Planning for better travel options
One of the objectives of regional planning is to give people better options for travel to the places and facilities that are important in their lives. Greater Wellington’s Travel Choice team works with employers in the region on initiatives to encourage more people to cycle, walk and use public transport.
A good example is the Wellington Regional Hospital Travel Demand Management initiative (TDM). This is a joint project between Greater Wellington Regional Council, Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) and Waka Kotahi that aims to change how people travel to and from Wellington Hospital.
CCDHB and Greater Wellington have a working relationship dating back to 2007, when they worked together on a travel plan as part of resource consent requirements. Since then, CCDHB has invested in infrastructure to encourage people to be more active, including high-profile bike parking facilities, taking part in active challenges and championing the health benefits of walking, running or biking to work.
Travel surveys and detailed focus group work indicate hospital staff are willing to consider different ways of travelling, as a response to increasing pressure on car parking around the hospital.
An action plan and supporting business case will give quantifiable justification for investment in encouraging different transport choices.
Joint initiatives with employers like this are designed to support the Wellington region to achieve its ambitious targets in areas such as climate change, travel options and road safety.
They are also well aligned with national, regional and local transport planning objectives.
