It also features analysis of what should be done in Mosgiel to better assist freight and commuting, and allowing for the possibility upgrading the Octagon might start as early as 2026.
The draft list was endorsed by the Dunedin City Council’s infrastructure services committee this week, but the council has yet to determine how many of the projects it will commit to in its 2024-34 long-term plan.
The council’s provisional pitch to a 2024-27 funding pool needs to be submitted next month for consideration by a regional transport committee, and then Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The NZTA often contributes a subsidy of about 50%.
Councillors were told some projects were unlikely to be backed in the 2024-27 national land transport plan, but inclusion on the wish list might put them in the frame for other funding pools.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich instigated an amendment at the meeting arguing the city council should work with the Otago Regional Council to have a loop bus pitched to the regional committee.
An inner city loop bus, or "tram", would offer a strong alternative to transport by car and "give people confidence in public transport again", Mr Radich said.
It would also ease demand for parking in the city centre, he said.
The appearance on the list of a look into how freight and a high volume of commuter traffic might best be dealt with in Mosgiel came within a month of a public meeting about the need for a heavy-traffic bypass of the town’s main street.
No dollar figure has been attached to a possible bypass, but council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the council recognised there needed to be strategic planning for Mosgiel’s growth.
The investigation, if approved, might cost $1 million.
The council is also seeking funding for a $250,000 business case looking into commuter rail possibilities and a $100,000 business case for establishing a rail passing loop for freight.
Upgrades of two areas in the city centre have been flagged as possibly starting in the 2026-27 year.
The council labelled them the cultural and entertainment quarter, which includes the Octagon, and the creative quarter, focused on Princes St.
All up, the various projects, business cases and plans on the list put forward for 2024-27 are worth more than $65m.
Aspirations put forward for mid-2027 and beyond had a total value of almost $125.5m.
They included $23m for completion of the Peninsula Connection road safety and amenity project, which would involve work between Portobello and Ōtākou.
The council has been determined to keep the project on the transport agency’s radar.
One project due to start no sooner than 2030 is an upgrade of the tertiary education precinct.
When its implementation does happen, it might cost about $18.4m.
Infrastructure services committee chairman Cr Jim O’Malley said there had been discussion at the regional level about to what extent projects should be included.
The advice from the NZTA was essentially to "put everything in and see what comes out in the wash".
At this stage, the council has left in development of a waterfront bridge.
The project was estimated to have a total worth of almost $20m and it was essentially put on hold in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic damaged economic conditions.
