Transport Choices project puts focus on safe and active school travel
Stratford District Council’s (SDC) Transport Choices project is aiming to give kids and families safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly ways to travel to and from school, and to key destinations in the community.
SDC’s School Safety Improvement Project, part of Waka Kotahi’s Transport Choices programme, will be delivered in two phases, with physical works starting in summer 2023/24.
Phase one, which will go out for public consultation in August 2023, will include the development of safe walking and cycling paths between Avon School, Stratford Primary School, and St Joseph’s School, including connections from the schools to Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre, TET Multisports Stadium, and State Highway 3.
SDC will look at the streets surrounding Stratford Primary School first. This stage of the proposed work will focus on Brecon Road, and Portia, Hamlet, Miranda, and Regan Streets. School communities, impacted residents and businesses, and members of the public will be encouraged to share their views on the draft plans during the consultation period.
Victoria Araba, SDC Director – Assets, says having a good conversation with the community before the plans are finalised will be important to getting the right outcome for the district.
“This is a big project for Stratford, and we know people will have questions and concerns they’ll want to talk through. We’ll be holding a public hui to chat with people about our plans. We want to get the best results for our community,” says Victoria.
Phase two of the School Safety Improvement Project will provide safe and accessible crossing points on State Highway 3, and safe walking and cycling connections between key residential areas to Stratford High School and destinations like the Stratford Bike Park and Whakaahurangi Marae.
The total value of both phases of the project is $7.8M. Transport Choices funding will cover 80% of the project, with a 20% co-funding contribution from SDC.
Victoria says that while the improvements are focussed on creating safer cycling and walking networks for Stratford’s primary school communities, the advantages won’t stop there.
“We know, through our research, that some parents and caregivers see road safety and a lack of safe crossing points as a barrier to encouraging their kids to walk or bike to school. And we know that these can be an obstacle to others in our community considering walking or biking over taking the car too,” says Victoria.
“This work will help to support a low-emissions future for our country, and create active, safe, convenient, and more accessible routes which can be used by all members of our community – young, older, and in-between.”
For more information about Stratford’s Transport Choices project and to sign-up for updates, visit Stratford.govt.nz/TransportChoices
