Reshaping Streets Regulatory Changes

Overview

The Minister of Transport is proposing changes to legislation to make it easier for local authorities (like councils) to make street changes that support public transport, active travel and placemaking. These proposals would enable local authorities to make street changes more efficiently and provide new ways for communities to be involved in changes that affect them.

The proposed regulatory changes include:

• a new ‘Street Layouts’ land transport rule for local authorities, as road controlling authorities (RCAs), to use for changing street layouts, piloting street changes, restricting vehicles, establishing Community Streets and School Streets, and for deciding on other street changes
• amending sections in the Local Government Act 1974 (LGA1974) covering pedestrian malls, transport shelters (like bus shelters), and temporary road closures 
• changes to other rules and regulations so that local authorities can reduce speed limits as part of pilots, trial Traffic Control Devices (TCDs) more effectively, and to make legislation more accessible.

We want to know what you think of these proposals and how they could affect you, your community, your organisation, or your business. We will consider your feedback before finalising any proposals. The Minister of Transport and Cabinet will then decide whether to progress any or all of these changes.

Why your views matter

We want to know what you think of the proposals outlined in this consultation document and how they could affect you, your community, your organisation, or your business. We will consider your feedback before finalising any proposals. The Minister of Transport and Cabinet will then decide whether to progress any or all of these regulatory changes.

What happens next

Probably best to use wording in the consultation doc

If Government agrees to implement any or all the proposed changes, these proposals would be implemented in three steps:

• Step one: The proposed Street Layouts rule would be implemented.
• Step two: The LGA1974 would be amended. Roading powers would be shifted to transport legislation and amended during this process. Sections that are intended to be included in the Street Layouts rule (i.e. for pedestrian malls and events) would be repealed. The 1965 Regulations would also be revoked at this stage.
• Step three: The Street Layouts rule would be updated, with additional sections added (i.e. for pedestrian malls and events).

Steps two and three would occur simultaneously, so that RCAs would not lose any existing powers when these powers are transferred to the Street Layouts rule. This rule would be revised after changes to the LGA1974 are enacted, but before these changes commence.

We intend to take this approach to support swift delivery of the proposed changes. The proposed Street Layouts Rule could be implemented more quickly than the LGA1974 changes.