Quay Street and Tangihua Street, Auckland Central - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements Quay Street and Tangihua Street, Auckland Central - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements

Proposal status: Feedback open until 27 May 2022

Reference number: 20100293

Proposal outcome

In May 2022, we proposed pedestrian crossing improvements at the intersection of Quay Street and Tangihua Street as vehicles entering and exiting Quay Street at this location tend to have high speeds, which is unsafe for the high number of pedestrians crossing the slip lanes.

After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed. These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.  

What happens next

We anticipate the changes will be constructed before the end of 2022. However, if there is any change to the construction programme, this webpage and people impacted will be updated accordingly. We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

Community feedback

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge. We heard from respondents that the current crossing layout is unsafe as people drive on the slip lanes at high speeds and there is limited visibility at the crossings. 

The following is a summary of the additional comments and queries we received, and our responses to them.

Proposal creation

  • Suggestion that the changes aren't required. Request to know how many people use these crossings.
    There is significant pedestrian demand at this intersection and pedestrian priority crossing. Our pedestrian counts showed that 185 pedestrians cross here during the morning peak and 220 pedestrians cross during the afternoon peak.

    It is clear from the pedestrian counts that the crossings are well used. When events are taking place in the Spark Arena pedestrian numbers increase.
  • Concern about the construction impacts of the proposed changes, especially noise and dust.
    The flat, wide speed bumps will be made from asphaltic concrete with minimal excavation, which will reduce the construction time and impact. The contractor will minimise impacts of dust and noise where practicable.
  • Suggestion that the accident history does not support this use of resources.
    Any number of accidents is too many. We are guided by the Vision Zero approach to transport safety, which prioritises human safety over other measures. There has been 1 accident involving pedestrians and 1 accident involving cyclists and vehicles in the past 5 years.

Slip lanes and general lanes

  • Requests to remove the slip lanes as they are dangerous and encourage high speeds. Suggestions that slip lane space could provide the space for speed bumps on each leg of the intersection, wider footpaths, turning lanes, or micro-parks.
    Removing the westbound slip lane was considered during the investigation stage of this proposal. Traffic modelling was undertaken to recognise the delays created by removing the slip lane. We found that the delays to the bus network, as well as port traffic, would be significant.

    Tangihua Street is a key bus route, with approximately 180 buses turning left from Tangihua Street into Quay Street at three peak times of the day. With so many buses using this street, removing the slip lanes would create significant delays and queuing on Tangihua Street and so we did not progress with this option.

    The intersection of Quay Street and Tangihua Street is also low lying and prone to flooding. Removing the slip lanes could worsened flooding to the adjacent properties and footpath.

    The design is proposing flat, wide speed bumps on the slip lanes with a special design to minimise flooding. Adding speed bumps to the intersection flush with the footpath would create a dam effect with the potential to flood adjacent shops and properties.

    The proposal consists of widening the footpath in front on Countdown. The widening will increase the footpath width by up to 2.1m at the pedestrian crossing and taper back south towards Tangihua Street. This will improve visibility between pedestrians and approaching motorists.

    The widened footpath, speed bumps and zebra crossings will provide a safer experience for pedestrians and cyclists, slowing speeds on the slip lanes and giving pedestrians the right of way.
  • Request to reduce the number of general lanes as four lanes in the city centre is excessive. Request to have three traffic lanes, one for each direction: left turning only, straight only, right turning only.
    This projects aim is to improve the safety at the intersection of Tangihua Street and Quay Street. Removing traffic lanes would impact the performance of the intersection and may have a significant stormwater impact on the adjacent properties.  

Crossings and footpaths

  • Request to add a crossing on the eastern side of the intersection.
    This request will be investigated with other improvements along Quay Street.
  • Suggestion that most people want to cross the road from Scene Lane to Dockside Lane when travelling from Britomart to Spark Arena and do not want to take a detour so a signalised crossing should be installed here. Request for a barrier to stop pedestrians cutting across the planted median on Tangihua Street.
    Tangihua Street is 143m long, with 58m from Dockside Lane and Scene Lane to the Quay Street intersection. We have observed that pedestrians cross across the planted median. Auckland Council is currently working with iwi to come up with some solution to address the issue.
  • Request to check the visibility for people crossing at the southwest corner from the supermarket to the main traffic light area as it is currently limited.
    Visibility has been checked at both slip lanes for pedestrians waiting to cross. The 2.1m kerb extension widens the footpath and provides better visibility for pedestrians and vehicles.
  • Request to increase the frequency of the 'go' pedestrian light.
    Your request has been referred to our signals team for consideration.
  • Request to make the pedestrian islands larger.
    The current pedestrian islands were not observed to be insufficient during the pedestrian survey.
  • Concern about signage clutter on the widened footpath.
    Sign locations will be designed to have clear visibility and avoid distracting streetside sign clutter.
  • Suggestion that getting in and out of Countdown is difficult due to the footpath and widening the footpath may not help. Request for wider footpaths on Tangihua Street.
    Widening the footpath in front of the Countdown entrance will provide more space for patrons to exit/enter and pedestrians to pass by uninterrupted. The aim of the project is to provide safer pedestrian experience. We will consider low-cost improvements for the entrance to Countdown via Quay Street.
  • Request to widen the footpath on Scene Lane where there are palm trees as it is too narrow for wheelchairs and strollers.
    This project aims to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Tangihua Street and Quay Street. Upgrades to Scene Lane should be considered within a separate project and will be investigated.
  • Suggestion that the footpath does not need to be widened, as there are more important things to spend money on.
    The proposal aims to improve pedestrian safety by improving visibility between pedestrians crossing the slip lane and the approaching motorists. Therefore, widening of the footpath is a key component along with a speed bump.

