Simeon Brown is sticking to his guns over a halt to Transport Choices programmes. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed all Transport Choices programmes put on hold in October will not receive further funding.
The $350 million New Zealand Transport Agency - Waka Kotahi programme promotes safe walking and cycling and is funded via the Climate Emergency Relief Fund.
In a letter to local authorities, Brown said none of the projects Waka Kotahi put on hold ahead of the election would proceed to the construction phase.
He said those councils which had previously signed funding agreements with the transport agency could progress their projects.
These must be completed by June 2025.
More than 40 local authorities applied for funding via the Transport Choices programme.
New Plymouth District Council chief executive Gareth Green said it was disappointing but not unexpected that the government had scrapped further funding from the programme.
The NPDC had been granted $17 million for cycleway and safe walking infrastructure, but about half of that money would now not materialise.
Green said that meant the protected cycleway component (along Devon Street and South Road) of a project councillors had voted for would not go ahead.
"Look it is clearly disappointing given that the council has made the decision [to go ahead] but we also respect the new government's right to reconsider and make the decision it has."
Green said the early stages of the project - for which funding agreements had been signed - would still go ahead.
These included raised pedestrian crossings and other improvements near schools on the proposed cycleway's route to increase the safety of walkers.
Earlier this week, the minister told Waka Kotahi to halt work on Vehicle Kilometres Travelled programmes which were designed to reduce travel by the light-vehicle fleet and encourage cycling, walking and the use of public transport.
The VKT programme was also paid for via the Climate Emergency Relief Fund.
