Knights Road Connection Project

Consultation has closed.

The Knights Road Connection Project came to completion in July 2021 when the Council made decisions about the next steps following two on-road trials. Find out more about what was decided here

The Knights Road Connection Project was one of several pilot projects funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency that aim to create more people-friendly spaces in our towns and cities. The Innovating Streets programme provides the resources and support for Councils to work with their communities to find solutions that work for the people that use the streets and spaces the most.

Creating streets and spaces that areContinue reading

The Knights Road Connection Project came to completion in July 2021 when the Council made decisions about the next steps following two on-road trials. Find out more about what was decided here

Creating streets and spaces that are more people-friendly make it easier to choose active modes of transport. This is important because New Zealand has a goal of 40% mode shift towards active transport and public transport by 2030. Working towards this goal will reduce congestion, help to meet climate targets and improve health. It's a big shift in a short time, and so this iterative way of working allows solutions to be tested quickly and cost effectively in the real world by all affected road users while change to the layout can still be made.

The aim is for more people to feel comfortable using active non-motorised modes of transport (bikes, scooters, e-scooters etc) for some of their shorter, regular journeys, or for the last kilometre after public transport. This will reduce the congestion and pressure on off-road parking, freeing up space for people for whom active modes are not practical. For people to feel comfortable using active transport there needs to be a safe, convenient and connected network that goes to the places people need to go to.

We’re trialling a new road layout along Knights Road connecting Waterloo Station to the Lower Hutt CBD. The aim of the trial is to make the journey a safer and more attractive connection regardless of how you choose to get around.

The new layout will create better connections between the Lower Hutt CBD, local schools, homes and workplaces and the public transport and active transport facilities at Waterloo station. The purpose of trialling these changes on the road is so that everyone who uses the road can see and feel the new layouts while there is still the potential to change them. We want to hear what is working, and what is not.

Our vision

Our bold goal is to find, through temporary trials, a design that becomes an attractive, well used shared-mode connection between Waterloo Station and the Lower Hutt CBD. We want students from local schools, and staff at local businesses to use the new road layout for commuting, improving the experience of all those that use the route.

Through the trial we are working with road users to find a safer layout for all modes of transports. Children on bikes, people on e-scooters and people walking on the footpath should feel safe using thing key connection, creating real transport choice.

Why did we choose Knights Road?

In Lower Hutt and across Wellington there is a lot of investment in shared paths and off-road cycleways, such as the Wainuiomata Shared Pathway, the new Beltway route under construction, the increasingly popular Hutt River Trail and the Melling to Ngauranga cycleway. These types of facilities are generally seen as safe, and allow travel between local suburbs and are close to public transport. What is missing is connections between these key routes, at key points, to the places people want to go - especially schools, shopping areas and workplaces.

Knights Road is the connecting road between the public transport hubs at Waterloo Station and Queensgate.
It is the link between the new Beltway route and Lower Hutt's CBD.
There are six local schools on or near by Knights Road, and congestion at pick up and drop off times is an issue for all of them.
Speed data along Knights Road showed that an unacceptable number of vehicles are exceeding 50km/h and some are driving at very high speeds for an urban environment.
It is a wide road with enough space to trial changes to the road layout.

On this basis, a Knights Road connection to improve the connectivity of existing and planned shared paths and cycleways was first proposed as part of an urban cycleways package that included the Wainuiomata Shared Path (completed 2019, the Beltway Cycleway and the Eastern Bays Shared Path.

What has happened so far?

First trial road layout

From July to October 2020, the Knights Road Connection project team ran a series of workshops and engagements with residents, schools and the local community to better understand their experiences on Knights Road, what is working well and what might need to change to make the connection work better for more people.

Based on the feedback we trialled a temporary road layout in Knights Road during March 2021. You can find out more about the results of that trial here or read the full report here

Pop-up park at event on Friday 4 DecemberEngagement at Queensgate

Amended trial road layout

Based on community feedback and data from the first trial, we are trialling an amended road layout. You can find out more about it here

How to get involved?

We are trialling the temporary changes in real time, using your recommendations to find the best solution for the space and the community. We need to hear from you about what works well and anything that isn’t working from the trial layout.

We'll be posting regular project updates, running surveys and Facebook polls, and collecting your ideas on how you want the space to work.

Thank you to the more than 300 of you who have filled in the online surveys. These are now closed, so that we can collate and understand your feedback. You can still share your ideas on the project page, attending a workshop or pop in session and/or emailing us.

Share your idea here

Your feedback will be used alongside real-time traffic monitoring to help inform what might happen next.

Consultation has closed.

Flipcharts and notes from Resident workshop 7 March

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A big thank you to the 47 people that joined us over three workshops on Sunday 7 March to talk about the Knights Road Connection Project.

We appreciate you sharing your experiences of the new trial layout and your thoughts on what could be done differently as we move forward.

Photos of all the flip chart notes created by the groups as well as a typed version of the flipcharts are now live in the documents section of this project page. Transcripts of the discussion will be added once completed.

The next face to face opportunity to feedback is at Queensgate Mall on Thursday 18 March between 9am and 9pm. We'd love to see you there!