Planting

  • Concern that the existing tree on the western pedestrian island is not shown on the diagram and request for it not to be removed.  Request to add more plantings, especially native trees or shrubs, as the space is currently dominated by grey concrete.
    There are existing established native trees within the traffic island and medians that are to be maintained and protected. We will refer your request for additional tree planting to Auckland Council. The existing trees will be included in our detail design plans.
  • Concern that when it rains the slip lane floods and it is dangerous for pedestrians.
    The intersection is a flood plain with significant over land flow paths and shops near the road. Stormwater design is a key to the success of the project. We will consider stormwater management options within the design standards, physical constraints and what is safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.
  • Request for a bioswale of native plants to catch and filter stormwater to make the corner more functional and pleasant.
    We will investigate the possibility of a bioswale adjacent to the slip lane, however, there are constraints around road widths and footpaths widths that may impact on the design.

Truck and car movements

  • Request that trucks and heavy vehicles go down Quay Street to The Strand rather than travelling on Tangihua Street and Beach Road.
    Concern about truck movements at the Tinley Street-Tangihua Street and Beach Road-Tangihua Street intersections.
    For this project we are not changing road designations, Quay Street and Tangihua Street are heavy vehicle routes and a key entrance to the port.
  • Concern that boy racers use the point to do U-turns at high speed to head up Quay Street towards Tamaki Drive.
    We expect that installing flat, wide speed bumps on the slip lanes will reduce vehicle speeds.
  • Request to install red light cameras as people run red lights at this intersection, especially turning from Quay Street onto Tangihua Street.
    The selection of sites and the installation of red light cameras is under the jurisdiction of NZ Police. NZ Police and AT have a programme to install red light cameras at intersections where red light running has been identified. Based on the risks, this site may get picked up in the future.   
  • Request from traffic calming on Scene Lane.
    This project’s aim is to improve the safety at the intersection of Tangihua and Quay Street. Upgrades to Scene Lane will be considered as a separate project.

Cycling improvements

  • Suggestion to add bike parking outside Countdown as it would reduce cycling through the carpark or along the narrow footpath to access Scene Lane. It would be highly visible to users of the Quay Street cycleway which would promote its use and it would improve the aesthetic appeal of the footpath.
    The current footpath by the western slip lane is very narrow. The proposed design aims to increase the footpath width by 2.1 meters near the zebra crossing. Adding bike parking will be considered, provided there is adequate space available.
  • Requests for cycle safety improvements at this location:
    • Request to narrow Tangihua Street with some bike lanes.
    • Request for bike lanes to connect Countdown/Tangihua Street to the bike lane on Beach Road.
    • Request for safety improvements for cyclists turning into and out of Tangihua Street such as a separated cycle lane or to change the slip lane angle.
    • Concern about cyclists who ride along the Quay Street cycleway and use the signalised crossing to access the Countdown as after the signalised crossing, they would have to make a very tight turn to cross the slip lane.

      These requests will not be included in the implementation of this proposal but will be further investigated.

​We're proposing improvements in your area

We would like to work with you to make roads in your area safer. We are proposing some improvements on Quay Street and Tanighua Street. 

We are proposing to:

  • Install zebra crossings on the slip lanes at the intersection of Quay Street and Tangihua Street
  • Install Swedish-style speed tables ahead of the new zebra crossings. These speed tables are flat, wide speed bumps with a gradual slope at one end, making it comfortable to travel over them in all vehicles, including buses, emergency service vehicles, and large trucks. 
  • Widen the footpaths to improve visibility between motorists and pedestrians waiting to cross the road
  • Install tactile pavers, which are yellow guidance paving markers to help visually impaired people find their way to crossings and safely cross the road
  • Install new road markings and signage to support the changes.

Download the proposal drawing for Quay Street and Tangihua Street (PDF 591kB)

These changes are in response to an AT investigation that found that vehicles entering and exiting Quay Street at this location tend to have high speeds, which is unsafe for the high number of pedestrians crossing the slip lanes. In the last 5 years, there has been one serious pedestrian crash at this intersection. 

We are proposing to install a zebra crossing and speed table on each slip lane to slow down motorists and give pedestrians a safer crossing facility. We are also proposing to widen the footpaths to make pedestrians and motorists more visible to each other, as visibility is currently obstructed and creates safety issues.

Give your feedback

What happens next

  • We’ll listen to all the feedback we receive, and then decide the best way to move forward.
  • We’ll post the outcome of this proposal and a summary of community feedback on this webpage.
  • We can email you the proposal outcome as soon as it’s ready – just select that option when you fill in the survey.

Auckland Central: Safe with us

Auckland Transport cares for your safety. We want to make our roads safe for everyone, people walking and cycling, especially for our kids and senior citizens and people driving. Projects like this one around Quay Street and Tangihua Street are another step towards our goal of achieving no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. We are guided by the Vision Zero approach to transport safety, which prioritises human safety over other measures (like minor time saving).