The Matamata Connectivity Project was identified through the latest Long Term Plan consultations. The objective of this project is to provide additional infrastructure to allow for better walking and cycling connectivity within Matamata. This could include raised platform crossings, pedestrian traffic islands, footpaths, etc. 

There are a range of ways we can adapt our current road and footpath network to create bike lanes, some are more preferable or safer than others and come at varying costs. Methods include physically marking off dedicated bike lanes on existing roads, widening existing footpaths to create shared walk/bike paths, creating a dedicated off-road bike path where space allows (wide berms) and using road markings to create sharrows (shared road space for cyclists and motor vehicles). We worked with local community groups, Waka Kotahi, technical consultants and Road Safety Educators to design a route that includes most of these options and we’re keen to hear what you think of each method as well as the different streets we’ve used on the route.

We successfully applied for funding from Waka Kotahi as part of its Transport Choices Initiative. The initiative aims to demonstrate and provide more transport options that will make it easier to travel in ways that are good for the community and the environment. This funding enables us to test improvements we have identified in the Matamata Connectivity Project, to better link residents with the town centre, schools and parks and reserves.  We are required to use the Transport Choices funding by June 2024 which is why we’re keen to test some ideas with you now and give you a month to try them out. We aim to show you a plan in July and start implementing some changes by the end of 2023.

We’ll be asking what you like, wish and wonder about the trial bike route and the general topic of how to implement a cycleway network in Matamata that people find easy and safe to use. We’ll then take a look at all feedback and ideas you’ve provided in this and recent consultations and see what we can achieve within our budget. The Transport Choices funding requires us to use the funding by June 2024 which is why we’re keen to test some ideas with you now and give you a month to try them out. We aim to show you a plan in July and start implementing some changes by the end of 2023.

There is $250,000 in this year's budget to improve walking and cycling connectivity within Matamata. Due to the high costs involved with street improvements, this figure would typically go towards installing one new zebra pedestrian crossing and some minor improvements to existing crossings. The feedback will help inform us on where crossing points are needed most and we will use that information to plan for new or improved crossings. The Transport Choices funding allows us to explore additional crossing points to improve connectivity within the Matamata town centre that would’ve otherwise not been possible with Council funding.  

Yes. The Transport Choices funding gives us the opportunity to implement physical improvements such as shared paths, crossings, signage, speed calming etc in the next 18 months that would have not possible with available council budget.

Not directly. We conducted an Accessility Audit in 2020 and have a programme of improvements to work through as funding allows. Fortunately, we are able to use some of the Transport Choices funding to progress some of these improvements. In the meantime, we are interested to hear feedback on safe crossing points in Matamata including what you like, wish and wonder about the locations we have identified could benefit from a safe crossing point.

Our team in charge of speed management has been working closely with schools to see what we can do to help our vulnerable community members move around town. This is a separate project and not part of this consultation. If you would to be involved in the upcoming Speed Management Plan consultation on 14 March 2023 to 11 April 2023, please sign up for updates.

From January to March last year our Pride of Place team popped up all around Matamata to try and connect with people from all walks of life to understand your aspirations for your town centre. All of the ideas you shared with us helped to create a practical action plan for Matamata, to make a positive and noticeable difference for your town. 

We took all that feedback and came up with a  Strategy and Action Plan  for Matamata's Town Centre. Council endorsed this plan in principle at their meeting on 11 August, 2022.

Thanks to the Waka Kotahi Transport Choices and Council funding, we are able to deliver some of the small but important improvements you asked for, including social seating and quality bike racks throughout the town centre. Bike routes and community events were also on your wish list, so we hope you’ll take the opportunity to head along to Bike Day Out, trial the temporary bike route and give your feedback.

Although a full, town-wide trial of walking and biking connections would prove helpful and informative, we had to choose locations that would see maximum benefit from our limited resources. We chose the locations for the trials based on previous community feedback and designed the temporary bike route with local community groups, Waka Kotahi and our local road safety coordinators. Our intention is to show various ways we can use our existing roads, berms and footpaths to create better walking and biking connections, including raised crossing platforms, staggered cushion pads, widened and shared pathways and using road markings to clearly identify safe crossing points or areas most likely to be shared by motorists and cyclists.

Each local council is responsible for planning its towns, including how local roads and footpaths are used. At the moment, we largely have footpaths and no dedicated cycle lanes. During this trial we are looking at ways to create better walking and biking connections and testing to see what you think about widening some of our current footpaths and turning them into shared paths for pedestrians and bikes. We have informed Matamata police of the trial.  

We are in the testing stage at the moment so have left the current ones for people to test and compare. If we find at the end of the trial that the community prefers the new style, we will remove the old ones and replace them with the new design.