New Plymouth District Council were successful in securing one of the highest Transport Choices funding allocations in the country to fast‐track separated cycling facilities and improve pedestrian access and public transport provision along key corridors. ViaStrada was engaged by NPDC to lead a team of experts in planning and designing 14 km of key road corridors in New Plymouth. The scope included preparation of concept, scheme and detailed designs for road space reallocation and safety improvements on four main corridors including state highways; Intersection design including 14 sets of traffic signals; pedestrian safety improvements, and improvements to public transport at bus stops. The scope was extended to help with consultation.
Axel Downard-Wilke led the team comprised of transport planners and engineers from ViaStrada, survey and civil engineer Bland & Jackson, transport engineers Stantec, urban design and landscape architects DCM Urban, supported by TSA with project management. The programme was split up into five separate sections, with a transport engineer from ViaStrada or Stantec assigned as lead for one section each.
Before the new government cancelled funding for the Transport Choices programme, New Plymouth District Council had been allocated part of its construction funding. The project is currently under redesign to match the reduced construction fund available.
