Transforming Collins Street
The City of Hobart has developed designs that will transform the streetscape of Collins Street between Molle and Murray streets.
The transformation will include the installation of protected bike lanes and a better experience for pedestrians. The designs are aimed at encouraging people to stay longer in this precinct, a boon for local businesses.
This is a 'tactical project', allowing us to trial different streetscape elements, such as new loading zones, pedestrian crossings or streetside dining, and evaluate their effectiveness over a two-year trial.
We will then develop more permanent solutions for this important city streetscape.
Your trip, your choice
The new bike lanes and pedestrian improvements are part of our commitment to deliver transport choice for Hobart, giving people more options in how they move into, through, and out of the city centre for shopping, work and recreation.
The development of these designs has been jointly funded by the Tasmanian Government through a Better Active Transport for Greater Hobart grant and the City of Hobart.
Design concept for Harrington to Victoria Street. Note: Indicative only and subject to detailed design.
Listening to key stakeholders
Throughout May and June we spoke directly with business owners, operators and property owners along Collins Street, and other key stakeholders, seeking feedback on our concept designs.
Background
The Hobart Rivulet Park track provides a valued transport connection between South Hobart and the edge of the CBD for people walking, riding bikes and scooting.
Extending this route along Collins Street will create a link between South Hobart and the city, as identified in the Hobart Rivulet Masterplan 2011 and the Inner City Action Plan.
Rivulet corridor projects have been progressively achieved over the past 15 years, with Collins Street between Molle Street and the CBD the last substantial section to enhance a 'city to mountain' connection, an important city-shaping project.
Project status
Hobart City Council endorsed the concept plan for bike lanes on Collins Street at its meeting on 27 May 2024, with key stakeholder engagement occurring through May and June.
We are analysing engagement findings and preparing a detailed design for Council's consideration.
Subject to Council approval we expect works to begin in early 2025.
The adjustable infrastructure will remain in place for up to two years, with ongoing community engagement, monitoring and evaluation to ensure it is functioning safely.
Adjustments may be made during this phase before more permanent infrastructure is rolled out.
Timeline
May to June 2024 | Complete
July to August 2024 | In progress
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What will Collins Street look like?
Streetscape changes on Collins Street will be done using infrastructure that can be easily moved and adjusted. This makes it quicker and cheaper to install new infrastructure, and allows us to monitor its effectiveness, seek community feedback and identify any changes needed before we make the design element permanent. This may include line marking, signage, bollards and other temporary materials that can be quickly installed and adjusted.
The current concept design includes protected bike lanes on both sides of Collins Street, from Molle Street to Murray Street, as well as a short section between Harrington Street and Victoria Street that will be a 'shared zone' where bike riders share the road space with general traffic. From Molle Street to Murray Street, bike lanes will be separated from general traffic lanes by either parking spaces, kerbing or painted line marking.
The concept also includes opportunities for streetside dining, a new pedestrian crossing and street greening to create more welcoming spaces for people.
Why are we transforming Collins Street?
Collins Street is an important street in our CBD, with a vibrant mix of businesses and plenty of pedestrian activity day and night. Improving the streetscape with bike lanes, streetside dining and improved pedestrian upgrades will encourage people to linger longer on Collins Street as a place for people.
Giving people greater options in how they move along Collins Street, including by bike, and on foot, is also important, and our designs are aimed at ensuring people have safe and efficient routes with some streets being prioritised for specific modes of transport.
Creating safer pathways for people riding bikes along Collins Street is a key action identified in both the Central Hobart Plan and the Greater Hobart Cycling Plan.
Collins Street has also been identified as a strategic cycling corridor in the Inner Hobart Transport Network Operations Plan, which guides where different transport modes should be prioritised.
A lower speed environment, streetside dining, a new pedestrian crossing and street greening will create a more comfortable, inviting environment for people walking and spending time on Collins Street, which is good for business and good for our city.
How will parking be affected?
In some sections, parking spaces will be placed between bicycle lanes and vehicle lanes. This design has been implemented on Campbell Street and reduces the risk and severity of collisions between bike riders and drivers.
In other sections, kerbside parking spaces will be removed to accommodate two vehicle lanes and two bicycle lanes. Important kerbside functions, including loading bays and accessible parking, have been prioritised.
Our analysis indicates there is sufficient parking available on surrounding streets, and in nearby off-street car parks.
We will monitor parking availability on Collins Street and surrounding streets as part of this project and manage impacts as needed.
How can I provide feedback?
The key stakeholder engagement period is now closed. Thank you to all who provided their feedback.
The adjustable nature of the project provides the opportunity for broad community engagement following installation, with monitoring, evaluation and community feedback informing any required modifications to the project once installed.
Data collected during this phase will also inform designs for permanent installation of streetscape changes on Collins Street as part of the Collins Street vision project, identified in the Central Hobart Plan.
How can I keep up to date on the project?
We will make regular updates to this webpage and directly to our project mailing list at key milestones.
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