ROOM FOR BUSES
On-street parking is under review along bus corridors which form part of the frequent transport network.
The planned roll-out of double-decker buses on selected arterial roads will require the phasing out of on-street parking between metropolitan and town centres.
Auckland Transport suggests replacing this street parking with alternative site specific parking options. Dominion Rd business association manager Gary Holmes says it would not be justified in his area.
‘‘Public transport is frequent and well-used during peak hours, but during the rest of the day there’s not that many people travelling on buses along there.’’
Auckland Transport is already proposing to remove some car parks from side roads as part of the Dominion Rd upgrades.
‘‘Parking is the lifeblood for any retail shop. The further people have to walk, the less likely they are to stop.
‘‘You can understand it on some arterial roads where there’s no shops but not in a village like Dominion Rd.’’
Mondo Travel Mt Eden managing director Chris Hammonds agrees.
‘‘It’d just force people to go to St Lukes which would be a great shame for this retail strip.’’
The availability of parking is being slowly eroded in the area, he says.
‘‘I’m disappointed because we’ve been working on this issue for years. We realise public transport is here to stay and we agreed to remove a few car parks so buses could run along the road but it seems like the left hand and right hand aren’t talking.’’