Overview

The Council group are planning a coordinated programme of work in stages between 2026 and 2031 to improve public transport, streets and local access across downtown Auckland.

The programme includes the next stage of the City Centre Bus Plan along Fanshawe Street, Customs Street and Beach Road.

The area around Lower Hobson Street and Sturdee Street will also be upgraded in coordination with Precinct Properties’ redevelopment of the Downtown car park.

Planning and delivering these projects as one will help strengthen connections between the city centre and the Waitematā Harbour.

For you, this means:

• faster, more reliable bus travel
• simpler connections between buses and other ways of getting around
• better organised streets for public transport, general traffic, walking, cycling, deliveries and local access
• stronger links between the city centre and the waterfront
• better access and transport choices
• streets and public spaces that are safer, greener, more comfortable and welcoming
• continued access for businesses, residents, parking buildings, servicing, loading, pick-up and drop-off.

The programme is now in the business case phase. This means we're still investigating options before we choose a way forward. Some details are not yet confirmed, including:

• final bus services
• stop locations
• lane arrangements
• individual street treatments.

Latest updates

Bus improvements

Downtown Auckland is one of the busiest bus hubs in the country. Around 15,000 people hop on and off buses downtown each weekday. Over the next 20 years, we expect this number to continue to grow, adding pressure on the bus network.

There are now more bus services travelling through and stopping in the city centre. In the downtown area, more than 150 buses per hour end their service at 9 different locations. At the same time, there is increasing demand on city centre road space.

The programme focuses on:

• the east-to-west route through Fanshawe Street, Customs Street and Beach Road
• bus layover facilities in Beach Road and Wynyard Quarter
• the streets around Lower Hobson Street, Sturdee Street and Customs Street West.

Key elements of the bus improvements

A single east-west bus corridor is planned along Fanshawe Street, Customs Street and Beach Road. Bringing multiple bus routes onto this corridor is intended to make journeys faster and more reliable.

The corridor is planned to have dedicated bus priority, upgraded bus stops and bus layover facilities on Beach Road and in Wynyard Quarter.

Multiple bus routes will use the east-west corridor. This will lessen the need for buses to circulate or wait on smaller inner-city streets.

Upgraded bus stops

We're planning to upgrade stops along the corridor. This is to make it easier for passengers to board and transfer between services.

Bus layover and driver facilities

We're planning bus layover facilities on Beach Road and in Wynyard Quarter. These will be places for buses to wait between services, drivers to take breaks and electric buses to recharge.

Together, the changes are intended to bring:

• faster, more reliable bus travel
• simpler connections between buses and other ways of getting around
• fewer buses circulating or waiting on smaller inner-city streets.

For bus passengers, the changes are intended to mean:

• faster, more reliable travel
• simpler connections between buses, trains, ferries, walking and cycling
• fewer buses circulating or waiting on smaller inner-city streets
• fewer idling buses, supporting better air quality and lower emissions.

Making downtown streets work better

We're planning changes to the surrounding street network. The changes will make public transport, general traffic, walking and cycling, servicing, deliveries and local access work together more effectively.

The programme is looking at:

• simpler and clearer intersections
• redesigned pedestrian crossings
• better organised and, where possible, wider footpaths
• changing some one-way streets to 2-way to improve local access and circulation.

Sturdee Street is planned to become 2-way. A section of the retaining wall along Fanshawe Street will be shifted northwards. This will make room for 2-way travel on Fanshawe Street between Albert Street and Hobson Street.

Keeping downtown working

Downtown is both a destination and a working city centre. As part of the design, we're thinking about:

• access to businesses, homes, parking buildings and key destinations
• servicing
• loading
• deliveries
• mobility parking
• pick-up and drop-off.

We're still developing the detailed location and operation of kerbside activities and any changes to individual turning movements.

Lower Hobson Street flyover

The Lower Hobson Street flyover and surrounding road layout make parts of this area feel traffic-heavy, difficult to move through and disconnected from the places around it.

Removing the flyover will open up Lower Hobson and Sturdee streets and create space for public use. It will make room for wider footpaths and a clearer, street-level intersection. There will be easier walking and cycling connections between the city centre, the Viaduct and the waterfront.

Changes to the surrounding streets and access connections will be planned together. We'll build the supporting street network before we remove the flyover.

This includes 2-way travel on Sturdee Street and the section of Fanshawe Street between Albert Street and Hobson Street, enabled by shifting part of the Fanshawe Street retaining wall northwards.

Downtown car park redevelopment

Precinct Properties, in partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, is leading the redevelopment of the Downtown car park and the expansion of Commercial Bay. Auckland Council and Auckland Transport, in coordination with Precinct Properties, will transform the surrounding streets.

The 6-year project will bring thousands of people into the city centre, increasing the momentum for a more people-centred, connected downtown.

The Downtown car park will stay in use until development starts.

Timeline

The Downtown Development Programme will be planned and delivered from 2026 to 2031.

• 2026 – Business case, design development, engagement and site and utility investigations.
• 2027 – We expect to share more detail about proposed street changes as planning and design progress. We expect construction to begin, with detailed timing and sequencing to be confirmed.
• 2027 to 2031 – Design and construction will be staged across the programme area.

Construction will be carefully planned and staged to maintain access to businesses, homes, public transport and key destinations and to keep downtown open and moving.

City centre vision