PEDESTRIANS RULE: Buses wait while pedestrians get uncontrolled access to the Courtenay Place crossings like this one outside Reading Cinemas.

WELLINGTON’S iconic Courtenay Place is set for a streamlined, bus-friendly makeover.

One of the street’s pedestrian crossings will be fitted with traffic lights early next year, with a view to changing the remaining two after a trial period.

Bus company Go Wellington general operations manager Zane Fulljames welcomes the proposed change.

“We believe this will assist the flow of traffic, while ensuring the on-going safety of pedestrians in what is a very busy area,” he says.

Pedestrians seem indifferent to the change (if an informal NewsWire survey is any indication), although one, Wellington resident Dave O’Sullivan, says he is apprehensive about the move.

“I doubt it could really improve the bottleneck there,” he says. “[The crossing] is pretty crucial as a pedestrian.”

Equipping all three of Courtenay Place’s pedestrian crossings is not yet set in stone, says  Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean.

“We’ll monitor their performance before installing the next set.”

The plan is part of the council’s Golden Mile rejuvenation, which includes the controversial Cuba St and Manners Mall redevelopments, intended to give buses better access through the city.

There is no specific public consultation on the changes to Courtenay Place, while submissions on the Manners Mall and Cuba St changes close on Friday.