iMOVE Project 3-019: Wagga Wagga Active Travel Plan Evaluation Project Final Report

Abstract

Planning for Australia’s future requires increasing investment in sustainable transport, not only in capital cities but also in growing regional centres. Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in NSW, with a population of 65,000 which is expected to increase to over 80,000 by 2040. Transport solutions for growing regional centres like Wagga Wagga require an integrated system of mobility options which meet current and future demand.

Wagga Wagga City Council received $11.4 million in 2018 from the NSW Cycling Infrastructure Fund managed by Transport for NSW (Transport) to construct a 45 kilometre-long active travel infrastructure network in the town.

Subsequently in 2020, Council received an additional $3.9 million in funding from the NSW Government to expand the project by 12 kilometres. This represents the largest network of new, high quality, safe and accessible shared walking and cycling links ever constructed within a short timeframe in regional NSW.

The project comprises 57 kilometres of new or resurfaced shared path infrastructure plus interchange upgrades. This network connects cycling and walking infrastructure to education facilities and workplaces, including coming within one block of 90 per cent of schools in Wagga Wagga.

To understand the impact of this infrastructure project on a range of areas such as increased community use and promotion of active travel, evaluative research was undertaken. This research aimed to provide evidence of the short to medium-term changes and benefits of the Active Travel Plans implementation and enable longer-term benefits to be estimated.

This evaluation adds significantly to the evidence base on active transport planning and implementation in Australia. Specifically, the project provides critical data to inform policies for NSW regional towns and councils seeking to improve infrastructure for active travel.