Safer streets for Aranui - Aranui streets programme

Aranui streets are trialling safer and aesthetically nicer roads following the 2021-2024 Streets for People Programme. The programme is one of 19 trials across Aotearoa, aiming to make roads safer, inviting more eco-friendly ways of transport.

Walking, biking, or taking public transport has the potential to become a lot easier in the area with the incorporation of adaptive urbanism. This includes safer and easier on the eye designs for our roads and footpaths, encouraging other means of transport than just cars.

Transport Planning and Delivery Manager Jacob Bradbury at the Christchurch City Council, said the Future Sreets Aranui 2018 report provided insight on transportation issues around the Haeata Community Campus. 

From 2022, they monitored and used existing data to get a good understanding as to how these streets are being used. Through school and street surveys he says they investigated barriers people face using active modes of transport, such as walking and biking.

The council said the changes focus on high-pedestrian areas – Chisnallwood Intermediate School, Haeata Community Campus, St James School, Wainoni Park and the Hampshire Street shops. The aim is to make it easier and safer to walk, cycle, scooter and drive around Aranui.

Through an ongoing discussion since 2022, safety concerns and co-design solutions were discussed. Community leaders and members, including ACTIS (The Aranui Community Trust Inc Society), Community Police, and school principals, have been part of these talks. Additionally, the broader Aranui community shared their views at AFFIRM (Aranui Family Festival) in both 2022 and 2023. Last year, students from Haeata Community Campus, St James School, and Chisnallwood Intermediate also took part in a workshop called 'design jam' to share their thoughts.

"The goal was to develop a design that meets the needs of the Aranui community – making their streets way safer for everyone," Bradbury said.

Bradbury said one of the goals of ‘Streets for People’ was to deliver community-led initiatives that create better local walking and cycling connections for students to get to and from school. He says that's why the council worked closely with Aranui school students to understand their safety concerns and to co-design solutions.

Waka Kotahi is contributing 90 percent of the funding for each of the Streets for People projects, with local councils contributing the remaining 10 percent. A spokesperson from their team said the council-led Streets for People projects in Aranui, and on Gloucester Street in the city, were part of a nationwide three-year programme, which ends in June 2024.

"The Streets for People programme supports councils to explore cost-effective, easier and quicker ways to create safer, healthier, and more people-friendly streets.

"They do this by using quick-build, lower-cost materials to trial street changes before they are made permanent." 

This trial is open for consultation until the 15th of April this year, and feedback will be presented to the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board before decisions are made around any aspects of the trial likely to remain in place on the streets.