Community transport ideas move forward for Cambridge Connections

Fifty-five ideas for solving Cambridge’s transport problems will move into the next phase of Waipā District Council’s Cambridge Connections project, following a six-week-long public engagement campaign.

The long list of ideas were received at a meeting of the Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee yesterday (Monday). The next phase involves bringing transport options back to the committee on Wednesday, June 3.

The list is spread across 13 themes including parking management, public transport, walking, cycling and micromobility (lightweight vehicles such as scooters).

“It’s great to see so many ideas on the table – for river crossings, for pathways, for public transport and more,” said committee chair Mike Montgomerie.

“Sixteen ideas have been parked for now.”

The assessment used a seven-point evaluation scale and four criteria: alignment with investment objectives, cost and value for money, feasibility, and impacts.

“The best ideas rose to the top for clear reasons. Those that are progressing showed strong alignment with what the Cambridge Connections project is trying to achieve, and good value for money. Some will be considered as part of wider network improvements, like intersection upgrades and speed limit reviews where a coordinated approach gets the best results,” Montgomerie said.

Over the next month, the Council, Cambridge Community Board and the Community Reference Group will workshop the ideas on the assessed long list.

The next stage of the project will develop the ideas into transport options, which will come back to the community before the transport plan itself is developed.

What’s next:

• Workshops for the Council are being held this week. Elected members will discuss today how the Council can leverage Waikato Regional Council’s study on public transport, and progress walking, cycling and micromobility priorities. On Friday, they will discuss draft parking objectives and network and bridge ideas from the assessed long list.
• Wednesday, June 3 - transport options presented as a series of spatial maps and themes to the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee.

The assessed long list of transport ideas and the full list of ideas is available on the Cambridge Connections website.