Beca is helping to produce a transport blueprint for the area, which aims to provide new residents with feasible transport choices, while seeking to accommodate the planned growth required for thriving economic development.
South West Christchurch is identified as the major growth area within Greater Christchurch, projected to accommodate a further 10,000 households over the next 35 years. The design of the long-awaited Christchurch Southern Motorway extension through South West Christchurch provides the certainty required to plan for the development of the surrounding area and the transport network.
Beca identified the need for an appropriate Travel Demand Management (TDM) Strategy for the area, to accord with the requirements of the Land Transport Management Act (LTMA), and to provide appropriate travel choices for residents. The application of TDM initiatives to a predominantly greenfield development requires careful consideration of land-use patterns to reduce the need for travel by private motor vehicle and the inter-relationship between land-use and transport infrastructure.
Other challenging aspects of the study include a high degree of liaison with the various working groups (Council's Plan Change Teams and NZ Transport Agency's Southern Motorway Specimen Design Consultants) and the need for consistency with the Regional Land Transport Strategy, the recently completed Urban Development Strategy and other public and private transport-related studies being undertaken by Council.
The transport blueprint for the area aims to provide new residents with appropriate transport choices and preserve the city's character, while accommodating the planned growth required for thriving economic development.