Work will begin today to remove temporary posts, road markings and signs while more crossing points, kerb build-outs and pedestrian islands are installed.
Council transport group manager Richard Saunders said several road safety options were trialled in the area surrounding Otago Boys' High School, Arthur Street School, Kavanagh College, Otago Girls' High School and St Joseph's Cathedral School which would be made permanent.
Angle parking would be placed in Cargill St, York Pl and Tennyson St - replacing parallel parks - to create more space and offset any loss of parking spaces because of new entry or crossing points.
A total of 43 parks would be added to the area, Mr Saunders said.
Electronic signs would help enforce a speed limit during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Electronic signs would also be installed at the different entry points so drivers knew when they had entered the school zone, he said.
The intersections at Brown St and Elm Row, and Brown and Duncan Sts, have had new crossing designs installed
Parking in parts of Elm Row had also been changed from parallel to angle.
Feedback gathered during the trial from schools and residents in the area as well as the council's own monitoring showed the measures had improved pedestrian speeds and slowed vehicle speeds.
St Joseph's Cathedral School principal Jo Stanley said the improvements outside the school had made a noticeable difference.
Motorists were now more aware they were in a school zone and needed to slow down, Mrs Stanley said.
The improvement project is expected to take seven months and cost about $1.5million.
