Council votes to keep Napier CBD speed limit at 50kmh — against staff, police and NZTA recommendations

The velocity restrict in Napier’s metropolis centre will stay at 50kmh, however the velocity restrict alongside the busiest stretch of the town’s Marine Pde will drop to 30kph.

Simply councillors Maxine Boag​ and Richard McGrath​ voted in favour of lowering the CBD restrict to 30kmh at a Napier Metropolis Council assembly on Tuesday.

“If we put 50 up because the velocity restrict, then individuals make that the goal,” Boag mentioned. “They assume they need to drive at that, or they need to drive at that as a result of they’re allowed to. As governors, we’ve got a duty to supply safer streets and a safer metropolis.”

Three councillors – Tania Wright​, Hayley Browne​ and Graeme Taylor​ – didn’t attend the assembly, which noticed diminished velocity limits adopted for most of the metropolis’s roads.

READ MORE:
* Lower speed limits in Napier CBD set to get green light, despite large opposition
* Submissions support lower speed limits for Wellington’s Karori
* Review’s terms of reference won’t be released, partly to protect staff and councillors from ‘improper pressure or harassment’

The fact the CBD speed limit will be unchanged should please 61.4 per cent of 693 respondents who were against lowering the speed limit during consultation.

Those that wished the CBD velocity restrict lowered included council workers, police and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Company.

The discount of the velocity restrict on Marine Pde, from Vautier St to Seaview Tce, won’t be as warmly greeted, as 69 per cent of respondents voted towards lowering it from 50kmh to 30kmh.

The diminished velocity restrict on Marine Pde was additionally supported by workers, police and NZTA.

Simply councillors Greg Mawson and Nigel Simpson voted to retain the present restrict alongside Marine Parade.

Quite a few different proposed velocity reductions had been adopted, together with lowering velocity limits round city faculties to a variable 30-40kmh, which was supported by 76 per cent of respondents.

Additionally adopted was a discount of the 100kmh velocity restrict on Springfield Rd from 100kmh to 60kmh. Simply Mawson was towards that concept. His view was in keeping with two-thirds of respondents, who had opposed the proposal.