Proposed roading layout changes to Queen St will make freight and courier deliveries to downtown retail and office businesses more difficult and unsafe and says National Road Carriers Association (NRC) spokesman Chris Carr.
Auckland Transport has proposed changes to the way vehicles use Queen St including:
· The northbound lane on Queen St between Shortland St and Customs St becoming a bus lane at peak times between 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm. Delivery vehicles must use the southbound lane at these times.
· Full-time bus lanes in both directions creating a bus-only section on Queen St between Wakefield St and Wellesley St.
· A full-time northbound bus lane between Mayoral Dr and Wakefield St, with travel restrictions at the intersection of Mayoral Dr and closing the Lorne St exit into Wellesley St.
Carr says delivery vehicles not being able to park on the side of Queen St they were delivering to between Shortland St and Customs St was hazardous as drivers will have to cross the busy street with their deliveries sometimes with multiple trolley loads.
“That section of Queen St has two shopping plazas and a hotel and these proposed changes will mean that part of Queen St will have just one loading zone available at the peak courier delivery time of 7am-10am.
“What is not clear from AT’s consultation is that the ends of the loading bays are to be angled so the current bays that fit three vans will in future only fit two vans.
“This will inevitably create delivery vehicle snarl-ups and delivery drivers will be forced to find alternatives like double parking or pavement parking – or stop servicing those businesses.
“This is going to add time, expense and risk for delivery drivers. AT says it wants to transform Auckland’s city centre into a world class place with thoughtful design. This is not well thought through at all because it will create problems,” Carr says.
He says the creation of the bus only section between Wakefield St and Wellesley St and the closure of Queen St to freight and delivery vehicles between Mayoral Dr and Wakefield St would impact businesses in the area, especially restaurants.
“For example, the Carl’s Jr restaurant near the Civic Theatre is in a bus only zone with no loading zones, yet it is one of Queen Street’s busiest fast food outlets.
“Delivery vehicles will not be able to access their customers and we expect some will refuse to deliver,” Carr says.
“We support Heart of the City’s concerns on the impact these changes will have on businesses in Auckland’s central business district.
“As key stakeholders in roading and transport, the freight industry was not properly consulted on these changes before they were proposed.
“These changes are part of AT’s ‘Access for Everyone’ plan but they are actually significantly reducing access for freight.”
The National Road Carriers Association would like to see the following:
· The removal of private cars from Queen St to free it up for buses, cyclists, pedestrians and delivery vehicles.
· The opening of the bus only section between Wakefield and Wellesley Streets to night time delivery vehicles when buses are not running or are less frequent.
· Shared bus and freight lanes (Melbourne CBD has shared zones which work very well).
· Retaining loading zones in the northbound lane between Shortland St and Customs St and not reducing the loading zone size from three vans to two.
· AT engaging better with businesses to understand their freight needs including when they need to despatch and receive deliveries.
NRC will make a submission to Auckland Council on the proposed layout changes to Queen St.
Council seeks feedback
Submissions for feedback on the proposed Queen St network changes will close on May 7.
Changes include wide boardwalks, seating and native plants in planter boxes to replace temporary footpaths on Queen St between Customs St and Shortland St.
The new plans were released by Auckland Council on April 16 and detail the removal of the emergency COVID-19 works in the area and the creation of a pocket park on the corner of Queen St and Fort St to add greenery and a space for people to linger.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says Queen St is due for an upgrade.
“Last year, temporary measures were put in place by Auckland Transport to allow physical distancing during the pandemic.
“It’s now time for the yellow markers, stone blocks and painted asphalt to be replaced,” he says.
“Extended decking pavements, similar to those on High Street, trees and shrubs in proper planter boxes and decent street furniture will help change the look and feel of the area.
“These measures will be trialled before permanent changes are made once we receive feedback from businesses, shoppers, visitors and residents.
“The new CityLink electric buses will be cleaner and quieter and improve the ambience of the street.
“Queen Street has taken a hit from COVID-19, with the loss of tourists, cruise ships and international students,” Goff says.
“The changes proposed won’t solve all the problems. The council, property owners, businesses and residents will need to work together to help the area recover from COVID-19 and to become an exciting and vibrant place to visit and shop,” he says.
‘Not good enough’
The Save the Queen Street Society is threatening taken legal action against the proposed changes with lawyers serving judicial review proceedings on the Council.
Heart of the City is part of the action and chief executive Viv Beck says that “Queen Street must work well and the proposed plans won’t cut it”.
“Auckland Transport needs to know this is not good enough for our main street,” she says.
Beck says proposed changes for lower Queen St are an improvement on what is currently there but there are fundamental flaws in the way the wider street’s going to work.
Buses and bikes will be mixing with each other, and deliveries won’t be efficient. There will be many people who rely on getting to places in taxis that will be impacted, she says.
“It’s appalling that after a year, this is what has come out. There are no dedicated bus lanes in some parts meaning unreliable journeys for commuters.
“There won’t be safe cycling as bikes will be forced to travel down Queen Street in bus lanes, and there will be a whole lot more buses on Queen Street to contend with over the next few years,” Beck says.
The plans also have a major impact for the night-time environment. Under the proposed plans taxis won’t be able to access Queen St from Mayoral Dr to drop people off at the Town Hall.
Beck says there is a diverse range of people who come to the city centre, and access needs to be available and inclusive. “Not everyone can walk to get to places. What is proposed is ridiculous,” says.
*Click here for more information on the proposed changes and to provide feedback.
