Albany bus station: Hundreds of tickets issued in parking zone

Monday, 10 June 2019

A reader captures drivers parked on the footpath and on the grass surrounding Auckland's Albany bus station in 2017.

More than 490 infringements have been issued since unpopular parking charges were introduced near a congested bus station.

In February, Auckland Transport installed paid parking near Albany bus station on the North Shore in its efforts to curb poor and illegal parking aggravated by an overflowing park and ride.

Auckland Transport (AT) introduced the charges to help manage on-street parking in the town centre, which was near-capacity.

However, of the 1258 public submissions received on the paid parking zone, 85 per cent were opposed.

Since the Albany paid parking zone went in in February 2019, 495 infringements have been issued totalling $18,651 (file photo).

* Almost 2000 new park-and ride spaces not nearly enough, AA says

* Illegal parking continues to plague Auckland's popular Albany bus station**

On-street parking on the eastern side of Westfield Albany, including Don McKinnon Dr, and business district Corinthian Dr, are charged at $1 an hour.

Parking is charged 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, with no limit on how long vehicles can park. There are 610 car parks in the paid parking zone and 54 pay by plate machines.

AT said there had been an increase of 43 per cent on its 890 peak bus service between the bus station and Corinthian Dr - passenger boardings had risen from an average of 190 per week to 272.

The paid parking zone, in blue, started in February 2019.

Before the charges were introduced, mayhem abounded near the bus station, with people stopping in the middle of the road for more than 30 minutes, illegal parking in mobility parks and across the walkway.

Albany ward councillor John Watson wants Auckland Transport to make Hooton Reserve more commuter friendly.

It remained a problem primarily around the park and ride, AT admitted, although there had been a 'visible reduction' along Corinthian Dr, Data Way and surrounding streets.

Vehicles continue to park on the grass near the Albany bus station despite Auckland Transport's best efforts (file photo).

In its efforts to crack down, the organisation would within the next month begin its active enforcement of the 'No parking off the roadway' restrictions.

AT revealed since the paid parking zone went in, 495 infringements had been issued totalling $18,651. These included standard parking infringements such as not paying or over paid amount of time, and whether or not a vehicle was warranted or registered.

But councillor John Watson said AT needed to actively be looking for solutions to meet increasing demand, rather than run a 'regime' which controlled this demand through supply and ticketing.

'The number one priority is encouraging public transport use rather than punitive measures which discourage people.'

Watson's solutions to meet increasing demand included fully utilising nearby Hooton Reserve and building a multi-storey car park. He said AT should 'seriously pursue' these options.

The large car parking areas at Hooton Reserve, off Oteha Valley Rd, were initially developed to provide parking for sporting events at North Harbour Stadium and are outside the paid parking zone.

Commuters were currently parking there and Watson suggested introducing a bus service to and from the reserve, but it had not yet been taken up by AT.

A parking changes project review in Albany is expected to be carried out by AT in the 2019/2020 year.