In a dramatic turnaround, Auckland Transport wants to return to its plans for a people-friendly urban redevelopment around Karanga-a-Hape Station. The redevelopment was derailed when a small number of building owners in the area lobbied for increased space for motor vehicle traffic – after the project was under construction.
What is Project K?
Project K (or, to give it its full name, the Karanga-a-Hape Station Precinct Integration Project) is the redevelopment of the area immediately around the new Karanga-a-Hape City Rail Link Station. It focuses on a collection of smaller streets in the angle between Karangahape Road and Upper Queen Street: East St, Cross St, Galatos St and Mercury Lane.
Improving this area is important, because it allows Auckland to get the best out of the investment in City Rail Link. In essence, people will be more likely to use the station if it’s easy to get to walk, wheel and ride to, and if it feels safe and pleasant to do so. The people-friendly design elements in Project K will make the station more attractive and accessible for a wider range of people. Ultimately, it gives people more options for how they move about our city centre.
Project K included:
- A pedestrian mall on Mercury Lane.
- Walking and cycling improvements, like formalising a section of cycleway on East St connecting with Te Ara i Whiti, the Lightpath, and raised table crossings.
- Changes which will reduce motor vehicle through-traffic, plus reduced parking and loading zones.
- Improved infrastructure for buses.
What kind of support did Project K have?
The plan was rigorously consulted in 2023-24 and had strong support, with 76% agreeing the changes will improve the area.
Then, as the project entered the delivery phase, a few local building and business owners petitioned the AT Board for greater vehicle access and more loading zones. This resulted in a last-minute, quiet but drastic update being snuck into the plan early this year, removing many of the improvements and reopening the area to traffic.
The updated plans would be disastrous for Karanga-A-Hape Station, and a waste of Auckland’s investment in City Rail Link.
Connor Sharp, reporting for Greater Auckland says it shows how “projects [are] watered down by backroom lobbying, despite being hugely popular with the public.” (Credit to Sharp also for first noticing and informing the public about the surreptitious change.)
Getting Project K back on track
Now, Auckland Transport wants to put Project K back on track. They are asking the Waitematā Local Board to approve the updated design:
- A raft of design aspects which prioritise people on foot, in wheelchairs, and on bikes and scooters have been returned to the plan.
- These include the bidirectional cycleway on East Street and the Mercury Lane pedestrian mall.
- Safety and accessibility features like raised tables are now back in the design.
- Crucially, there are also features to make the area feel safe and welcoming for people, like improved lighting.
The Local Board meets this Tuesday 15 July at 1pm (agenda here). If you would like them to endorse this design please send them an email before then. Email waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and CC the chair genevieve.sage@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
Post note: Greater Auckland has a great explanation of the new-again design in this article.
Post-post note: The Waitematā Local Board endorsed the people-friendly design! We are celebrating!
What changed Auckland Transport’s mind?
Assuming the Local Board endorses this most recent design, it’s a victory for common sense – and the common good – but how did it happen?
Ka rawe – well done. This was a victory for ordinary Aucklanders. So many of us raised our voices and told Auckland Transport it wasn’t good enough.
As well as individuals, thanks are due to the journalists and reporters who covered the story, so everyone knew what was happening. The resident community spoke up via the Project Community Liaison Group. The City Centre Advisory Group added their input. The Karangahape Business Association voiced their unhappiness with the changes.
We believe that some leaders at Auckland Transport will have been surprised by the level of outcry they received. They clearly thought these changes would fly under the radar until it was too late. But people want people-friendly design – and they took the time to tell Auckland Transport so.
It shouldn’t be this hard. But we’re delighted that this time, at least, we have a happy outcome.
