Cycleways

Planning is underway for the second stage of the connection between Waterloo Station and RiverLink. This will be a new active mode corridor for Lower Hutt. The route will go from Cornwall Street through the city centre to the planned RiverLink pedestrian and cycle bridge (learn more about Riverlink Here).

This project is an important link in the network we are creating for the city. It will link to the;

• Oxford Terrace shared path (from Taitā to Waterloo Station),
• the RiverLink pedestrian and cycle bridge, and
• Te Ara Tupua Melling to Petōne path, and beyond!

It's an important part of the Central City Transformation Plan to open up our city centre. Making it safer, easier and more attractive for everyone to get around whether you drive, walk, bike or scooter!

The team working on this project has identified a preferred route. Now they are working with businesses and stakeholders in the area to understand how it may affect them. They also want to find out what's important to them when it comes to the design of the path. Construction is expected to get under way later this year.

The project is being funded through Waka Kotahi’s Transport Choices programme.

An outline of the preferred route – along Waterloo Road, crossing Bloomfield Terrace and Queens Drive, before turning left onto High Street, then right onto Margaret Street and ending at the planned RiverLink pedestrian and cycle bridge.

Who is this corridor for?

This project focuses on creating a safe and attractive walking and cycling route through the city that can be shared by all users. This includes making a safe path for people cycling as well as creating accessible crossings for all pedestrians.

Why are these improvements needed?

As part of establishing a safe, accessible and resilient shared path network through Lower Hutt, we’re encouraging more people of all ages and abilities to travel between Waterloo Station and the planned RiverLink pedestrian and cycle bridge, via the city centre. It will tie in to the RiverLink project and help revitalise the city centre, turning it to face beautiful Te Awa Kairangi – the Hutt River. Improving transport connections will make it easier for residents to move around.

What will happen to the parking in the area?

We’re still working through exactly what the impact on parking will be, but both options will result in a loss of approximately 30 car parks. We’re mindful of the effect RiverLink construction, and the project itself, may have on parking in the city centre, and as more information becomes available, we’ll share it with you.

How have you decided on this route?

The project team considered several routes through the city centre, but all utilised Waterloo Road to the High Street corner, and Margaret Street to the stopbank. This route is preferred as it has the least impact on parking, interacts with the fewest major intersections, the least impact on buses, and provides the safest and most direct route for users across the city centre.
This route also links well the Central City Transformation Plan, which aims to open up the city to the river.

How disruptive will this be?

Even though construction is a while away yet, minimising disruption is a key concern for the project team. We’ll keep in regular touch through the course of the year so you understand the project timeframes and can plan accordingly. As the design becomes more refined, we’ll have a better idea of what you can expect and will work alongside you to make sure the impact on your business and operations is as minimal as possible.

There will be people moving through this area at different speeds. How will this work for pedestrians, people on bikes, scooters and in cars?

The changes will require some adjustment from everyone using the area. We’ll use different design features in different parts of the corridor to remind users that there are others in the area and look at ways we can adapt the existing area to make it safe for everyone using it. The project team will be working on this as part of the concept design phase, and we’ll share these ideas as they are developed.

How does the path link with others in the area?

The route links the existing Beltway shared path, which runs from Taitā to Waterloo Station, to the planned RiverLink pedestrian and cycle bridge, and on to the nearly-completed Melling to Petōne path – and beyond. The development of shared paths helps respond to Lower Hutt’s transport challenges with the aim to encourage more of our community to cycle and use active travel modes that will, in time, reduce reliance on cars.

We are committed to making the streets around Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt safe and connected for everyone, now, and in the future. When planning transport strategies for the city, our community told us that they would travel more by foot or by bike if they felt safer on the roads and they had a good quality, convenient and pleasant environment to travel along. As a city we are in the process of creating a network of 19 connections that will support more of our community to travel by foot or bike safely, gradually reduce our reliance on cars.

Planning is well underway on the connection between Waterloo Station and the city centre, an important link between the Oxford Terrace path and Waterloo train station with businesses, retail, supermarkets, schools, the library in our city centre and RiverLink.

