People who live, work and travel between Chatswood, Artarmon and St Leonards are being asked to have their say on a proposed 2.4km cycleway that would change how pedestrians, cyclists and motorists move through the corridor.
Local Trips At The Centre Of The Proposal
The Chatswood to St Leonards Active Way is proposed to run along Hampden Road in Artarmon and Herbert Street in St Leonards, from Mowbray Road to the Pacific Highway.
For people using the area each day, the plans would introduce a separated two-way bicycle lane, 14 new pedestrian and bicycle crossings and upgraded lighting.
The corridor is intended to improve connections to local schools, employment areas, nearby residential communities and the Royal North Shore Hospital precinct. If it proceeds, it would also connect with the existing cycleway between Mowbray Road and Chatswood Station.
Changes would not be limited to cycling. The concept includes wider footpaths, traffic-calming measures, raised intersections, continuous footpaths and a new roundabout.
Around the Artarmon and St Leonards local centres, proposed streetscape works include feature paving, new pocket parks, 140 street trees, 3,600 square metres of native planting and three rain gardens. Street furniture and shade structures are also included.
Parking Among The Main Changes For Locals
Parking is one of the issues residents, workers and businesses are being asked to consider during consultation.
About 145 existing parking spaces would be removed under the concept, while 53 would be created elsewhere, leaving a net reduction of about 92 spaces across the wider corridor.
An independent study of almost 1,800 spaces found around one-third remained available at the busiest surveyed time. Around 95 per cent of existing parking would be retained or replaced within a five-minute walk.
New and replacement parking is proposed to be provided before affected spaces are removed, allowing changes to be staged.
When the proposal returns after consultation, Council is expected to consider options to further reduce parking losses or provide additional replacement spaces. Options for more dedicated car-share parking are also expected to be considered.
Community Feedback Will Shape The Next Stage
The consultation is asking people how they currently travel along Hampden Road and Herbert Street, including whether they walk, cycle, drive, use public transport or travel by motorbike.
It also asks whether the proposed changes would make people more likely to walk or ride along the route in future.
Four drop-in sessions are scheduled during September, including one near Royal North Shore Hospital, two at Artarmon Village Green and another at Punch Street.
A webinar with questions and answers is scheduled for 17 September from 6pm to 7pm. Feedback can also be submitted through the online survey, email or post.
The project has been developing over several years, with concept design work and community consultation taking place from 2019 to 2023, followed by design refinement and funding being secured during 2024 and 2025.
The project is funded through the Transport for NSW Get NSW Active program.
The current consultation does not approve construction. Community feedback, Council officers’ responses and any recommended changes are expected to be considered before the proposal returns for its next decision.
Feedback remains open until 11:59pm on 8 October 2026.
Published 5-September-2026
