Students, staff, and council representatives recently gathered at the Whangaparaoa College auditorium to celebrate the launch of the school’s new Travel Plan.
The launch featured a debate, and a speech by Councillor Michael Goudie who -- along with Deputy Mayor John Kirikiri -- presented a Travelwise sign to the school.
Travelwise is a partnership between Auckland Regional Council’s transport arm (ARTA) and Rodney District Council. It aims to create travel plans to improve safety around schools, as well as promoting active and safe travel to and from school. Engineering and education are both important.
For Whangaparaoa College the ideas put forward in its travel plan may result in lower speed zones and improved walkways, as well as an annual debate on a transport issue.
Community consultation is part of the process and improvements to roads around schools benefit the whole community.
The Travelwise programme has been running for three years in Rodney’s primary schools. Whangaparaoa is the first college to launch its own plan.
All schools in the district are to have a travel plan by 2014.