Council is a partner/stakeholder in the national Smart Travel carpooling website https://www.smarttravel.org.nz , a platform which allows commuters to match their travel plans with other people who are travelling to save time, money and reduce congestion. Due to technical and usability issues with the current platform, the national group is looking at potential replacements and the app has not so far been strongly promoted.
Council contributes to the national cycle skills training framework development.
There are currently 24 centres participating in the programme.
Refer the Happy Feet Programme website link
Council supports walking school buses with resources, safe route maps and support for volunteers. Thirteen buses are currently in operation.
Council has a Primary School Active Travel Co-Ordinator role supporting schools that promote active travel options.
Council has partnered with the NZ Transport Agency and the Waikato Regional Council to provide a collaborative approach to transport network management in Hamilton. The focus is to provide proactive management of the transport network, coordinate planned and unplanned events and incidents, provide better information to travelers, and optimise the network for sustainable multi-modal use.
As part of this process, a co-located operations room was established in the new Genesis Building on Bryce Street with City Safe and Civil Defence. This facility is only used by Council’s Transportation Unit for major events on the transportation network e.g. it was used during the recent SH1 closure of Kahikatea Drive, where staff coordinated traffic management, communications, detour routes, optimisation of traffic signals etc. It also coordinated updates to the public via social media and ATOC (Auckland Transport Operations Centre).
Such activities will reduce congestion and vehicle emissions, promote sustainable transport options such as walking and cycling, and promote low carbon transport modes such as electric vehicles.
Council supports Government’s intention to progress work and provide substantial funding (around $75 million) towards a proposed start-up rail service between Hamilton and Auckland.
As part of its commitment to support the service, Council has made land purchases (around $6 million) in close proximity to ‘The Base’ retail complex to provide a rail station and a future park and ride facility.
Government funding is dependent on approval of a Strategic Business Case and a Detailed Business Case. The indicative start date for the rail service is September 2019.
The $7 million Western Rail Trail Cycleway was opened in April 2017 and is now an integral part of Hamilton’s 150km biking network. The 2.7km off-road shared path connects the south-western suburbs of Hamilton with the city centre, using the rail corridor and is one of the key projects in Hamilton’s Biking Plan. Almost 40,000 journeys were recorded in the first three months of opening. The Trail won the ‘Big Bike Bling’ Award at the 2017 ‘Bike to the Future’ awards.
The $1.8 million Hamilton Gardens underpass connecting through to Hamilton East was opened in October 2017 and has markedly improved pedestrian and cycle access in this vicinity.
Public transport facilities such as bus stops and shelters, accessible platforms, and bus priority at traffic signals are provided by Council to promote and facilitate public transport as a sustainable mode of travel.
Solar bus stop lights are currently being trialed.
The initiative known as ‘Smart Hamilton’ is underway to leverage innovation, technology and insight to serve our community by making Hamilton more liveable, optimise resources and create sustainable economic growth. Projects that form the programme include smart parking initiatives, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, (EV charging is free at the Caro Street carpark, next to the municipal building) and online services to make it easier to do business with Council.
Council promotes Electric Vehicle (EV) uptake by enabling the rollout of fast charging stations, signage and promotion of events. A public website is also being developed to assist in the ongoing uptake and information provision about EVs.
In association with Council’s electricity supplier Contact Energy, Council trialed two EVs over a month commencing 16 March 2018. While there are currently no plans for Council to purchase EVs, the trial allowed Council to understand the practical considerations of operating EVs and provided staff the opportunity to 'get behind the wheel' of this new technology.
Council provides staff with two bike sheds (located in the underground carpark - one on the upper level and one on the lower level). Bike stands are also provided at Council’s public buildings e.g. the main municipal building, WaterWorld, libraries etc.
Five electric bikes and two kick scooters are available for staff to use for work-related trips/off-site meetings.
Hamilton Zoo has implemented practices that reduce the use of vehicles for collection of vegetation for animal feed. In addition, there are three different sites across the Zoo that are planted with “browse-able” trees i.e. being “browse-able” means that the trees aren’t toxic to animals.