Waterloo Station to Lower Hutt City Centre

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Consultation on this stage of the project has concluded. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.

Update October 2023

Work on the Waterloo Station to city centre cycleway project has now been deferred due to changes with associated projects and recognising the need to minimise distruption as Riverlink construction gets underway. The team is grateful for the feedback provided by the community through the early engagement phases of the project. 

We are still committed to making the streets around Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt safe and connected for everyone, now, and in the future.


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.

At this stage we are focused on the connection between Waterloo Station and Lower Hutt city centre. This provides an important link between the Oxford Terrace walking & bike path and Waterloo train station with businesses, retail, supermarkets, schools, the library and the planned Riverlink development.

Technical and safety aspects mean we are limited in options for bike lane routes. Specialists in this field sorted through a long list of options with these technical and safety features in mind and through this process ‘Waterloo Road and Birch Street’ has emerged as the preferred option. We now need community feedback to ensure this is the right route to meet everyone’s needs. We also want community feedback to plan the street layout.

This is the first big step in the bike network for the central city and a street many of our residents use frequently will change as part of this innovation so it's important that the community take part in the planning.

There is information below which outlines the process undertaken so far. We look forward to you joining the conversation!

Consultation was open until 26 June 2022.

We are hosting a community pop-in event on Sunday 19 June, 2 - 4pm at Chilton St James School. Come along and chat to the project team, ask questions and share your feedback for design and layout ideas.

Update October 2023

Work on the Waterloo Station to city centre cycleway project has now been deferred due to changes with associated projects and recognising the need to minimise distruption as Riverlink construction gets underway. The team is grateful for the feedback provided by the community through the early engagement phases of the project. 

We are still committed to making the streets around Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt safe and connected for everyone, now, and in the future.


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.

At this stage we are focused on the connection between Waterloo Station and Lower Hutt city centre. This provides an important link between the Oxford Terrace walking & bike path and Waterloo train station with businesses, retail, supermarkets, schools, the library and the planned Riverlink development.

Technical and safety aspects mean we are limited in options for bike lane routes. Specialists in this field sorted through a long list of options with these technical and safety features in mind and through this process ‘Waterloo Road and Birch Street’ has emerged as the preferred option. We now need community feedback to ensure this is the right route to meet everyone’s needs. We also want community feedback to plan the street layout.

This is the first big step in the bike network for the central city and a street many of our residents use frequently will change as part of this innovation so it's important that the community take part in the planning.

There is information below which outlines the process undertaken so far. We look forward to you joining the conversation!

Consultation was open until 26 June 2022.

We are hosting a community pop-in event on Sunday 19 June, 2 - 4pm at Chilton St James School. Come along and chat to the project team, ask questions and share your feedback for design and layout ideas.

Consultation on this stage of the project has concluded. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.

  • Narrowing down a preferred route...

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    As well as undertaking technical assessments to check the practicalty of all possible routes, we worked with key stakeholders to talk about the opportunites and challenges of the different options.

    Things that we looked at:

    • traffic volumes
    • number of intersections
    • variety of transport options currently being used
    • sites of cultural, heritage or environmental significance
    • how would it intergrate with future projects like Riverlink
    • location of underground services like water mains, storm and waste water pipes and electrical cables
    • the route makes sence as a direct connection to where they want to go
    • will the route encourage increased participation in active

    As well as undertaking technical assessments to check the practicalty of all possible routes, we worked with key stakeholders to talk about the opportunites and challenges of the different options.

    Things that we looked at:

    • traffic volumes
    • number of intersections
    • variety of transport options currently being used
    • sites of cultural, heritage or environmental significance
    • how would it intergrate with future projects like Riverlink
    • location of underground services like water mains, storm and waste water pipes and electrical cables
    • the route makes sence as a direct connection to where they want to go
    • will the route encourage increased participation in active travel choices (for all ages and abilities)
    • intergration with the overall transport system
    • does it offer an opportunity to enhance the image of the street and support the revitalisation of the city
    • ease of construction


    This map shows the various routes that were considered:


    After that investigation phase we identified a preferred route of Birch Street & Waterloo Road (B).


