Bus users and pedestrians the big winners from Wellington's Golden Mile revamp plans
Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Cars look set to get the boot in a transformation of the capital's CBD that could cost almost $80 million.
Bus users and pedestrians are likely to be the big winners under a planned revamp of Wellington’s Golden Mile, while cyclists and scooter riders could also benefit.
The Let’s Get Wellington Moving team revealed a range of proposals for the central city thoroughfare on Wednesday, and as expected, removing private vehicles from the area was high on the agenda.
Two of the three options proposed removing general traffic entirely from the section of road encompassing Courtenay Place, Lambton Quay, Manners St, and part of Willis St, while a third suggested removing traffic from some sections of the road.
**READ MORE:
* Pedestrians mostly to blame for 57 accidents on central city thoroughfare in past five years
* About half of Wellington bus trips are at least twice as slow as driving, figures show
* Cars removed from Golden Mile within two years as part of Let's Get Wellington Moving
* Sales decrease by half for some stores on the Golden Mile after weekend parking and bus woes
**
However, the trade-off between bus and pedestrian space looks to be less clear, with two distinct options put forward should all private vehicles be removed.
One is to create four bus lanes along the stretch of road where possible - two in each direction - and increase footpath space by 30 per cent.
Willis St, Manners St, and Lambton Quay, south of Panama St, would be excluded from that proposal because they are too narrow.
The other is to create just two bus lanes and increase footpath space by 75 per cent, with the option of adding dedicated lanes for cyclists and/or e-scooters on Courtenay Place and Lambton Quay.
There would be no changes to the existing traffic lane layout should some private vehicles remain, but bus stops would be better positioned, and car parks would be removed to make way for more footpath space.
The proposals were put together as one of the early projects in the $6.4 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving programme. They were developed following initial public feedback late last year.
The first option would cost between $15m and $22m, and result in up to 100 car parks being removed.
The second would cost between $21m and $32m, while the third would cost between $52m and $78m.
The latter two options would require up to 200 car parks to be removed.
Under the first option, general traffic would still be allowed on Courtenay Place, northbound on Lambton Quay and Willis St, and southbound on some sections of Lambton Quay between Whitmore St and Panama St.
However, access to side streets would be heavily reduced. All options propose converting intersections no longer used into pedestrian spaces.
Emergency vehicles would still have access to the area, while service vehicles and taxis could be permitted at certain times of the day.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the proposals would help to fix problems like bus congestion and overcrowded footpaths.
'Fixing these options now will help pave the way for better public transport and create a more attractive place for Wellingtonians to spend time and shop.'
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the proposals gave people a chance to help shape a key area of the city, while Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter said dedicated bus lanes would help ease a notorious choke point.
About 36,000 people access the Golden Mile by bus on an average weekday.
The options will be available for public feedback until July 26, with a final proposal to be developed in September and construction to start next year.
GOLDEN MILE PROPOSALS
Streamline ($15m-$22m)
- Reduce general traffic
- Close some side streets to traffic, creating more pedestrian areas
- Remove 70-120 car parks
- Relocate loading and taxi zones
- Increase footpath space by 30 per cent
- Five-minute walk to any bus stop
Prioritise ($21m-$32m)
- Remove all general traffic
- Two bus lanes in each direction (excluding Manners St and Willis St)
- Close most side streets to traffic, creating more pedestrian areas
- Remove 100-200 car parks
- Relocate loading and taxi zones
- Increase footpath space by 30 per cent
- Five-minute walk to any bus stop
Transform ($52m-$78m)
- Remove all general traffic
- One bus lane in each direction
- Close most side streets to traffic, creating more pedestrian areas
- Remove 100-200 car parks
- Relocate loading and taxi zones
- Increase footpath space by 75 per cent
- Five-minute walk to any bus stop
- Dedicated bike and/or scooter lanes