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Chatswood to St Leonards Active Way: the route and parking changes
A proposed 2.4-kilometre walking and cycling upgrade would reshape Hampden Road and Herbert Street, adding crossings and public space while reducing on-street parking.
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The Active Way would connect Chatswood, Artarmon and St Leonards through an existing road corridor. Council selected Hampden Road and Herbert Street after comparing road and rail-side routes in 2020, favouring the more direct alignment with fewer changes in elevation.
What’s proposed
The revised concept combines a two-way cycleway with changes for people walking, driving and using local shops and services:
- 14 new pedestrian and bicycle crossings with upgraded lighting
- Wider footpaths, paving and pocket parks in Artarmon and St Leonards
- Around 140 new trees and 3,600 square metres of native planting and rain gardens
- Raised intersections, continuous footpaths across side streets and other traffic-calming works
The route would link with existing cycling connections, including Mowbray Road and the Gore Hill Cycleway.
Parking and street access
The concept would remove 145 parking spaces along the corridor and add 53 angled spaces in side streets, leaving a net loss of 92. Restrictions would change for another 99 spaces across the study area.
Council says Artarmon Town Centre parking would be unaffected. Accessible spaces, loading zones and other essential parking would be retained or replaced nearby.
The council’s parking study covers 1,783 spaces, including surrounding streets. Its reported 5% reduction relates to that wider area. Council says 624 spaces were vacant at the busiest surveyed time, although that does not mean replacement parking would be directly outside each affected destination.
Punch Street would close at Herbert Street to create a park, with through traffic diverted via Cleg Street.
Funding and delivery
Transport for NSW’s Get NSW Active program has provided approximately $1.2 million for design, documentation and investigations, plus $6 million towards Stage 1 construction on Hampden Road between Mowbray Road and Brand Street. That construction allocation covers the first stage, rather than the whole corridor.
What happens next
Consultation ran from 27 August to 8 October 2026. Council is reviewing the submissions.
Its published timetable targets a report to the Traffic Forum in February 2027, followed by reporting the forum’s minutes to Council. Detailed design is targeted for mid-2027 and construction for late 2027.
Construction timing depends on Council endorsing the final concept and appointing a contractor. Council says directly affected residents and businesses will receive advance notice of works and access changes.
