Carpool Parks Come To Park 'n Rides

North Shore City is once again leading the transport stakes in the Auckland Region by introducing carpool parking.

Preferential parking for about 68 high occupancy vehicles (HOVs) with two or more people are to be introduced at the Albany Park 'n Ride busway station and 28 HOV carpool parks are to be introduced at the Devonport wharf for weekday commuters.

"At a meeting between North Shore City Council (NSCC), Auckland Regional Transport Agency and NZ Transport Agency on 24 March I asked the managers from each of the organisations to investigate the introduction of carpool parking in order to physically get more people through the parking areas and onto public transport" says Mayor Andrew Williams. "One person per parked car takes up a lot more room than having two or three per car."

"I am very pleased that this suggestion has now been put into action, and the scheme was approved at today's NSCC Infrastructure & Environment Committee as a one year trial commencing 1 Otober, with a review after six months."

"It's all about introducing smarter, more innovative transport options to encourage more people to use buses and ferries. If they come with two or more people in their cars they will have the opportunity to park in the carpool parks located close to the bus station and ferry terminal. If the scheme is successful we will look at rolling it out to other Park 'n Rides and ferry terminals, and I anticipate it will also be adopted across the region." says Mayor Williams.

"This latest carpool parking innovation on the Northern Busway follows this week's announcement that the year's patronage on the busway is up 19.5%, some 291,761 extra boardings. This great result means steadily rising demand for parking and feeder bus services. Working with ARTA and NZTA we are increasing capacity in all areas of the network, including T2 and T3 transit lanes on our arterials, and this latest carpool parking innovation will assist public transport users."

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