Mission Bay Town Centre safety improvements Mission Bay Town Centre safety improvements

Further Information

What is the aim of this project? Why do we need to adjust the road dimension and install so many raised crossings speed tables and footpath widening?

This project is part of AT’s safe speeds programme where many high-risk town centres were identified all around Auckland for speed reduction and other safety improvements due to the high numbers of vulnerable road users in the area. It is important to improve the safety around Mission Bay town centre given the increasing numbers of pedestrians and cyclists in this area navigating the beach, businesses and residential areas. These improvements are also to support the 30km/h lower speed limit around the town centre which took effect on 30 June 2021.

 When will the construction be completed?

Our current target completion date for this project was 22 October 2022, just before the Labour Weekend.

Why are the road and parking bay widths so narrow?

We had to remove the middle flush median and slightly reduce the carriageway lane width to allow adequate space for a two-way cycle lane without removing the northern parking spaces by the beach. However, rest assured that all road dimensions, including the new carpark spaces proposed in the design are as per general technical standard requirement. In fact, the width of these new carpark spaces are actually similar to the previous carpark widths.

Why don’t we just remove these carpark spaces to create more room?

Removal of the parking spaces on the northern side (by the beach) would result in the loss of over 60 carpark spaces. From the public feedback during the consultation, the removal of the carpark spaces within Mission Bay was not supported by the community.

What’s the purpose of the concrete cycle separator introduced between the new carpark spaces and the cycle lane? Why do they have to be so wide?

These cycle separators were manufactured to a specific dimension to allow sufficient width to protect cyclists from sudden car-door opening of parked cars. Furthermore, the separators could also be used by pedestrians waiting to cross the cycle lane to access the footpath. However, the pedestrians are expected to check that the cycleway is clear before crossing it. Where pedestrians cross the cycle lane, when going to and from a bus stop, a pedestrian crossing is provided due to the high pedestrian demand concentrated at one location.

How can we get out of the car safely by these live lanes when parking at these new carpark spaces?

This situation is currently indifferent to the situation at other busy roads in Auckland, especially around the town centres. The lower speed limit and presence of raised tables have been introduced to create a slower and safer speed environment to further accommodate this situation. Therefore, as usual, car passengers are expected to look prior to carefully opening their car doors and leaving their vehicles.

Objectives

As a Vision Zero organisation, we are committed to making the roads around Auckland safer and reducing the risk of death or serious injuries on our roads. As part of this, we have a safe speeds programme for town centres where high-risk town centres have been identified around Auckland for speed reduction and other safety improvements.

Mission Bay is prioritised for improvements under this programme due to high numbers of vulnerable road users – children, senior citizens, people walking and people on bikes or motorcycles interacting with motorists. Reducing speeds here has the greatest potential to reduce the chance of serious injuries and deaths occurring. Every Aucklander deserves a safe transport network where no death or serious injury is acceptable.

The project is partly funded by the regional fuel tax.

Public consultation

Last updated: October 2021

Another round of public consultation was completed on the updated 2020 proposal. There was also public consultation in April 2019 on the original 2019 proposal, which proposed nine new raised crossings through the village and would have required the removal of 34 car parks.

After listening closely to public feedback, we formed a working group with community representatives to come up with a new proposal that would better meet the needs of the Mission Bay community and improve safety.

The new proposal includes an option for a widened shared path or new on-road cycleway, three new raised pedestrian crossings, two new speed tables, and some small bus layover changes. This proposal has minor car park changes but overall there will be no loss of car parking. This updated proposal will improve the connection between the beach and shops, as well as making it safer to walk, bike, or drive around Mission Bay.

The updated 2020 proposal was consulted from 9 November to 3 December 2020 and received 865 responses.

76% of submitters supported the proposal either fully or in part, while 24% of submitters don’t support any new measures (see diagram below).

We have analysed all of the feedback and use it to help refine the proposal. Your local insights have helped us make an informed decision to make your streets safer for everyone.

