Council shifts gears on transport projects

Published on 07 November 2024

Palmerston North’s transport budgets have been reprioritised as recent funding cuts from NZ Transport Agency – Waka Kotahi leave us with fewer dollars to drive forward.

Elected members at a council meeting yesterday approved these adjustments for this year, which were required following reductions to Government co-funding in the latest National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). The impact on the next two years will be subject to community consultation as part of our Annual Budget.

The programme is reviewed every three years, with Government co-funding for transport projects in our city coming in at $56.2 million – a 57 percent decrease (or $37 million less) than we had originally planned for in our long-term plan.

Here’s our roadmap for the current financial year:

• Stoney Creek Road and Kelvin Grove Road: We’ll fund design work to determine how to improve safety on Stoney Creek Road this year. Construction is expected to kick off from 2025/2026, with more details on scope and costs to follow. Designs for rebuilding Kelvin Grove Road will also take place.
• Amberley Avenue bridge renewal
• Mihaere Drive bridge: We'll cover the cost of structural upgrades on the bridge to lift weight restrictions. This will restore freight traffic and take heavy vehicles off residential roads, such as Kaimanawa Street.
• Road drainage upgrades: We’re adding a further$120,000 to carry out minor drainage improvements to help address any street flooding during heavy rain.
• Manawatū Regional Freight Ring Road: We’re steering $100,000 toward a business case this year, which reflects how important this proposed route is for the future of our city.

Repairing storm damage from the winter months has exceeded our emergency fund by $1.53 million, which we need to cover the cost of. Elected members voted to increase funding for footpath renewals to maintain the same level of maintenance as last year, and retain $150,000 for slip prevention on shared pathways.

Planning work on the Palmerston North to Feilding and Palmerston North to Ashurst shared pathways will continue. Essential renewals such as cycle lane sweeping, linemarking, and vegetation control will also continue. Council also voted to reinstate more than $600,000 worth of active transport renewals, such as bus stops, pathways and signage.

Safety improvement projects have hit a speed bump, with new raised safety platforms and intersection upgrades paused until co-funding returns.

Council’s Transport and Development Group Manager Glen O'Connor says future transport projects will be reviewed during the Annual Budget process.

“While we’ve focused on this current year’s work, we will be considering the impacts of the reduced government funding and seek public feedback on proposed work during our Annual Budget consultation in March. As we navigate these challenges, we remain committed to keeping Palmerston North’s transport network safe, efficient, and accessible for all.”