Christchurch in 1980 - a forecast of the traffic situation and its implications

In 1957 the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority set up a technical committee to examine the need for carrying out investigations into traffic and transportation and to report back on ways and means. After a year's fairly intensive study, the committee decided that little of any real value could be accomplished without a systematic attack over a wide front. Therefore, in September, 1958, the authority convened a meeting of local bodies, government departments and interested organizations to discuss problems of traffic and transportation in metropolitan Christchurch. The meeting decided that a master transportation plan was needed and that the authority, whose area extends over the While of metropolitan Christchurch, was the appropriate organization to undertake the work. As a result of this decision, the authority set up a traffic and transport advisory committee comprising members appointed by the local bodies, the Ministry of Works and some either organizations. This committee met for the first time in March, 1959, and in its turn set up a sub-committee of representative technical officers to guide and advise on the technical aspects of the work.