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Neighbourhood accessibility planning

Information

What neighbourhood accessibility planning is all about

Students on pedestrian crossing

Neighbourhood accessibility planning is an initiative designed to help councils improve walking and cycling access and safety.

The process involves consulting with the community to find out what the main issues are for pedestrians and cyclists. The council, in partnership with the community and community groups, then specifies a list of actions that need to be undertaken.

These actions can include engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, environmental and policy initiatives.

Examples include:

  • installing drop kerbs for disabled users
  • installing pedestrian crossings
  • providing training for cyclists
  • putting education and enforcement campaigns in place, to reduce driving speeds
  • improving lighting
  • organising walking school buses (PDF, 685 KB)
  • beautification, to make areas more pleasant to walk around.

The neighbourhood accessibility planning process is also ideal for planning:

Person riding bike
  • improved access to public transport
  • improved facilities around schools and suburban town centres
  • lowered speed zones or traffic calming
  • other significant infrastructure additions for pedestrians and cyclists.

The neighbourhood accessibility planning programme (then called Safer Routes) started in early 2004 in Nelson, Papatoetoe, Rotorua and South Dunedin. There are now projects in numerous areas throughout New Zealand.

Starting a neighbourhood accessibility planning project in your community

Neighbourhood accessibility planning projects are typically implemented in urban areas where pedestrians and cyclists are at high risk of injury or in areas with 'strategic significance' (eg in areas where it is beneficial to improve linkages to passenger transport).

Getting funding

Neighbourhood accessibility planning is funded by Land Transport New Zealand. Councils can get funding from the 'use of the land transport system' activity class (work categories: community coordination, community programmes and community advertising) for:

  • employing a neighbourhood accessibility planning coordinator or contractor
  • undertaking the planning phase of a neighbourhood accessibility plan
  • implementing education, promotional and advertising initiatives
  • evaluation.
Person using pedestrian crossing

Funding for infrastructure provision can be obtained through the following work categories:

  • pedestrian facilities
  • cycling facilities
  • travel demand management
  • road maintenance (eg cycleways, lighting, amenity and safety maintenance)
  • minor improvements.

Reporting & monitoring

Neighbourhood accessibility planning project coordinators should submit:

  • four electronic Quarterly Reports for Q1 (October), Q2 (Jan), Q3 (April) and Q4 (July) to the address below
  • an annual activity report via LTP online
  • an end of project Monitoring and Evaluation Report at the completion of your project (both electronic and hard copy)

Send them to this address:

Email
Neighbourhood.Accessibility@nzta.govt.nz

Post
Attention: NAP Project Manager
Land Transport NZ
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141

Guideline documents

Land Transport New Zealand provides a range of documentation to assist with starting and carrying out projects:

Other complementary guideline documents include:

Territorial authorities wanting to know more should contact Land Transport New Zealand's Neighbourhood Accessibility Planning Coordinator.

Page updated: 5 February 2008