We have prepared a report on the feedback received and any changes that will be made.

For a full summary of all the feedback received and AT responses please see the public feedback report here.

Download the detailed consultation plan for Mission Bay - Option A (PDF 35.5MB)

Download the detailed consultation plan for Mission Bay - Option B (PDF 39.6MB)

Download the public feedback report for the Mission Bay (PDF 1.93MB)

Consultation outcome

We have listened to all feedback, so we are making changes to the proposal after considering the views of the community.

During our earlier consultation we asked for feedback on safety improvements in Mission Bay. We heard feedback that our proposal didn’t reflect what the community wanted and have since spent at least 18 months listening closely about what is important to those who travel in and around Mission Bay.

We worked alongside community representatives including those from the Mission Bay Kohimarama Residents Association, Mission Bay Business Association, Ōrākei Local Board and local Councillor Desley Simpson to shape a new proposal which we hope better reflects the needs of the community with consequently no loss of car parking. We would like your feedback on this new proposal.

We carefully considered the safety problem together, while thinking about what is important to businesses, residents, and visitors to Mission Bay. The new proposal is based on evidence where speed data, crash data, pedestrian surveys, and best practice in road safety are well considered. It also considers the extensive feedback and comments received from the community on the previous proposal and delivers solutions based on that feedback.

After considering the public feedback we have decided to progress the project through to implementation, subject to the following changes:

• We will construct a separated on-road cycleway (Option B) rather than widen the shared path on Tamaki Drive (Option A). Feedback overwhelmingly supported the separated cycleway option.
• We will improve the connection of the cycleway across the Patterson Avenue intersection, including reducing the speed of cyclists where possible conflicts with pedestrians exist, as suggested in feedback.
• We will make the short section of Selwyn Avenue around the island one-way in order to improve the parking layout which will also help traffic flow.
• We will review the parking layout on Marau Crescent as suggested in the feedback.
• Feedback was less favourable to moving the bus layover, which would have required building a roundabout at the Tamaki Drive and Atkin Avenue intersection. We won’t proceed with moving the bus layover or constructing a roundabout.
• We will no longer adapt the footpath to shared use on the shops side of Tamaki Drive to the west of Marau Crescent intersections. This is because the 30km/h speed limit and raised crossings will create a slow speed environment and the new cycleway on the beach side would mean this one won’t be required.
• We will add signage to encourage people walking to use the boardwalk and add new bike parking within the town centre.

• Following feedback for speed reduction on Marau Crescent, Tamaki Drive and Selwyn Avenue will undertake traffic surveys to determine whether a speed extension would be beneficial. This would go to public consultation for further feedback.
• Undertake a parking assessment for Atkin Avenue between its intersections with Tagalad Road and Nihill Crescent to see if more parking could be created.
• Investigate whether any traffic slowing measures are appropriate for Nihil Crescent, Patteson Avenue and Marau Crescent since we received requests for this.

Learn more about speed calming measures and their benefits.

Download the detailed consultation close out plan for Mission Bay (PDF 20.5MB).

We know car parks in Mission Bay are in high demand. This proposal has minor car park changes but overall there will be no loss of car parking.

The new traffic lane widths under this proposal is 3.5 metres which provides plenty of space for vehicles to manoeuvre and is no narrower than typical lanes.

We have formed a working group to further discuss improvements to the proposal with Ōrākei Local Board, local Councillor, Residents Association, and Business Association representation.

It is anticipated that our proposed safety improvement changes will start being constructed in April 2022. We will be in touch with residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place and will work closely with community representatives to make sure traffic and noise are well managed.

A 30km/h speed limit was introduced into Mission Bay in June 2021 as part of our safer speeds programme. These safety improvements will complement the speed limit change and help ensure people adhere to the new limit.

30km/h speed change

On 30 June 2021, a 30 km/h permanent speed limit change was implemented in Mission Bay. 

