Auckland Transport has found a way forward for plans to improve the area surrounding the new Karanga-a-Hape Station – a key part of the transformational City Rail Link project.
It will ensure the thousands of people expected to use the station each day will find the surrounding streets easy, safe and welcoming to move through, while also allowing for future growth and development.
The design of the Karanga-a-Hape Station Precinct Integration Project was revisited after an updated plan shared with the the Waitematā Local Board in April 2025 raised some concerns.
It led to calls by key stakeholders for AT to reverse proposed design amendments and reinstate certain features.
AT Group Manager Rail Infrastructure Jane Small says AT has listened and responded to feedback from the community.
“We take feedback from the community seriously, which is why we took time to revisit the design and engage widely,” she says.
“In a public project like this, it is challenging to satisfy everybody completely. We have worked hard to balance the different perspectives in the local community, and ensure the project aligns with plans and aspirations for Auckland’s city centre, maximising the positive impacts of the City Rail Link.”
“The changes more closely mirror an earlier Auckland Transport design which prioritises walking, cycling and pedestrianised areas, while still improving access for service and delivery – retaining loading spaces in areas where we’ve heard they are important.
“The best part about an engaged community is that we understand the full range of views. There have been a few compromises on some elements, such as keeping the one-way traffic lane on East Street, and on the approach to upper Mercury Lane.”
When the City Rail Link opens, the new Karanga-a-Hape Station will become a focal point for public transport. This project delivers both permanent and interim improvements to the streets around the new station making it easier, safer and more welcoming for pedestrians to move through the neighbourhood, while also allowing for future growth and development.
The latest recommendations were reached after Auckland Transport undertook another round of engagement with key stakeholders and elected members, including several site visits. Options were assessed to ensure they aligned with strategic plans, including the City Centre Masterplan.
“We’d really like to thank the local residents and businesses for their patience and time as we worked together to find solutions,” Jane Small says.
The Waitematā Local Board has now accepted the recommendations which included:
- Mercury Lane: Upper Mercury Lane will operate as a pedestrian space with vehicle use only permitted for access to buildings on the lane (including e.g. emergency services, residents, maintenance/construction). This will be actioned as a pilot ‘traffic filter’ scheme for up to two years – with the opportunity for local input before being made permanent. Electronic bollards are being installed that can be lowered by authorised users.
- Cross Street: retaining the loading spaces required by local businesses but adding footpaths through a boardwalk design, adding further traffic calming at the Upper Queen Street entrance, adding more lighting, and replacing some paid parking spaces with loading spaces at the eastern end of the street.
- East Street: retaining the existing bi-directional cycleway and the single-lane northbound for vehicles, with devices to prevent vehicle use of the cycleway, and retaining the raised table pedestrian crossing linking to the new station access laneway.
The Karanga-a-Hape Station Precinct Integration Project was initiated in 2022. Other streets in the project remain unchanged including cycleways on Canada Street, Mercury Lane and Pitt Street, footpath improvements, and new bus lanes on Pitt Street.
Construction is already underway on a number of these improvements with all changes set to be completed before the City Rail Link opens.
AT will continue to work with the local community, with opportunities to make further changes in the future likely, as the area around Karanga-a-Hape Station continues to grow and develop.
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