mitigation, urban design, and the protection of wildlife habitats and recreation areas.

ViaStrada produced a discussion document identifying various principles to clarify and standardise the CCC's position on RoNS. Informed by a series of stakeholder meetings, presentation materials summarising potential issues were produced and discussed at workshops.

The project brought together key staff from various departments of CCC, NZTA and other stakeholders to improve the understanding and communication of important priorities and issues. The project helped CCC and NZTA understand the inter-relationships amongst projects. ViaStrada played a key role in simplifying the issues for all parties.