The revitalisation of Auckland’s City Centre will be hindered if Queen Street is once again flooded with private vehicles.
As reported by Greater Auckland, at the end of last year, Auckland Transport (AT) let slip a plan for a two-year “trial” of bringing back overnight traffic along Queen Street.
AT hasn’t followed a transparent process in reaching a decision to go ahead with a trial and doesn’t appear to have considered the negative impacts. As an advocate for Auckland here is what I wrote to the Mayor on 20 February (cc Local Board members, Councillors, City Centre Residents Group and AT Executives) asking him to stop the trial.
Dear Mayor Wayne,
Thank you for standing up for Auckland and for supporting the revitalisation of the City Centre.
Have you noticed that it is now possible to be on Queen Street and hear birds chirping, the laughter of people and enjoy fresh air? There are so many well-designed spaces and the street environment is greatly improved, making it an enjoyable experience to spend time (and money) in the City Centre.
This has happened as a result of the many projects and initiatives that are making the City Centre a more attractive place for people combined with the growing range of options to access the City Centre without a car. Overwhelmingly, residents don’t own a car and the majority of visitors don’t arrive by private car.
If you dive into the stats you will find that there is less air pollution, less noise, public transport is more reliable, there are fewer crashes and more people are returning every day to discover that the City Centre is very different from the scare-mongering headlines.
Queen Street is a much nicer place for people to visit than it was before – with added greenery, more public art and much improved seating. I have to admit that I was skeptical about the design of Waihorotiu shared path when it was first proposed but it is working really effectively for getting people around on wheels (especially young people who increasingly rely on e-scooters) and it means the footpath is safer for pedestrians. This revitalisation and progress benefits all Aucklanders.
For the 40,000 residents who live in the City Centre the many improvements have literally been life changing. There are now apartment buildings with approximately 1500 – 2000 residents on Queen Street and this continues to grow. We can even start to imagine a City Centre where families increasingly want to live and bring up children.
We can aspire to meet the Council’s target of growing the residential population to over 100,000 residents. But this will only happen if you continue to back planning for the future (not the status quo) and hold firm to the core strategies like the City Centre Masterplan and Access4Everyone that are now reaping the rewards after many years of disruption.
Of course there is still more to do to improve accessibility, improve the perception of safety and provide care for the most vulnerable people who are on the streets as a last resort. There is no doubt that the ongoing works around the CRL and Midtown have been really hard for businesses. Fixes are needed around loading zones, and places for drop offs and pickups for Ubers and taxis. Improvements for mobility access to Midtown venues like the Civic are also needed.
However it makes absolutely no sense for AT executives to unilaterally address these issues with solutions that belong in the 20th century.
This is not the time to backtrack on PT improvements (the planned 24/7 bus lanes on Wellesley Street) or to flood Queen Street with cars once again, especially just before the CRL’s new stations deliver a “people fountain” to Midtown. AT’s proposed 2 year “trial” will result in more air pollution, more car noise, more traffic congestion and will make Queen Street (and access to Queen Street) less safe. It will make the City Centre less attractive for people to visit other than in a car and will negatively impact residents. It will also encourage drivers who just want to cruise Queen St – the car engine noise that dominated Queen Street for many decades will return too.
Please demand that AT stop any plans to increase access for general vehicles at the expense of public transport and people. Please also insist on transparency and a process that involves all stakeholders including the Local Board and the City Centre Residents Group before there is any back-down by AT on planned improvements.
Let’s keep going with the revitalisation of the City Centre including working towards further pedestrianising Queen Street in time for the CRL opening.
Totally agree Pippa. The city is looking so much better than it did! Remembering when it was little more than a racetrack for noisy cruising cars. I would have removed most of the car parks as I still see low hung cars hooning around Queen Street with loud exhausts as the driver looks at his phone. But with the decreased traffic, the planting, the way finding, and all the foot traffic, it is just wonderful to behold. If AT did its research and the Mayor actually looked at stats on cities without cars, they and he would find, less vehicles, more people, more successful cafes and more shoppers. Not to mention, less noise and air pollution.