What about parking and traffic?

It’s a good question—as the University consolidates its campus in Hobart’s CBD, it makes sense to ask how it will affect how people access and move through the city.

Here we’ve assembled some information about parking, traffic, Hobart and the University, and how it will all work together—for all of us.
More parking spaces

At the old Websters building (on the corner of Melville and Argyle Streets) we’re creating up to 400 parking spaces. Down the road, at the former K&D site, there will be up to 800 spaces, all underground.

We also have plenty of parking capacity under our student accommodation in Elizabeth Street. Once our move is complete, there will be up to 1,700 additional car parking spaces in the city.

Reduced congestion

It might sound strange, but our research and modelling has consistently shown that moving into the city will reduce traffic and congestion in the CBD.

This is largely due to a couple of reasons:

  • There will be less cross-town traffic, as staff and students won’t need to cross the bottlenecks of Davey and Macquarie streets to get to Sandy Bay
  • Public transport options—buses, cycling, scooters and walking—to the CBD are better and more accessible than the services to Sandy Bay

Our modelling also shows that only 50% of our staff members will drive to work in the CBD. Out at Sandy Bay, that figure currently sits at 75%.

And with the bulk of our student accommodation in the city, students will easily be able to walk, cycle or scoot to the campus, rather than drive (which many would have done in the past).

Planning for the future

We’re also making sure that the University can adapt to commuting patterns in the future. We’re investigating the use of smart technology for flexible, bookable parking, which will allow everyone to use parking spaces as efficiently as possible. We’re also working with the City of Hobart and the Department of State Growth to look into new park and ride facilities, while our existing park and ride service at Sandy Bay will continue to be supported.

We’re confident that we can easily accommodate the parking requirements of our staff and students in the city, while also contributing to a long-term reduction of traffic congestion in Hobart’s CBD.

But we don’t necessarily have all the answers. If you have any ideas, feedback or further questions, please get in touch with southern.future@utas.edu.au