Red-light for Stratford’s Transport Choices project

Stratford District Council’s (SDC) Transport Choices project to create safe, climate friendly, and alternative travel options for local schools and community members will not be moving ahead.

In October 2023, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi paused making commitments for the Transport Choices programme until they received clear direction of the new government’s transport investment priorities.

In December, the Minister of Transport advised councils that no further funding for the Transport Choices programme will be approved. This includes projects, like Stratford’s, which were put on hold in October.

SDC Director of Assets, Victoria Araba, says, “While it’s disappointing the project will not go ahead, it’s important that we continue efforts to enhance road safety around the town’s schools and to build a connected transport network that will encourage an increased uptake in active modes of transport for our community, now and into the future.”

“We’ll be taking the Transport Choices designs to help develop 3-year, 10-year, and 30-year plans to upgrade our transport network as part of our Connecting Our Communities Strategy for Stratford. The funding may have been withdrawn, but our vision for a connected community remains.”