Transit NZ: urban design embracing a context sensitive approach

Transit’s implementation of urban design has in the past been mainly implicit and limited to environmental or visual enhancements. More recently, the delivery of urban design has become more explicit as Transit recognises how it can improve the benefits it provides to road users and communities. Urban design is an approach that manages Transit’s responsibilities and opportunities in urban, rural and natural environments. It is about how transport influences the quality of people’s living environments. It takes into account economic, engineering, environmental and social requirements to produce context sensitive solutions. It can also help achieve Transit’s statutory objective under the Land Transport Management Act 2003. This paper explores how urban design provides Transit with an opportunity to influence the form and function of urban and rural areas. It will explore how, if addressed early, it contributes to meeting our economic, engineering, environmental and social objectives in a cost effective manner. (a)