We want to build a cycleway between Seaview and Taita. We are starting with building our first section between Waterloo and the Hutt River.

The Beltway Cycleway is part of our work to change the way our city moves and to help everyone get from A to B in the easiest, safest and most enjoyable way, whether you are commuting to work, going to school or just out for a recreational ride.

Cycleways and Shared Paths, like Beltway, can reduce traffic and improve air quality, they’re cheaper than roads, safer for cyclists, resilient and they will make our city more attractive.

The route, when completed, will eventually run from Taita to Seaview along High Street and Oxford Terrace adjacent to the Hutt Rail Line and, over time, will provide additional links to form a connected Lower Hutt cycling network between residential areas, workplaces, the hospital, schools and recreation areas.

This project is included in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) 2018-21 priority list of projects in the Wellington Region. It will be jointly funded by Hutt City Council and NZTA.

Walk and Cycle the Hutt 2014-19 Strategy (PDF 2.3 MB).

The Northern Section - Wingate to Taita (PDF 973 KB) in yellow on the map

The Central Section - Waterloo to Wingate (PDF 1.7 MB) in orange on the map

The 115km regional trail starts and finishes in Lower Hutt and is one of 22 Great Rides in Ngā Haerenga - The New Zealand Cycle Trail.

It's one of New Zealand’s premier cycle trails, mainly off-road, taking in unique river, mountain and coastal scenery, mixed in with local heritage, culture and attractions.

The trail includes the Hutt River Valley, the Remutaka Range historic rail trail, South Wairarapa rural roads and the south-east Wild Coast Trail to Orongorongo. It can be ridden in either direction, but is commonly started in Petone and takes 2–3 days to complete.

We are collaborating with our trail partners to develop a long term experience development plan for the Remutaka Cycle Trail. This will detail collective projects to enhance the trail experience for users and realise the potential of our trail for our community and region – including further trail and business development, marketing and sustainable funding.

The trail’s long term vision is to be a loop ride right around the Remutaka Range via Eastbourne.

Wainuiomata has developed a Heartland Ride connecting the Wainuiomata Coast to the Hutt River as part of the Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail network.

A new 28km Cycle Route will start at the Orongorongo River car park at the end of Coast Road in Wainuiomata and go through the Wainuiomata township, over the Te Hikoi Arawera / Wainuiomata Hill Shared Pathway and connect to the Hutt River Trail.

The route will be a Grade 3-4 ride attracting riders who are experienced riders and who are used to riding on rural roads, and be promoted alongside Remutaka Cycle Trail's more rugged coastal trail sections.

The Wainuiomata Connector Ride aims to deliver a safer on-road cycling route, increase recreation and tourism opportunities and positively benefit the health and wellbeing of the community.

This will include:

• enhanced road safety for all users
• employment from attractions and businesses that feature along the trail and are participating in trail related promotion
• increasing Lower Hutt’s appeal and competitiveness as a destination
• maximising opportunities for a range of recreational and health benefits for active communities.

The Remutaka Cycle Trail attracts thousands of riders each year across the region and generates around $4million in revenue and Wainuiomata stands to benefit from riders spending on hospitality, activities and accommodation.

wainuiomataconnector.nz

Te Ara Tupua aims to create a walking and cycling link between Wellington and Hutt City.
Hutt City Council is partnering with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on the Pito-One (Petone) to Melling section of Te Ara Tupua,

The Pito-One to Melling project is a 3km safe and separated cycling route stretching from Pito-One to the Hutt River Trail near Bridge Street.

Key features include:

• a 2.25km long cycleway between the railway line and State Highway 2
• underpasses at Pito-One and Parliament Street (near the Normandale overbridge)
• a well-marked shared path through the Petone train station car park
• a cycle bypass for southbound cyclists at the Dowse Interchange, and
• Shared path connections to the existing Hutt River Trail.

The new path will eventually join the Ngā Ūranga to Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua, which connects to the Hutt Road and Thorndon Quay cycleways; it will also link to walking and cycling infrastructure set to be built as part of RiverLink.