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Ponsonby Road pedestrian improvements Ponsonby Road pedestrian improvements

Auckland Transport (AT) and Waitematā Local Board are making improvements for pedestrians along Ponsonby Road (and 8 side streets) between Lincoln Street and Pollen Street.

Project status: Completed.
Project zone: Central.

Project overview

The improvements along Ponsonby Road include constructing raised speed tables to create a slower-speed environment at intersections, upgrading footpaths, installing new street furniture and trees, and renewing street lights.

Once complete, this section of Ponsonby will be a more attractive and pedestrian-friendly environment.

Concept image of Collingwood St intersection

Image: An artist's impression of what the Collingwood Street intersection will look like once completed.

Key features

  • Installation of a new raised tables with the tops paved in exposed concrete and side ramps paved with basalt setts.
  • Footpath build-outs with surfaces to match the existing paving in each area: asphalt for Ponsonby Road and concrete for most of the side streets.
  • Relocation of two pedestrian refuge crossings (near Norfolk and Mackelvie Streets).
  • Addition of a pedestrian refuge crossing on Ponsonby Road (at the intersection of Pollen Streets).
  • Relocation of a bus stop into the traffic lane and associated footpath build-out (on Ponsonby Road).
  • Additional raised table, footpath build-out, strip of coloured surface, and central median flush planting on Mackelvie Street.
  • Net gain of 4 on-street car parking spaces.

View the final overall plan of pedestrian improvements along Ponsonby Road (PDF 3.6MB)

Benefits

  • A safer, more appealing environment for pedestrians.
  • Improved pedestrian connectivity across the roads.
  • Space for street furniture or other amenities.
  • Help slow down vehicles turning into and out of side streets.

Cost

The proposed improvements help implement Auckland Council's Ponsonby Road Plan and are funded from the Waitematā Local Board's transport capital expenditure fund and by Auckland Transport.

Timeline

  • November and December 2015 - public feedback.
  • May 2016 - feedback and decisions report published.
  • July 2016 - public feedback on street furniture design; feedback analysis.
  • October 2016 - detailed design released.
  • February 2017 - construction begins (including footpath upgrades from Franklin Road to Pollen Street).
  • January 2018 - work on the Collingwood St intersection.
  • February 2018 - construction complete (expected).

Details of improvements by street

Ponsonby Road

  • Relocation of the indented bus stop (bus bay) at 169 Ponsonby Road (near Collingwood Street) into the live traffic lane.
  • Footpath build-outs (asphalt for Ponsonby Road and concrete for most of the side streets).
  • Relocation of 2 pedestrian refuge crossings closer to the:
    1. Anglesea Street and Norfolk Street intersection.
    2. Mackelvie Street intersection.
  • Addition of 2 new pedestrian refuge crossings on Ponsonby Road close to the Douglas Street and Pollen Street intersection.
  • Upgrades to street lighting along Ponsonby Road between Collingwood and Pollen Streets.

Collingwood Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.
  • Planting of a Tānekaha (Celery Pine) tree outside 167 Ponsonby Road to match the existing trees on Ponsonby Road.
  • Installation of a new street bench.
  • Installation of 3 new bike racks on the footpath build-out.

View the final plan of improvements to Collingwood Street (PDF 1MB)

Lincoln Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.

View the final plan of improvements to Lincoln Street (PDF 1MB)

Anglesea Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.
  • Installation of 2 new street benches.
  • Installation of 3 new bike racks on the footpath build-out.

View the final plan of improvements to Anglesea Street (PDF 970KB)

Norfolk Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.

View the final plan of improvements to Norfolk Street (PDF 1.6MB)

Douglas Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.
  • Relocation of the existing bike racks from east of the footpath build-out to west of the build-out.

View the final plan of improvements to Douglas Street (PDF 852KB)

Brown Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.
  • New recycling bin added to existing litter bin.

View the final plan of improvements to Brown Street (PDF 580KB)

Mackelvie Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.
  • Installation of a new bench on the north-western side of Mackelvie Street.
  • Planting of Pōhutukawa trees in new trial planter boxes on the central flush median (trial for 6 to 12 months).
  • A new coloured surface treatment to show the connection between the laneways on either side of the road.

View the final plan of improvements to Mackelvie Street (PDF 1.24MB)

Pollen Street

  • Installation of a new raised table.
  • Footpath build-outs.
  • Installation of 2 new bike racks on the footpath build-out.
  • Installation of 2 new street benches on the footpath build-out.
  • New recycling bin added to existing litter bin.
  • Installation of a new pedestrian refuge crossing on Ponsonby Road

View the plan of improvements to Pollen Street (PDF 1.13MB)

Changes to parking

The improvements will result in a net gain of 3 on-street car parking spaces.

At local request, we removed the car park planned for near the corner of Ponsonby Road and Brown Street, adjacent to no. 148 Ponsonby Road. Delivery vehicles were illegally parking on the broken yellow lines, obscuring both vehicle and pedestrian visibility.

Removing this space reduced the net parking gain provided by this project from 4 to 3 new car parks.

Original proposal

We originally proposed to gain 8 new on-street parking spaces, however, additional footpath build-outs on Pollen Street resulted in the loss of 2 spaces. A further 2 car parking spaces have been lost through extension of the yellow broken lines in front of the existing bus stop between Brown Street and Richmond Road.

Reasons for the improvements

  • The raised tables on the side streets will improve pedestrian connectivity across these roads and help slow down vehicles turning into and out of the side streets; slower vehicles will create a safer, more-appealing environment for pedestrians.
  • The kerb extensions will create a more-expansive and attractive area for pedestrians as well as providing space for street furniture or other amenities.
  • Street furniture such as seating will allow pedestrians to sit and enjoy their surrounds, including views through to the city. Tree planting along footpaths makes streets more attractive and provides shade. More cycle stands are also being proposed.
  • The pedestrian crossings on Ponsonby Road are proposed to be relocated closer to the side roads as these are the locations where most pedestrians want to cross. The proposed new pedestrian refuge crossing near Pollen Street will fill a gap in the spacing of current crossing facilities.

For more information

Contact Auckland Transport