Looking east – the Waikato River from the existing Te Awa River Ride.
The popular Te Awa River Ride and Hamilton Road cycleways will be extended into the Cambridge central business district, if Waipā District Council is successful in its application to the Government’s $2.9 billion Climate Emergency Response Fund.
If the council can get more money from the fund, the urban mobility network will extend to Victoria (High Level) Bridge.
In Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, the network would extend to Kihikihi Primary School and the local domain.
Transportation programme engineer Erik Van Der Wel told the council’s Service Delivery committee this week the urban mobility initiatives come from the “strong desire” of both communities to transition towards a transport model that favours alternative methods of travel.
“Residents of all ages and abilities want to be able to travel our main urban areas safely and conveniently, without the need for a car.”
The council’s $11m Urban Mobility programme, endorsed by the committee last year, relied on a 51 per cent boost from Waka Kotahi.
But Waka Kotahi did not come to the party hence the approach to the Climate Emergency Response Fund. The council needs $5.351 million to complete the Cambridge and Te Awamutu projects.
Budget 2022 provided $375 million within its Climate Emergency Response fund to deliver mode shift and reduce emissions from transportation.
Its goal is to invest in making walking, cycling and public transport more attractive options and help councils transition toward low-emissions urban environments.
