Rapid urbanization in coastal cities intensifies the pressure on transport infrastructure, while fragmented active mobility networks limit equitable access to key destinations. Shared pathway infrastructure plays a significant role in enabling sustainable transport and social inclusion; however, limited public resources necessitate evidence-based prioritisation of pathway investments to guide future investment decisions and maximise community benefits. This study developed a spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework based on available spatial data to assess and prioritize shared pathway linkages in Tauranga, New Zealand. In total, 21 indicators were defined and grouped into eight criteria. The process involved a comprehensive literature review conducted across multiple databases and Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) analysis. The conducted MAUT analysis resulted in the development of rules for a more standardized assessment of 91 existing and 128 potential pathway linkages. This assessment is based on participatory evaluation and introduces a utility-function-based hierarchical spatial model. Within the model, eight primary criteria contain network gaps and missing connections, access to key destinations, suburb-to-suburb connectivity, safety deficit areas, equity and accessibility gaps, environmental and feasible corridor opportunities, and cultural significance, forming the basis for a comprehensive analysis of key pathway performance dimensions. To assess the relative significance of indicators, two distinct weighting scenarios were applied: one based on expert evaluation and the other based on equal weights. The results reveal noticeable differences between the two applied approaches. The equal-weight scenario identified 20 high-priority linkages but under- or over-emphasised certain pathways. However, the expert evaluation reduced this distortion and revealed clearer distinct prioritisation patterns. The findings underscore the importance of participatory planning in optimising shared pathway infrastructure in coastal cities. Therefore, the primary contribution of this study not only involves the prioritisation outcomes but also the novel methodological framework, which combines the MCDA framework with MAUT and stakeholder inputs.