    Here's what we know:

    • this route provides a direct connection to two schools, business and retail, and the planned Riverlink area
    • there’s an opportunity to create a further connection to the civic precinct including the War Memorial Library and The Dowse
    • it avoids the bus interchange on Bunny Street
    • it is possible to improve pedestrian safety issues by adding safe crossing points at key spots
    • opportunities to connect with Riverlink projects
    • it has fewer intersections that bikes would need to cross
    • less issues with vibration, and the road has less camber (compared to Knights Road) which makes it easier and safer to bike and scoot along


    Here's some examples of what's possible:

    • this route could offer improved footpath space, two-way bike lane, street tree planting and carparking
    • Birch Street could become a neighbourhood greenway where bikes can share the street with vehicles in a 30km/hr area

    Consultation on this stage of the project has concluded. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.

  • Birch Street & Waterloo Road

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    Here's what we know:

    • this route provides a direct connection to two schools, business and retail, and the new Riverlink area
    • there’s an opportunity to create a future connection to the civic precinct including the War Memorial Library and The Dowse
    • it avoids the bus interchange on Bunny Street
    • it is possible to improve pedestrian safety issues by adding safe crossing points at key spots
    • opportunities to connect with Riverlink projects
    • it has fewer intersections that bikes would need to cross
    • less issues with vibration, and the road has less camber (compared to Knights Road) which makes it easier and

    Here's what we know:

    • this route provides a direct connection to two schools, business and retail, and the new Riverlink area
    • there’s an opportunity to create a future connection to the civic precinct including the War Memorial Library and The Dowse
    • it avoids the bus interchange on Bunny Street
    • it is possible to improve pedestrian safety issues by adding safe crossing points at key spots
    • opportunities to connect with Riverlink projects
    • it has fewer intersections that bikes would need to cross
    • less issues with vibration, and the road has less camber (compared to Knights Road) which makes it easier and safer to bike and scoot along


    Here's some examples of what's possible:

    • this route could offer improved footpath space, two-way bike lane, street tree planting and carparking
    • Birch Street could become a neighbourhood greenway where bikes can share the street with vehicles in a 30km/hr area


    Features of a one-way network:

    • will be easy to access in both directions
    • will provide good separation from vehicles
    • intuitive and easy to use


    Features of a two-way network:

    • is wider so can accommodate parents and children to rise side-by-side, more people can ride when it's busy and allows space for passing
    • can provide a physical separation from vehicles, such as a rasied kerb


    Here's some other improvements we will look at:

    • Narrowing intersections to reduce crossing distances for people walking
    • priority for people walking and biking at intersections
    • updated traffic signals to give separate phases for different users

    Consultation on this stage of the project has concluded. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.

  • The Knights Road cycleway trial

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    supporting image

    In mid-2020 the cycleway trial along Knights Road (funded by Waka Kotahi) was approved to stay in place for 12 months, and, as advised, further technical assessments and engagement was undertaken during this time so we had sufficient information on hand before making a decision on a permament fixture.

    What we learned from the trial was some signifcant challenges particularly around ease of use, how it interacted with intersections/side streets along the route and the condition of the road itself, which led to us considering alternate options.


    Here's what we learned:

    • Cyclists still found sharing the road with vehicles dangerous

    In mid-2020 the cycleway trial along Knights Road (funded by Waka Kotahi) was approved to stay in place for 12 months, and, as advised, further technical assessments and engagement was undertaken during this time so we had sufficient information on hand before making a decision on a permament fixture.

    What we learned from the trial was some signifcant challenges particularly around ease of use, how it interacted with intersections/side streets along the route and the condition of the road itself, which led to us considering alternate options.


    Here's what we learned:

    • Cyclists still found sharing the road with vehicles dangerous
    • removal of parking was too restrictive
    • there were concerns about vehicles parking in the cycleway
    • footpaths are currently of poor quality





    Consultation on this stage of the project has concluded. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.