Innovating Streets for People pilot fund

The Innovating Streets for People pilot fund (more than $7million) will help councils create more people-friendly spaces in our towns and cities.

Many of us in urban areas want to live in vibrant neighbourhoods, where we easily get to work, and access shops and services. We want to feel safe and comfortable moving around, in ways that are good for our health and take care of the planet.

Tactical urbanism can be used to make quick progress by testing and piloting projects to help demonstrate their value to the community.

The pilot fund will provide councils with a 90% funding assistance rate (FAR) as well as capability building support for successful applicants, including participation in a community of practice.

Covid-19 is having a significant impact on our transport systems and services. The Innovating Streets programme can make a contribution by providing councils with an opportunity to adapt their streets to better support active and safe transport needs, while following official advice about people movement.

What projects that are likely to be funded?

We’re looking for projects using tactical urbanism techniques such as pilots, pop-ups and interim treatments that make it safer and/or easier for people to move around or access community spaces. We want to hear from councils of all sizes.

Projects could be anything from piloting a new walking or cycling facility to pop-up community-led street events, to trialling a low-traffic neighbourhood or reallocating more street space for people.

For example:

• Interim intersection safety improvements (e.g. kerb build-outs)
• Projects to improve placemaking
• Projects that reinforce the context of the street (business/economic activity areas, school traffic calming)
• One-off events to help cities embrace other modes of transport
• Regular play-street programmes that build community support for re-purposing streets
• Low-traffic neighbourhoods that aim to reduce vehicle volumes (e.g. filtered permeability)
• Piloting a cycleway-, pedestrian- or public transport-network.
• Emergency bike lanes or footpath expansions to make more space for social distancing in response to Covid-19

We don’t want projects that create more space for cars, or those that are permanent in nature. Projects need to strategically align with both the Innovating Streets programme objectives, and local councils strategies and plans. They must also be able to demonstrate the value of using tactical urbanism to advance a future permanent change, and explain how they will move to permanent changes.

Key dates

There are two application rounds for the pilot fund. The first opens on Friday 3 April, and closes on Friday 8 May. We expect to announce successful applications for round one in early June. The second round opens on Monday 8 June and closes on Friday 3 July. We expect to announce successful applications for round two by the end of July.

Tactical urbanism projects designed as part of a COVID-19 response package can be considered immediately, on a case by case basis. This involves projects that could be delivered in a short time frame to support social distancing on footpaths and cycle lanes, and the temporary use of streets for physical activity.

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Pilot fund criteria and weightings

Information for applicants

Please read the following:

• Application form [DOCX, 248 KB] – updated 30 April 2020
• COVID-19 specific application form and information
• Frequently asked questions [PDF, 221 KB]
• Brochure [PDF, 817 KB]

Sign up for our Innovating Streets newsletter(external link) so we can keep you informed of any updates relating to this fund.

Further support

We will be hosting a series of webinars to cover key topics to help with your application and to answer your questions.

Webinar 1: Innovating Streets for People pilot fund

Webinar 2: Council applicants – application Q&As

Webinar 3: Council applicants – application Q&As