Collins Street trial gets the green light

Published on 17 September 2024

The Hobart City Council has endorsed a trial of improvements to Collins Street (Molle to Murray Street) including more street planting, opportunities for street side dining and seating as well as separated cycle lanes.

The endorsement follows 15 years of urban design planning for Hobart that has culminated in the proposal for Collins Street that responds to the question: How do we create a city for people?

The Collins Street project is linked to the Central Hobart Plan and its implementation program which was approved by Council in May 2024.

The Collins Street design is iterative and adjustable and follows an evidence-based approach that is used by the City of Hobart across its city shaping work.

With three months of business and stakeholder engagement helping inform the tactical design, council has now given the green light for the trial to commence in early 2025.

The feedback during the extensive engagement period resulted in many improvements to the original plan, including;

• Returning 10 on-street car parking bays.
• Increasing the current accessible parking bays from two to five.
• Retaining Victoria Street as a one-way route and saving seven car spaces,
• Developing a plan to extend opening hours of Centrepoint carpark to support local businesses when the trial begins.
• Launching a Parking Availability app that shows exactly where of the 1000+ parking spots are within the Collins Street city block in real time.
• Keeping 24 hour loading zones on all street blocks.

The trial, set to begin in early 2025, will feature a range of temporary, low-cost street enhancements to improve safety for people walking and riding along the street, creating a more connected city for all road users.

The project also includes a request to lower the speed limit on Collins Street to 30 km/h, improving safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists alike.

The 24-month trial will include ongoing monitoring and evaluation as well as community engagement, ensuring any necessary adjustments can be made during the trial period.

Importantly, a key purpose of the tactical trial is to inform a future Collins Street Vision.

A full report will be presented to the Council after two years.

The trial is an action from the recently endorsed Hobart Transport Strategy and the Central Hobart Plan, which both prioritise active transport and the development of key bicycle routes in the city.

Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds:

“Collins Street is one of Hobart’s most interesting streets and that’s why it’s an important street for us to invest in.

“We’re keen to make Collins Street an even better, safer and more vibrant place that entices people to spend more time there.

“Together with many Australian cities, we’re trialling safer bike lanes as one part of this project. Other trials have found that they help reduce congestion, lower the risk of crashes and make our streets more appealing places to visit, meet and shop.”

Quotes to be attributed to City Mobility Portfolio Chair Cr Ryan Posselt:

“The Collins Street project will fill a crucial gap in our bicycle network, providing an essential east-west connection.

“This is part of our commitment to creating a ‘connected’ network that is safe and accessible for all ages and abilities.”

Quotes to be attributed to Menzies Insitute for Medical Research Associate Professor Verity Cleland:

“Public transport stops and pedestrian zones generally make retail areas more attractive, while too much on-street parking can lower retail rents.

“Creating safer, more walkable and bike-friendly streets improves health, wellbeing, community connections, and liveability.

“By adding improvements for people walking and riding, we give more people more options for getting around Hobart however they want to.”

Quotes to be attributed to Collins Street business owner Chis Lang (Ethical Choice Investments):

“It’s good to see a better balance between car parking and other transport. It’s great to have more options out there.

“Research indicates bike lanes improve retail sales for nearby businesses. There’s likely to be a net benefit for businesses in the area, which is a real positive.

“There’s already a lot of cycle traffic on Collins Street. These lanes will make it safer for the people who already bike to work or the shops.”

Pictured: (left to right) Chris Lang, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and Associate Professor Verity Cleland.