Have your say on proposed speed limit changes at Waitangi

Thursday, 16 March 2017

Safety is at the forefront of a proposal by Western Bay of Plenty District Council to introduce slower speed limits through the small township of Waitangi on the outskirts of Te Puke.

Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit on the section of Te Puke Highway through Waitangi from 70km/h to 50km/h and introduce electronic 40km/h speed signs that activate during school drop off and pick up times.

The proposal opens for consultation with the public today.

Council's Transport Manager, Alex Finn, says the suggested changes aim to provide a safer environment for pedestrians and students at Waitangi (Te Matai) School, also known as Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Matai.

Waitangi township is becoming more urban and the traffic through the main road continues to increase. The local school is also on the main road, and with these things in mind reducing the speed limit is a logical step for improving community safety, says Alex.

The electronic signs would operate 35 minutes before the start of school and 20 minutes at the end of school - and display a 40km/h speed limit.

The school is also able to manually operate the sign for a 10 minute period for occasions where children are near the road outside the programmed times.

The proposed changes coincide with a range of safety-focused work being completed in Waitangi as part of the wider Te Puke Highway upgrade project funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Works include restoring and resealing the road; new footpaths at the marae and from the school to the urupa; improved road markings and new signage.

Alex says staff have held discussions with the school, local Iwi, police, NZTA and other key agencies regarding the proposal. Affected residents will receive a letter in the mail.

If supported the changes are expected to be installed at the end of April.

HAVE YOUR SAY - Click here

Anyone is invited to have their say on the proposal and can do so at any of Council's libraries/service centres or online at haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz

Consultation is open from Thursday, 16 March to 4pm, Friday, 31 March.