Improving the wellbeing of our communities and planning ahead for thriving, liveable cities means developing multi-modal transport networks and increasing choice for people travelling. To do this we need to work together across our Councils and with other stakeholders to help shape urban form, make shared and active modes of transport more accessible, safe and attractive, and improve the levels of service and performance of these facilities so more people use them.
For those working in strategic public transport, walking or cycling planning roles, or modal shift advisory roles, the evolution of the ONF will be helpful because it will strengthen the investment story and formalise the need to consider all modes, place-making aspirations and a wider range of levels of service right from the earliest planning stages.
Referring back to the ONF in later design phases can then guide things like the urban design of street-treatments, safety intervention choices, travel demand plans or the requirements of temporary measures such as the pop-up street activations that RCAs can now apply for funding for under the Innovating Streets for People programme.
At a regional planning level, the ONF will also help with developing and reviewing strategic modal network plans, such as Regional Public Transport Plans (RPTPs), and the new mode shift plans being developed in some of our bigger cities.
It’s also exciting to see the ONF highlighted as one of the top three ‘shaping urban form’ actions in the Keeping Cities Moving strategy.
“The ONF allows for prioritising active modes of transport in the places we want to encourage this form of travel over vehicles. It provides a framework for allocating the necessary space within streets for this to occur.”
Queenstown Lakes District Council
The ONF enables meaningful multi-disciplinary conversations about mode shift by providing a common language to describe the problems and opportunities that all stakeholders can understand.
Palmerston North City Council
Read about how Queenstown Lakes District and Palmerston North City Councils used the ONF:
