What we are proposing:

• Wellington City Council (WCC) is seeking feedback on changing the permanent speed limit on Aotea Quay from 70km/h to 50km/h.
  • Since the installation of the roundabout on Aotea Quay, the current applicable speed limit on Aotea Quay is a temporary speed limit of 50km/h.
• The permanent speed limit in the National Speed Limit Register (NSLR) is 70km/h.
• We propose to change the permanent speed limit on Aotea Quay within the NSLR to 50 km/h to ensure safe speeds around the new roundabout.

Background:

• In June 2024, Wellington City Council (WCC) consulted on changing the speed limit on Aotea Quay from 70km/h to 50km/h (TR86-24). This consultation was prompted by the newly completed Aotea Quay metered roundabout at its intersection with the KiwiRail Container Terminal (CT) yard. Due to site constraints, the diameter of this roundabout was designed for a 50km/h operating speed. The design was approved in the Pūroro Waihanga | Infrastructure Committee 24 August 2022.

• TR86-24 did not receive any public feedback and was approved in the Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee 8 August 2024.

• This speed limit change was not submitted the NSLR (National Speed Limit Register) before the new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 (the Rule) was signed by the Minister of Transport on 28 September 2024. Therefore, the permanent speed limit change cannot be legally enforced.

• The new Rule gives effect to the mandatory requirements for changing speed limits- which includes a six-week consultation period. We are reconsulting in order to meet these new requirements and gather further feedback.

• The speed limit change is being proposed to bring the speed limit down to the operating and design speed of the new roundabout, which acts as a speed calming device. If we were to keep the speed limit at 70km/h, the roundabout would need to be rebuilt to enable this speed limit.

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