In 2022, we consulted with the community on the Worcester Street cycleway connections. As part of this project, we proposed lowering the speed limit to 30km/h on Worcester Street between Latimer Square and Fitzgerald Avenue. The Council approved this design, including the speed limit change in May 2022.

Last year, the government introduced their new Land Transport Rule - Setting of Speed Limits. This legislation states that we can't install any previously approved speed changes that are not yet in effect.

In August this year, Council voted to consult the community on this speed limit change before making a decision under the new Setting of Speed Limits rule.

We're also looking at speed limit changes along Barbadoes Street and Hereford Street.

These speed limit changes will support safe travel around this neighbourhood. The South-East Central Neighbourhood is growing rapidly with the One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha nearing completion, new residential developments underway and new businesses continuing to open in the area. In late 2024, the Council adopted a neighbourhood plan that includes actions to make it easier and more enjoyable to travel around the neighbourhood. Community feedback on this plan highlighted strong support for making cycling and walking in this neighbourhood feel safer and more enjoyable.

We're proposing

Council originally approved 30km/h speed limits on Worcester Street. However, under the new Rule, 30km/h is not allowed on urban streets, so we're proposing to change the speed to 40km/h. Worcester Street is a key cycleway connection from the Central City to Sumner via Linwood.

We're also proposing to change the speed to 40km/h on a section of Barbadoes Street and a section of Hereford Street to make it safer for people walking and cycling on these streets and to align with other speed changes proposed around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha.

We want everyone to get where they are going safely, regardless of how they are travelling.

Proposed changes to speed limits:

A reduction in the speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h on:

• Worcester Street between Latimer Square and Fitzgerald Avenue
• Barbadoes Street between 252 Barbadoes Street and 296 Barbadoes Street
• Hereford Street between 234 Hereford Street and 276 Hereford Street

Cost benefit disclosure statement

The government's Land Transport Rule - Setting of Speed Limit Rule 2024 requires us to complete a cost benefit disclosure statement for the proposed speed limit changes. This sets out the expected impact of the speed limit changes on safety and travel times, and the expected implementation cost.

The proposed speed limit changes are estimated to increase travel times along Worcester Street, Barbadoes Street and Hereford Street by between 1 second and 6 seconds. Overall, they are expected to result in:

• 0.4 fewer minor injury crashes and,
• 0.6 fewer non-injury crashes each year.

The total implementation cost is $30,000.