Making Lower Queen Street more people-friendly

An artist’s impression of what Lower Queen Street could look like

Auckland Transport will shortly be seeking feedback on a proposal to make Lower Queen Street more people friendly.

The proposal includes legally changing the designation of the area to remove the option for buses or thoroughfare vehicles from between Customs Street and Quay Street, extending the ‘pedestrian mall’ onto part of Tyler and Galway streets and inclusion of bollards. A ‘pedestrian mall’ is a legal designation of a road to a pedestrian-only zone.

The designation changes will enable the area to safely support the movement of pedestrians as they travel between the area’s many public transport modes. Once complete, the new Lower Queen Street plaza will also connect the city centre to the Waitematā Harbour and will be an important asset for all of Auckland; becoming a space for celebration, formality and parade.

Lower Queen Street has undergone many transformations. It has been a harbour, a wharf, a road for vehicles, a pedestrian mall and most recently a pedestrian mall with access for buses only with minor movements permitted for motor vehicles. This transformation of the space ensures its significance for Auckland is enhanced.

Keep an eye on the at.govt.nz/haveyoursay webpage from next week to find out more and have your say