Speed Management Plan 2023-2030

Speed Management Plan 2023-2030

Decision

On Thursday 24 August 2023, Council made the decision to:

• Agree to establish 30 km/h speed limits adjacent to schools, either permanent or variable, depending on the location and outcomes required.
• Agree to establish 30 km/h speed limits adjacent to Maraes, either permanent or variable, depending on the location and outcomes required.
• Agree to establish a permanent 30 km/h speed limit with a supplementary sign advising hours of operation between 8 AM and 5 PM, for all roads within CBD.
• Agree to establish a permanent 30 km/h speed limit on all roads at all times within Kenepuru Landing area.
• Agree to increase the speed limit to 60 km/h along Waitangirua Link Road.
• Agree to correct NSLR by establishing speed limit of 30 km/h on Ocean Parade.
• Agree to establish 60 km/h speed limits along Titahi Bay Road and 50 km/h along Papakowhai Road.

You can view the reports and minutes from the Council meetings here.

Please refer to the meeting on 24 August 2023.

What are we consulting on?

We’re seeking general feedback on speed limits on all roads within Porirua City, plus five (5) key proposals:

1. Schools: We are proposing a range of permanent speed limit reductions to 30km/h on roads adjoining schools where traffic (vehicle, cycle, pedestrian) is generated continuously by other adjacent land uses (for example shops, transport hubs, car parks) through the day in addition to school traffic
2. Schools: We are proposing a range of variable speed limit changes to 30km/h on roads adjoining schools where significant increases in traffic (vehicle, cycle, pedestrian) is generated immediately before and after school by the school. During other periods volumes of all traffic are low
3. Road corridors with 70 km/h speed limits: We have been asked to review all 70 km/h road corridors in the city and recommend an alternative safe and appropriate speed. We are recommending a change to 50km/h in on the 70km/h sections of Titahi Bay Road and Papakōwhai Road.
4. Town/village centres and marae: We are proposing to reduce the speed limit to 30km/h through some of our city and village centres, and around some marae. These are:

• Takapūwāhia Marae
• Hongoeka Marae.
• Horouta Marae.
• Maraeroa Marae.
• Porirua city centre.
• Kenepuru Landing.
• Plimmerton township
• Pāuatahanui township.

5. Waitangirua Link Road: Council is proposing to increase the speed limit on the Waitangirua Link Road, up from 50 km/h to a maximum of 70 km/h (i.e. either 60 km//h or 70km/h). The proposal is for 70km/h based on a speed survey, which showed the average operating speed for this road is approximately 64 km/h.

Background

Speed is an important factor in transport. Speeds directly affect the mobility of persons and goods travelling from one location to another. Driving speeds also have a direct impact on the risk of the driver and other people being involved and severely injured in a crash as well as on noise and pollutant emissions. Setting speed limits on different road types is often not just as simple as following strict safety criteria developed for each road type.

We must consider several challenges when deciding on speed limits, such as balancing safety and mobility aspects. In New Zealand, the social cost of a road crash or a road injury includes the following components: reduction in quality of life; loss of output due to temporary incapacitation; medical costs; legal costs; and vehicle damage costs. The behaviour of road users is an important determinant of a country’s road safety performance. Inappropriate speed, in particular, is one of the main causes of road crashes.

Porirua City is responsible for developing, maintaining, and operating the network of local roads, including setting speed limits and delivering public transport infrastructure and services. Decisions on construction, maintenance and management of the road networks must also consider road safety. Road to Zero is the result of extensive engagement with the sector and a nationwide consultation process.

Road to Zero adopts a vision of a New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes, which is based on a “Vision Zero” approach to road safety. Road to Zero sets a target for reducing annual deaths and serious injuries by 40% by 2030 to track towards the strategy’s long-term aspirational vision. The government policy statement on land transport 2021 introduces a new Road to Zero activity class.

This document sets out how money from the National Land Transport Fund is allocated towards achieving the government’s transport priorities. Investment through the Road to Zero activity class will be targeted towards those interventions identified as being key to achieving the targeted reductions in deaths and serious injuries.

Reason for this proposal

• Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022 (the Rule) was notified in the Gazette on 20 April 2022 and came into force on 19 May 2022.
• Council has adopted Vision Zero as the philosophy for road safety in the city, as an aspiration to achieve zero road deaths and serious injuries within Porirua.
• The relationship between speed and road crashes is well-established internationally, and managing speed is one pillar of the safe transport system approach

• Speed Management Plan 2023 - 2030 Statement of Proposal

Have your say

If you have any questions, or would like a little more information, please contact:

[email protected]  - questions relating to the submissions process

[email protected] or call 04 237 3587 - questions relating to the proposal

Have your say

This consultation is open for submissions until 5pm 12 June 2023.

Have your say using any of the below methods:

Go online

• The easiest way to have your say is to complete an online submission here.

Write to us

• You can find copies of this proposal at all Porirua City libraries, at our Customer Services Centre at 16 Cobham Court, Porirua 5022, and also on the public consultation page of our website.
  
  You can have your say in a number of ways:
  • Download a submission form here
  • Email your submission to: [email protected], with "Speed Management Plan 2023-2030” in the subject line.
  • Hand in your submission to our Customer Services Centre at 16 Cobham Court
  • Post your submission to:
    Speed Management Plan 2023-2030
    Porirua City Council
    PO Box 50218
    Porirua City 5240
  • Give us a call on the number below.

If you don’t have access to a computer, please call our contact centre on 04 237 5089 to request that a hardcopy be posted out to you.

Submissions close 12 June 2023.

The hearing will be held on 22 June 2023 (if required).

To support our drive to be as transparent as possible all submissions will be publicly available but without your contact details. If you don’t want your name made public please tick “Withhold my details” on the submission form. Please note you won’t be able to withhold your name if you choose to speak at the hearing or if you are representing an organisation.