Please spread the word so that everyone has an opportunity to participate.
You can feedback now on the trial layout

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Online feedback surveys on the first temporary trial layout along Knights Road are now live. Click the links below to give your feedback. Please fill in the surveys relevant to you.

Link to residents survey
Link to school community survey
Link to general public survey
Hard copies of these surveys will be delivered to schools and residents next week.
If you have an idea that you'd like to discuss, or want to post a photo, please Share your idea here
Upcoming Workshops

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We have a series of workshops, displays, and drop-in days planned to ask for feedback from all users of Knights Road, in addition to the surveys and polls which will go live after the launch event on Friday 26 February. See this document for all of the information.
Sunday 28 February - Cancelled due to Covid Level 2 - to be rescheduled
With New Zealand going back into Alert Level 2 at 6am on Sunday 28 February, as announced at 9pm on Saturday 27th we have made the difficult decision to postpone the two resident workshops that were to be held at the Dowse on Sunday 28 February.
While the number of people that RSVP’d for the workshops are within limits, we are taking a cautious approach as we are unable to practically manage physical distancing in the workshop setting at short notice.
It is also important for all residents that want to participate to have the opportunity to attend the workshops. The move to Alert Level 2 may impact attendance for some in the community.
Alternative plans will be posted here and on our facebook page as soon as we have worked through the options. We will work directly with the resident organising these as we look at options, and those who RSVP'd by email will continue to be kept informed through email.
Please spread the word to others that may be planning to attend that aren't regular computer users.
Save the date - Official Trial Launch 26 February

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The launch event is next Friday 26 February at 1pm. Please see the invitation document below - we'd love to see you there! Please RSVP to allow us to prepare properly, and to communicate should anything change due to the weather or Covid Alert Levels changing.
Communicating with you survey

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Getting feedback and continually adapting is a fundamental part of the Auaha Evolving Spaces Projects. We've been listening to your feedback and comments and want to hear more about the best ways to communicate with you. Click this link to fill in the quick survey and let us know.
Materials still to be installed due to rain delay earlier this week are speed cushions around the pedestrian crossings outside Waterloo Station and the final on-road 'furniture' to better signal the new layout and protect vulnerable road users. Also to come is the chalk stencils and signage connecting Beltway to this trial.
Once the trial is in place, there will be a number of different ways to give feedback. We really want to hear from you and your communities, so please help us to get the word out and make sure everyone has a chance to share what is and isn't working for them.
Catch up on the latest in our e-news

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Catch all the latest news and updates about the Knights Road Connection Project in your inbox by signing up to the e-news.
Read our February e-news to find out more.
Pop-up Park Celebration Friday 4 December

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We're reimagining Knights Road with you to create a safer and more people-friendly pathway and connection to Lower Hutt's CBD. The pop-up park will be the 'home' for the project and a place to stay informed about what's next and ways you can feedback. The design has come from community feedback requesting more seating, more attractive spaces and a physical space to stay informed. It's been created from recycled materials from local businesses, with artwork done by Hutt Intermediate and Sacred Heart students supported by local artists.

The event is a celebration of their work. There will be activities, music and an opportunity to see what a temporary pathway trial along Knights Road might look like.
Stop by on your way home from school or work, or while you're out and about to meet the team and enjoy the new space.
https://www.facebook.com/events/3512437852178721
Votes are in for your preferred rest area layout!

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Thanks for having your say on your preferred layout. Voting has now closed and option 2 (pictured) was the winner, receiving 58% of votes.
We also heard that you would like to see more shade provided. This can be tricky with Wellington winds and a temporary layout, but we'll look at ways to include that feedback.

This option came from community feedback asking for more spaces to sit, more art along the way and a physical space to hear about project updates. The result was this welcoming rest and picnic place to wait for buses, enjoy lunch from nearby businesses or meet friends.
What happens next?
We’ll be working with community to create it from recycled materials, and there will be a launch and community opening in 4-5 weeks time. We'll keep you posted!
Knights Road Bus Drivers

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Members of the Knights Road Connection Project Team met with bus drivers who often navigate the route passing through Knights Road.
We asked them what they thought would improve the space along the road to further enhance the safety of the community.
The feedback from bus drivers was invaluable and highlighted some practical safety considerations for key points along Knights Road. (Their feedback was varied, centered on the length of bus stops and concerns around the Pohutukawa, Birch, Knights Road, and Oxford intersection.)
This collaboration and feedback is an integral part of how the Knights Road Connection Project will evolve.
By asking bus drivers who drive the route every day what they think before the work is commenced, we can try out ideas and adapt accordingly.
Learn by doing

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At the end of the school term, members of the Knights Road Connection Project Team went out with Hutt Intermediate Students to conduct a walking audit of Knights Road, sharing their thoughts and ideas on what changes could be trialled to improve safety for all users whilst also ensuring it is an enjoyable space to be in. They noted what hazards they saw, for themselves and others, on their journeys from Waterloo Station to the turnoff to their school.
Their suggested solutions to these hazards included safety signage along the footpath and at key corners, as well as visually creative ideas for street art to improve their journey.
Students also had the opportunity to practice using speed radar guns to monitor real-time vehicle speeds and suggested the best location to trial an additional pedestrian crossing.