I posted a few renderings last week from a rough sketchup model I made of Queen Elizabeth Square. Showed what might be possible if the bus interchange was moved as has been discussed. A few comments came back supporting the retention of the bus interchange..... So. How about a modern tram service.....?
You see here modelled the sort of modern tram that's now used in Dublin, and which interconnects with its waterfront development. You can see an image of it halfway through this post which is about UK urban regeneration projects... (BTW - click these renderings - they are good resolution and better bigger....)
The tram would serve to interconnect inner city public transport infrastructure - such as train, ferry, and the inner city bus interchanges that are being discussed (one in vicinity of East Britomart, one in Lower Albert, and one in vicinity of Victoria Park/Fanshaw Street), and it would, in the first instance, run from Wynyard Quarter, to Fanshaw, into Custom Street West, down Lower Albert, along a little part of a pedestriansed Quay Street, through Queen Elizabeth Square, and up Queen Street.
It would be a high amenity service, high frequency - between 2 to 4 minute service frequencies. Like light rail, but good and urban.
Here you see the track turning left into Quay Street. This sort of service provides for expansion. For example, at Custom Street, there could be a turn into a line (which would connect directly with the East Britomart bus interchange), turn up Anzac Street, and run along Symonds Street to AUT and University of Auckland.
And here's how Queen Elizabeth Square might look with the removel of the old HSBC Tower (which should probably never have been built in that location). You can see how Queen Elizabeth Square would flow onto Queens Wharf (as was envisaged 30 years ago). Precinct Properties would be free to build a replacement tower on the corner of Custom Street West and Lower Albert. And it would benefit from being very well serviced by rail, tram and ferry services. And the public would gain something which has been promised for decades.
2 comments:
Nail on the head, Joel.
You've depicted trams exactly where they terminated at the foot of Queen St from 1902 until 1956.
And gone one better with your loop proposal.
Graham Bush
Hi Joel, I did a report for Auckland City Council some years ago suggesting the Wynyard tram system commence in Elizabeth Square, and be designed for a circular track based on a Portland tram system to enable CBD workers as well as tourists/ visitors to get to the Quarter precinct easily. The idea was that by starting in Elizabeth Square the tram to Wynyard could be the base platform for an extension of tram links along the waterfront to St Heliers and a loop up Queen St, K’ Rd, Ponsonby Rd and College Hill and long Fanshawe Rd back to Elizabeth Square. Your article fits this vision. The point is that a commercially-led tram system extending from Elizabeth-Britomart is definitely a project that needs to be seriously looked at, and I am confident would get investor support if structured appropriately (as the Portland system is). Tony Garnier
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