Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

About the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project

The Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project will improve Queen Street for people by shaping a more vibrant, user friendly street environment that people want to spend time in. The project is part of a long-term transformation of Queen Street in line with the City Centre Master Plan’s (CCMP) vision for the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Valley.

Over time, the CCMP sees Queen Street becoming a transit mall; an expansive level surface area with zero emissions, and a vibrant walking and shopping street where pedestrians and public transport have priority.

The Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project will deliver incremental changes to the street that move us towards this vision, by giving more priority to pedestrians and making network changes to remove unnecessary end-to-end through traffic.

The changes that will be delivered by this project we believe will be in place until the City Rail Link (CRL) is completed and pending a future design which might include light rail. We will be constructing in a way that doesn’t dig up the road and allows us to change and remove materials and re-purpose them for future works.

What we’ve heard from Aucklanders

Since the inception of this project in the second half of 2020, we have been gathering feedback from a wide range of community members. This feedback has given us a good idea of what you want to see for Queen Street; it informed the first streetscaping improvements in the northern section of Queen Street, between Customs and Shortland Streets, and continues to inform our decisions as we progress this work. Read more about what Aucklanders have told us through this project.

Feedback from the consultation we did for the northern section of Queen Street was very clear. You told us you support the removal of private vehicles, and you want to be able to get to, and travel through, Queen Street safely by cycling and micro-mobility.

There was also a clear message that the project needs to get on with delivery so people can enjoy an improved environment sooner. You told us you also want to see a complete plan for the street and how it all fits together, rather than taking a section-by-section design approach.

We have taken that feedback on board and have developed one design for the remainder of the project area (between Shortland Street and Mayoral Drive).

The design also includes making some changes to the northern end, between Customs Street to Shortland Street so the layout in this section of Queen Street works with the rest of the street.

When implemented this would deliver an improved and more vibrant street environment, with fewer cars and more quality space for people.

The Design

This is an artists impression to show what the new design will look like.

Extra footpath space

Our design proposes converting two traffic lanes into footpath space for people to use; giving all people on foot and on wheels designated spaces to ensure they co-exist safely.

From Shortland Street to Wellesley Street on the eastern footpath, the new layout enables:

  • pedestrians to continue to use the existing footpath, closest to the shops, free of scooters and bikes.
  • people using more active modes – described as ‘slow wheels and fast feet’ – to use a 3.5 metre strip closest to the carriageway. A multi-use path.

A tactile trim, contrasting colour, a change in paving texture, planting, street furniture and some surface signage will all delineate the ‘slow wheels fast feet’ area for the safe movement of slow cyclists, scooters and people moving quickly on foot, away from slower moving pedestrians. enjoying the shops and activities in the street. Cyclists travelling fast will be expected to use the road.

This shared use will move us closer to the vision for Queen Street as a transit mall that prioritises pedestrians.

Number of traffic lanes

The extended footpath will mean that the traffic lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction, except at the southern end where additional lanes are required to help the network function well.

Below is a cross section of the draft design. The impression gives you an idea of how the section between Shortland Street and Wellesley Street will look with the expanded footpath. Please note: there is still some technical detail to resolve.

Bus stops

Bus stops will be located in the same positions. Busses will stop inline within the traffic lane, as they currently are. Aucklanders have told us that they wanted to maximise space for pedestrians, and buses stopping in the traffic lane will achieve that.

Removing general traffic on Queen Street

Aucklanders also told us they want to remove cars from Queen Street. This also is in line with the City Centre Masterplan’s vision for Queen Street.

We are aiming to achieve this in a few ways:

  1. We are proposing to stop private cars travelling the length of Queen Street by introducing an Essential Vehicles Area (EVA) between Wellesley and Wakefield Streets. This would prevent end-to-end through traffic while still supporting the efficient delivery of goods. Buses, cycles, mopeds, motorcycles, goods and service vehicles, and emergency vehicles will be able to use the area as normal. At the southern boundary of the EVA, four lanes will reduce to three between Wakefield Street and Mayoral Drive, allowing a pick-up and drop-off area outside the Town Hall.

  2. Going forward, there will be no general parking on Queen Street. We are proposing to introduce 24/7 loading and servicing along the length of the project area, and mobility parking around the arts precinct.

  3. We are proposing to remove the right-hand turn out of High Street at Victoria Street East, to stop traffic turning onto Queen Street as a way to get through the city.

  4. We are also proposing to make a change to the existing pedestrian mall at Vulcan Lane, and to create two short sections of pedestrian mall at Fort Street and Lorne Street. This will further prioritise pedestrians and reduce traffic into Queen Street. To find out more you can read the statements of proposal documents available down the right hand side (below the FAQs) on this page.

What’s next?

To make this design a reality and bring it to life on Queen Street, we want to know what you think about the following:

  • Our proposed network changes
  • Whether private cars should be stopped from entering the EVA on a 24/7 basis or whether it should only be during defined times of the day
  • Our proposal for pedestrian malls and the designation of loading zones

When you can have your say

Tell us what you think about our proposals from Wednesday 22 September - Friday 22 October 2021.


By using this platform, you have agreed to Auckland Council’s Privacy Policy. Your feedback will be published in Auckland Council reports and online. All other personal details will remain private. For more information, see Is my privacy protected?

