Idea to reduce parking woes

A Pukekohe train user believes he has a simple solution to help ease Pukekohe train station parking woes.

Drew McMillan is calling for action, to have painted angle parking along Station Rd, to fit more cars in closer proximity to the station, which would save the distance commuters would need to walk to catch the train.

During the week, cars are parked along Station Rd, sometimes extending past Subway Rd, which is 500m away from the train station, or parked on Birch Rd, around 500m away from the station as well.

McMillan, who recently counted 197 cars parked along these roads, said the parking was not good enough.

‘‘We want more people on the train but there isn’t enough facilities - do you want 70-yearolds walking all that way in the rain?

‘‘There’s no footpath, it’s an unlit public street and at the end of the day on a winter’s night, you’re walking back to your car. They (Auckland Transport) can do better.

‘‘They actually use that (angled) parking for the A&P show (held on Station Rd in February), the road is wide enough to back out and drive away safely.’’

He added the new 87 park and ride car park was not enough. ‘‘I’m surprised they didn’t have a multi-storey car park, where you pay with your train ticket. It’s short sighted.’’

Auckland Transport’s James Ireland encouraged commuters to use the park and ride carpark.

‘‘The new park and ride at the Pukekohe Station has 87 carparks, so the total amount of parking in the area has increased substantially.

‘‘When new park and rides open, it takes a bit of time before people have the chance to try it out and see if it works for them, so before making any other changes in the area we would encourage locals to try out the new park and ride.’’

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