The Tāmaki community is getting the chance to help make several Point England streets safer and more vibrant.
Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC) and Auckland Transport (AT) have received a grant to try out some changes as part of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Innovating Streets programme.
TRC has identified several streets in Point England that could benefit from improvements, and trials of these changes will be delivered by 2021. These trials will help to inform possible permanent solutions for designing a network of living streets in Tāmaki.
These improvements will be developed with the community and could include pop-up options that would encourage children to play on their walk to and from school or temporary options like road art and planters that could help when planning future permanent upgrades.
TRC’s programme is one of 13 Auckland projects to receive funding from Waka Kotahi.
Encouraging a shift to walking, cycling and public transport, creating streets as places including play along the way and celebrating Tāmaki’s natural landscape and unique identity is the aim, TRC Regeneration and Placemaking General Manager Joanna Brain says.
“It’s really important that we bring the community on this journey with us. Getting local input into the improvements people would like to see in their community means they are more likely to benefit from them, creating safer, healthier and more people-friendly streets.”
Auckland Transport Chief Executive Shane Ellison says this is a great initiative from Tāmaki Regeneration.
“The Innovating Streets fund provides an opportunity to make meaningful change quickly. AT looks forward to supporting TRC to deliver these changes alongside the community.”
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Urban Mobility Manager Kathryn King says the Innovating Streets pilot fund supports quick, low-cost improvements that transition streets to being more people friendly.
“By using a ‘tactical urbanism’ approach to test what works for communities we can create attractive, vibrant places that make space for people and help to support local businesses. We’re pleased to support this project through the Innovating Streets pilot fund.
“The Innovating Streets programme is focused on learning through doing. By trialling options that are co-designed with local people, they can be tweaked and changed as the community experiences them,” Kathryn says.
