Report on Community Issues survey into High Street traffic

Term 2 2010

After hearing about issues raised by the local newspaper the class decided to look into traffic issues in High Street and find out what the Motueka community thought about it. The class investigated the transport study's recommendations and then soon realised that this issue is bigger than we first thought. So we decided to take action on this problem to get the community's opinion on the topic at hand.

We invited speakers including Gary Clark the Transport Manager for the TDC and David Ogilvie the Chairman of the Motueka Community Board to explain the traffic issues in High Street. After further research we then drafted a questionnaire to find out the views of our community.

We formed a hypothesis which was this: We believe that our community is aware of the transport study and supports its recommendation. However another pedestrian crossing at the New World is desired. A By-Pass and a new bridge are the only long term solution. Public consolation will be expected before recommendations are implemented.

We interviewed 411 people over 4 separate days. Many people we interviewed seemed willing to give their opinion about traffic issues especially pedestrian crossings We found out the they support a By-pass along Queen Victoria Street and a new bridge over the Motueka River and a new pedestrian crossing from New World to the Warehouse.

Here are some of the main points that we thought were important.

Motueka has a state highway running through it and the public isn't allowed a say in how its run and maintained or fixed because it's run by NZ Transport Agency.
The Transport Study Report included the following recommendations: traffic lights at Pah Street intersection, roundabouts at Whakarewa and King Edward intersection, by-Pass in summer using Queen Victoria Street northwards and Thorp Street southwards, moving pedestrian crossings and marking parallel parking.
When we interviewed people we asked a question which was this: Are you aware of the recent Transport Study affecting Motueka and a surprising 62% of the people we interviewed said no.
79% of the people we interviewed said that there were traffic issues in Motueka.
There was strong support (67%) for mid block pedestrian lights between the Warehouse and New World to make it easier for pedestrians to cross although there was split opinion about the need for more pedestrian crossings.
If a new crossing was permitted 78% favoured it between New World and the Warehouse.
There was strong support (67%) for traffic lights at Pah Street, roundabouts at Whakarewa (71%) and King Edward (66%).
77% believed a by-pass along Queen Victoria Street would reduce congestion in High Street and 73% believed that only a new bridge and by-pass would provide a long term solution to High Street congestion.
85% believed that the Motueka community should be consulted before the transport study recommendations are implemented.

In conclusion we hope that this issue will be resolved in the near future, so that Motueka can go back to being a nice quite slow flowing traffic town.

This report was written by Lucy Partridge, Natalie Cheyne and Jess Creighton.

Click here to view the survey questions »

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