Source: Auckland TransportMeadowbank’s residents and businesses are asking for their centre to be picked to trial a slower speed zone, something that could be rolled out across Auckland.
While other parts of the city are just starting to debate whether they want a 30km/h zone, Meadowbank has been calling for it for months and has leapt on the possibility suggested by Auckland Transport. Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association Chair Barry Stewart says a raft of the area’s other transport projects are either already completed or underway, and a slow-speed zone fits perfectly with our goals of safety, liveability and community focus.
“Our local centre is only small but we all want to see it thrive and grow,” Mr Stewart says. “Slowing traffic between Meadowbank Rd and Gerard Way will make it safer and more attractive, with slower traffic also leading to a more pleasant shopping experience and consequently more business for local retailers. That’s why the local businesses, who are a fantastic bunch, have signed a joint letter backing us as residents in asking for this.”
“It’s great that Auckland Transport is looking at suburban traffic speed reductions as an option. While it looks like other parts of Auckland may be resistant as they try to work out the benefits, we’re already all for it – so give us a go! Even if it’s just a trial to see how it could work elsewhere, it would be a popular local initiative for Meadowbank.”
Mr Stewart says the Orakei Local Board has also lent its support. The move comes after a range of other projects have been successfully implemented following lobbying and/or leadership from the Residents Association, most recently the new 782 bus route that has created a bus connection with Meadowbank Train Station, serves a number of schools, and connects through to Mission Bay.
“We lobbied for this, despite some concerns about the loss of car parks to make way for a dedicated bus stop and short-term parking. And after only a few weeks, the number of daily users of the 782 service to the train station is greater than the number of car parks that were removed. It’s early days, but it also looks like train passenger numbers from the station are increasing,” Mr Stewart says.
Other recent successful improvements sought by the Residents Association include:
- A signalised pedestrian crossing at the corner of Meadowbank Rd and St Johns Rd: this has made it much safer for pedestrians, including for walking school buses.
- A safer, narrower entrance to Manapau Rd from Meadowbank Rd. This has helped to slow traffic and created a safer space for all the school students, commuters, joggers, cyclists and residents of the retirement village opposite.
- Speed tables slowing traffic on Meadowbank Rd, enabling safer crossing.
- Supporting the leadership of the Orakei Local Board and mobilising local support for a Gowing Drive connection to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path – a major project that received council funding this year.
- Further afield, supporting a new intersection at Grand Drive – Abbotts Way, and the upgrade of the notorious Ngapipi Rd-Tamaki Drive intersection, which is now finally safe for pedestrians and cyclists to cross and has even shown some positive traffic impacts.
Mr Stewart credits the Association’s success to its constant interaction with residents which generates ideas that add real value to the community. After the spate of good results, the Residents Association is now refreshing its hit list of transport and also environment projects that it wants to take forward.
For more information please contact Barry Stewart, Chair Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association using the contact form.
Source: Auckland Transport