Significant Changes Proposed for City Centre Parking

A new way of managing on street parking in the City Centre has been proposed, and we’d like to know what HOTCity Members think of it.

We all know that the perception of cost and availability of parking in the City Centre is one of the biggest issues for you.

Whilst HOTCity made some headway with Auckland Transport last year by negotiating the current off peak parking deal in the Downtown and Victoria Street carparks, we think the latest proposal out for public comment from today until Sunday 1 July, goes a long way in responding to HOTCity businesses' concerns.

The proposal represents a significant shift in thinking about the way parking can be managed by making it simpler and easier to use our city centre.

What are the issues?

· Shortage of street parking capacity
· Complicated pricing and time restrictions

What are the objectives of the proposed parking changes?

· To make it easier, and more flexible to park in the city centre
· To increase the availability of on-street parking by increasing the turnover of parking spaces
· To reduce traffic and parking congestion and minimise signage clutter on city centre streets

What is proposed?

· Removing existing time restrictions and replacing them with a single approach to pricing and managing parking within two new Central City Parking Zones
· Allowing parking for unlimited periods of time, but the longer you stay, the more you pay per hour
· Extending paid parking to 10pm (from 6pm) in busy entertainment areas to improve parking availability for customers
· Accomodating pick-ups and drop-offs of goods by making the first 10 minutes free
· Payments could be made in increments of as little as a dollar
· The pricing structure encourages longer term parking in car park buildings, where it will be cheaper to park off peak and weekends

What doesn’t change?

Goods & Services Loading Zones will not be affected by this proposal.

Does this approach work elsewhere?

There are some good successful examples of demand priced parking elsewhere, with demonstrable results to business. Have a look at what they are doing in San Francisco

Find out more

More detailed information on what is proposed is available on the Auckland Transport Website.

Let us know what you think

Tell Auckland Transport what you think by completing their online submission form. Submissions close Sunday 1 July.

We’d also like to know what you think. You can email us on info@hotcity.co.nz or call 09 379 8000. We are also happy to meet and discuss your views – we’d like to know what our members think before making our own submission.