These speed limit changes were consulted on as part of the Speed Limits Bylaw 2019. AT is a Vision Zero region and has a goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on the region’s roads by 2050. Safer speeds are the most efficient and cost-effective way to do this.

Surveys taken in 2017 show vehicle speeds averaging 41.5km/h on Tamaki Drive in Mission Bay.

Speed limits will be reduced to 30km/h on the roads included in the Speed Limits Bylaw 2019. The following table contains a full list of the roads that changed from 50km/h to 30km/h from 30 June 2021.

The safety improvements to support this reduced this speed limit will be introduced in 2022.

Mission Bay Final Design Plan

Download the Final General Arrangement Plan (PDF 9.32KB).

Proposed improvements

We are making changes to roads in Mission Bay town centre in order to improve safety and accessibility for all road users, especially vulnerable road users. Vulnerable road users include children, senior citizens, people on motorbikes, people walking and cycling.

80% of all road deaths and serious injuries occur on 50km/h local urban roads. Nearly half of those deaths and injuries involve vulnerable road users. AT is committed to making the roads safer for all road users and these changes will help achieve this.

There has also been a high number of crashes in Mission Bay town centre. Between 2013 and 2017 there were 45 reported crashes within the Mission Bay town centre area, which resulted in 15 persons being injured. Between 2018 and 2019 there have been a further 14 reported crashes resulting in 7 people being injured.

The increase in road trauma is both a transport and public health issue for the region with significant economic costs. More importantly, the after-effects of road trauma on victims’ whānau, friends and community are devastating.

View the reported crash locations in Mission Bay town centre (PDF 1.6MB).

The project will be partly funded by the regional fuel tax.

Caption: Artists impression of the Tamaki Drive and Marau Crescent intersection.

The improvements proposed include:

• Nine new raised zebra crossings within the town centre. See map below for specific locations proposed.
• A new roundabout at the Tamaki Drive and Marau Crescent intersection.
• Improved shared path facilities and planted areas connecting the Tamaki Drive/ Selwyn Avenue intersection and Tamaki Drive/ Marau Crescent intersection.
• Removal of the flush median and widened shared path facilities on Tamaki Drive between Atkin Avenue and Selwyn Avenue.
• Intersection improvements on Patterson Avenue and Marau Crescent.
• Removing 34 public car park spaces on and surrounding Tamaki Drive to make room for the new pedestrian crossings. See below map for specific locations proposed.

Learn more about speed calming measures and their benefits.

Download the map for Mission Bay town centre safety improvements (PDF 545KB).

Detailed design plans of proposed town centre safety improvements

Previously proposed location of the town centre safety improvements, shown in detailed design plans.

Download the Mission Bay town centre safety improvements maps (PDF 737KB).

Download the proposed safety improvements for Mission Bay town centre detailed design plans and locations(PDF 8MB).

Timeframe

Construction of the proposed changes is likely to take place during mid to late 2019.

These improvements are part of AT's commitment to reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 60% over the next 10 years. 

Find out more about why these changes are needed and how we're reducing speed limits.

Public consultation - April 2019

Feedback is closed 30 April 2019

Read the 2019 public feedback report for Mission Bay safety improvements (PDF 1MB).

Next steps

We will analyse all of the feedback and use it to help refine the proposal. Your local insights will help us make an informed decision to make your streets safer for everyone.

We will prepare a report on the feedback received and any changes made to the proposal, which will be published online. If you provided your contact details when giving us feedback, we will notify you when the report is available.

We are also advancing a working group to further discuss improvements to the proposal with Ōrākei Local Board, local Councillor, Residents Association, and Business Association representation.

We appreciate your patience while we undertake this process.

Because of the level of interest in this matter AT has undertaken to come back to the community with a revised proposal.

AT may introduce a 30km/h speed limit to Mission Bay town centre in future as part of a wider speed management programme. This would mean in addition to the above changes we would also add ‘30’ surface markings on the road to advise drivers of the reduced limit. Consultation on this proposed new bylaw took place in March 2019. Find out more information about the safer speeds programme.