Discussion Paper two
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| http://www.vivanext.com/light_rail |
Hamilton 2063 could be like Auckland is today with traffic congestion and expensive solutions being sought. However, with a visionary council in 2013, it could become a model city that other cities envy.
This proposal is to redirect the city urban expansion to go south-east following the Hamilton / Cambridge rail line.
There are four employment zones which would be serviced from this future south-east urban expansion: the future Tainui employment zone north of Ruakura; Ruakura itself; the university; and the CBD. It is desirable that urban design is such that people live close to their work-place. This reduces traffic congestion, cuts down on the time people require commuting to work, and enhances people’s life-style.
The placement of the urban expansion along the rail corridor will give future councils the opportunity to develop an urban rail system when the population increases to an economic mass and / or road congestion rises to an unacceptable level. It is important to recognise that this debate is not about the urban rail system but is about giving councils of the future the opportunity to develop a rail system. This rail system would have the potential to feed all four employment zones, with the CBD opening up the underground station.
Opportunities this could offer
This concept could open up opportunities for innovative urban designers. There could be four urban hubs: one on the northern side of Cambridge; at Bruntwood; Matangi; and east on the Hamilton boundary at Ruakura. As each expands, they would eventually all join up.
Matangi and Bruntwood would lend themselves to innovative design such as self-sustaining energy from a wind turbine and sola panels, shared pedestrian / vehicle ways, and
energy-efficient buildings, if there was a will to do so.
The Waikato Regional Transport plan 2011 – 2021 sees “passage rail service as a key long-term project and the Cambridge rail line is being retained for future use”.
Kiwi Rail has confirmed that they are working with Waipa District Council and are committed to retaining the potential for future passage rail service to Cambridge.
Hamilton City Water is investigating whether to pump sewage from Cambridge via a major new pipeline to the Hamilton sewage treatment station, as one possible option. If this went ahead it would further support urban development between Hamilton and Cambridge.
In the short-term the south-east urban development would be well served by the eastern by-pass road network at present under construction and the express way which is planned to end at Cambridge.
There is clearly awareness of this opportunity by some councils and departments. It needs the urban planners of Hamilton to come on board and work with those involved to draw up a full conceptual plan for the area.
Effect on Cambridge
This strategy would have a positive effect on Cambridge. The expanding population at Matangi and Bruntwood would generate extra shopping mass in the town. When the rail connected to Cambridge there would be two-way-traffic, so that both Cambridge and Hamilton would be fed by the rail service.
Appendix
Appendix
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