Transforming Downtown Auckland

Downtown Car Park Redevelopment | Precinct 

Downtown mixed-use precinct - Auckland Council 

Two major projects, Downtown West and Downtown Bus Improvements, are being delivered together to ensure the best outcomes for the area and those who use it. 

By planning these projects as one, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport can make it easier to get to and from the city centre, and more enjoyable when you get there.  

It contributes to a more people-friendly city centre, where streets, public spaces, and transport all work together. The redevelopment of the Downtown Car Park adds momentum, turning a former through-route into a vibrant destination. 

This joined-up approach means better design, fewer disruptions, and a stronger foundation for future investment.  

What’s happening in Downtown West  

Sandwiched between the Viaduct and Commercial Bay, and extending along the historic foreshore of the Waitematā, Downtown West will become a vibrant and attractive city centre precinct, helping to realise the full potential of Downtown Auckland. Its unique character will be celebrated while bringing together transport, public space, heritage and private development into one connected, people-first place – a destination in its own right.  

Making it easier to get around – for everyone

As part of the changes in Downtown West, streets will be reorganised to better support how people move through the city. This includes making Sturdee Street two-way, helping to improve local access and circulation in and out of the area. 

While some streets will change to prioritise public transport, walking, and cycling, we’re making sure that residents, businesses, and visitors can still get where they need to go, whether by car, delivery vehicle, bike, or on foot. 

The goal is a safer, more efficient street network that works better for everyone. 

Key Downtown West changes 

Removal of the Lower Hobson Street Flyover

One of the most visible changes coming to Downtown West is the removal of the Lower Hobson Street Flyover. Taking it down will transform the look and feel of the neighbourhood to create a more open, welcoming environment for residents, workers, and visitors. It will also make space for better public transport, smoother traffic flow, and safer walking and cycling connections between the city centre and the waterfront. 

Creation of a new public space on Sturdee Street

The potential for an enlarged and improved public space at the base of the historic wall, which once marked the shoreline of the Waitematā, will be explored.  

In the short term, we’re making this area more welcoming and usable, with space for people to pause, meet, and enjoy the city. A placemaking programme will help test ideas and guide how the space evolves, shaped by input from the community and partners. 

Changing the way people use the area 

Streets will be transformed with safer crossings, spacious footpaths, and seamless cycling links that invite easy movement. Public spaces will be transformed with lush planting, welcoming seating, and lighting, creating inviting places to pause, connect, and enjoy, whether you're passing through or staying a while. 

Downtown bus improvements - rethinking how buses move through the city 

Downtown Auckland is one of the busiest bus hubs in the country, carrying thousands of people in and out of the city each day. But as the city has grown, so has the pressure on the bus network. 

The Downtown Bus Improvements project, which is part of Auckland Transport’s City Centre Bus Plan, is set to change that. By reorganising streets and bus movements, this project will consolidate multiple routes into a single, high-performing corridor, create dedicated bus lanes, upgraded bus stop infrastructure, and layover facilities. 

This means: 

• faster, more reliable travel for bus passengers

• fewer buses on smaller, inner-city streets, freeing them up for local activity

• safer and easier transfers between buses and other ways of getting around. 

Key elements of the bus improvements 

Auckland Transport’s downtown bus improvements will simplify the network, make it easier for people to use, and ensure buses run more reliably. 

• Through-running services 
  Northern and isthmus bus routes will be reorganised into a single east–west corridor, improving efficiency, strengthening cross-city connections, and reducing the need for buses to circulate or lay over in smaller central streets.
• Easier to use bus stops 
  New, clearly located stops along Customs Street will make it simpler for passengers to find, board, and transfer between services.
• Better reliability and driver support
  Purpose-built facilities at the beginning and end of journeys will enhance bus time reliability and provide improved spaces for driver welfare.

Before streets or public spaces can be built, essential underground services, such as water, electricity, and fibre, may need to be relocated or upgraded. These early works are critical to prepare the area for future construction and ensure everything runs smoothly once new streets and transport connections are in place. 

Downtown utility investigations.

Work is under way to confirm funding and delivery timing through a detailed business case process for these projects, which brings together all project packages. 

As detailed designs are developed and key milestones, like resource consents, are reached - there will be opportunities for the public to provide feedback on the projects to help shape the future of Downtown West. 

We’re committed to working with the community, mana whenua, and local stakeholders to ensure the area reflects the values, needs, and aspirations of those who use it. 

View a video showing the original conception for the downtown Auckland vision.

These projects are a part of the Downtown Programme (Auckland Council and Auckland Transport).

 Please email enquiries to - ATengagement@at.govt.nz.