Auckland Transport will use flashing ground lights, traffic islands and other road safety measures to replace raised pedestrian crossings.
The announcement comes after AT was heavily criticised for its use of expensive raised pedestrian crossings.
AT Director Infrastructure and Place Murray Burt said depending on the situation, the transport agency will now use a mixture of alternative safety measures instead.
Burt said driver high-friction surfacing, feedback signs and built-out kerbs or central islands will be used.
But he added if these interventions don't minimise pedestrian risk to a suitable level, they will still use raised crossings.
"If the residual risks of the crossing facility are still not being managed at an acceptable level, then speed management devices will be considered," he said.
Raised crossings have been the chosen device since 2020 because they slow drivers down and increase their awareness of crossings.
"While survivability rates will vary based on the exact street or road, Auckland Transport elected to take a preventative approach to protecting vulnerable users," Burt said.
But some motorists aren't happy, with several new crossings drawing ire from local communities.
Burt said in response to feedback from the community, AT looked at its use of raised crossings and found while they're the "most effective interventions that can be implemented", they aren't always necessary.
"In some cases, peak vulnerable road user activity can occur at the same time as peak congestion when the network is already moving at speed considered to be safe and survivable (eg 30km/h) and in these cases, a raised device may not have been necessary," he said.
Earlier this year, AT was criticised for removing a central suburb pedestrian crossing less than two years after it was installed.
The crossing on Hayr Rd in Te Tātua a Riukiuta (Three Kings) cost $460,000 to install and was meant to last decades. However, it was removed after just two years.
At the time AT chief executive Dean Kimpton said the agency would review upcoming safety projects to make sure they're affordable and practical.
"We are very aware of concerns that the cost of delivering these safety improvements has been too high in the past, and too disruptive to our roading network," he said.
"We have been clear that we will continue to implement measures that save lives and reduce injury, including raised crossings.
"We will also prioritise safety projects where there is strong community and local board support and clear evidence that we can reduce harm."
Tāmaki Makaurau has had lots of new pedestrian crossings installed in recent years.
AT has spent $6 million on 12 traffic-light crossings, the NZ Herald reported, but didn't specify over what timeframe. Fifteen more are in the works.