About the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project

The Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project will improve Queen Street for people by shaping a more vibrant, user friendly street environment that people want to spend time in. The project is part of a long-term transformation of Queen Street in line with the City Centre Master Plan’s (CCMP) vision for the Wai Horotiu Queen Street Valley.

Over time, the CCMP sees Queen Street becoming a transit mall; an expansive level surface area with zero emissions, and a vibrant walking and shopping street where pedestrians and public transport have priority.

The Wai Horotiu Queen Street Project will deliver incremental changes to the street that move us towards this vision, by giving more priority to pedestrians and making network changes to remove unnecessary end-to-end through traffic.

The changes that will be delivered by this project we believe will be in place until the City Rail Link (CRL) is completed and pending a future design which might include light rail. We will be constructing in a way that doesn’t dig up the road and allows us to change and remove materials and re-purpose them for future works.

What we’ve heard from Aucklanders

Since the inception of this project in the second half of 2020, we have been gathering feedback from a wide range of community members. This feedback has given us a good idea of what you want to see for Queen Street; it informed the first streetscaping improvements in the northern section of Queen Street, between Customs and Shortland Streets, and continues to inform our decisions as we progress this work. Read more about what Aucklanders have told us through this project.

Feedback from the consultation we did for the northern section of Queen Street was very clear. You told us you support the removal of private vehicles, and you want to be able to get to, and travel through, Queen Street safely by cycling and micro-mobility.

There was also a clear message that the project needs to get on with delivery so people can enjoy an improved environment sooner. You told us you also want to see a complete plan for the street and how it all fits together, rather than taking a section-by-section design approach.

We have taken that feedback on board and have developed one design for the remainder of the project area (between Shortland Street and Mayoral Drive).

The design also includes making some changes to the northern end, between Customs Street to Shortland Street so the layout in this section of Queen Street works with the rest of the street.

When implemented this would deliver an improved and more vibrant street environment, with fewer cars and more quality space for people.

The Design

This is an artists impression to show what the new design will look like.

Extra footpath space

Our design proposes converting two traffic lanes into footpath space for people to use; giving all people on foot and on wheels designated spaces to ensure they co-exist safely.

From Shortland Street to Wellesley Street on the eastern footpath, the new layout enables:

  • pedestrians to continue to use the existing footpath, closest to the shops, free of scooters and bikes.
  • people using more active modes – described as ‘slow wheels and fast feet’ – to use a 3.5 metre strip closest to the carriageway. A multi-use path.

A tactile trim, contrasting colour, a change in paving texture, planting, street furniture and some surface signage will all delineate the ‘slow wheels fast feet’ area for the safe movement of slow cyclists, scooters and people moving quickly on foot, away from slower moving pedestrians. enjoying the shops and activities in the street. Cyclists travelling fast will be expected to use the road.

This shared use will move us closer to the vision for Queen Street as a transit mall that prioritises pedestrians.

Number of traffic lanes

The extended footpath will mean that the traffic lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction, except at the southern end where additional lanes are required to help the network function well.

Below is a cross section of the draft design. The impression gives you an idea of how the section between Shortland Street and Wellesley Street will look with the expanded footpath. Please note: there is still some technical detail to resolve.

Bus stops

Bus stops will be located in the same positions. Busses will stop inline within the traffic lane, as they currently are. Aucklanders have told us that they wanted to maximise space for pedestrians, and buses stopping in the traffic lane will achieve that.

Removing general traffic on Queen Street

Aucklanders also told us they want to remove cars from Queen Street. This also is in line with the City Centre Masterplan’s vision for Queen Street.

We are aiming to achieve this in a few ways:

  1. We are proposing to stop private cars travelling the length of Queen Street by introducing an Essential Vehicles Area (EVA) between Wellesley and Wakefield Streets. This would prevent end-to-end through traffic while still supporting the efficient delivery of goods. Buses, cycles, mopeds, motorcycles, goods and service vehicles, and emergency vehicles will be able to use the area as normal. At the southern boundary of the EVA, four lanes will reduce to three between Wakefield Street and Mayoral Drive, allowing a pick-up and drop-off area outside the Town Hall.

  2. Going forward, there will be no general parking on Queen Street. We are proposing to introduce 24/7 loading and servicing along the length of the project area, and mobility parking around the arts precinct.

  3. We are proposing to remove the right-hand turn out of High Street at Victoria Street East, to stop traffic turning onto Queen Street as a way to get through the city.

  4. We are also proposing to make a change to the existing pedestrian mall at Vulcan Lane, and to create two short sections of pedestrian mall at Fort Street and Lorne Street. This will further prioritise pedestrians and reduce traffic into Queen Street. To find out more you can read the statements of proposal documents available down the right hand side (below the FAQs) on this page.

What’s next?

To make this design a reality and bring it to life on Queen Street, we want to know what you think about the following:

  • Our proposed network changes
  • Whether private cars should be stopped from entering the EVA on a 24/7 basis or whether it should only be during defined times of the day
  • Our proposal for pedestrian malls and the designation of loading zones

When you can have your say

Tell us what you think about our proposals from Wednesday 22 September - Friday 22 October 2021.


By using this platform, you have agreed to Auckland Council’s Privacy Policy. Your feedback will be published in Auckland Council reports and online. All other personal details will remain private. For more information, see Is my privacy protected?

Page last updated: 21 October 2021, 08:23