Draft regional parking strategy

The ARC is developing the Auckland Regional Parking Strategy to guide a consistent, region-wide approach to the provision and management of car parking.

The draft strategy - a first for Auckland - aims to bring the management of car parking into line with other regional policies aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and addressing economic and public health concerns.

You can read the draft strategy below. It was open to public comment earlier this year and a total of 86 submissions were received. Views range from strong support to strong opposition and the submissions covered over 220 separate points. An analysis was prepared for the ARC's transport and urban development committee agenda in September.

Some fundamental issues include:

• the status of the strategy
• the role of the ARC versus the territorial authorities in determining parking policy
• the availability and quality of public transport as an alternatives to the car
• the link between parking policy and accessibility by public transport
• potential effects on the economy of the region or individual centres
• the effects on existing use and property rights

Several submissions have requested a greater emphasis on parking for those with
disabilities including mobility transport vehicles, and on providing parking for bicycles,
scooters, taxis, freight and service vehicles.

Policies relating to Comprehensive Parking Management Plans (CPMP) Park and Ride facilities, parking for alternatives to the single occupant car, and consultation received a good measure of support.

The next step in the strategy's development is that members of the transport and urban development committee will meet with submitters to talk through issues in more detail.

Why is a strategy being developed?

The availability and cost of car parking is one of the biggest influences on people's decisions about how and when they travel. Free or cheap parking encourages people to drive, usually alone.

Parking availability is therefore a key contributor to traffic congestion, which in turn affects Auckland's attractiveness as a place to live and do business.

Restraining the amount of parking available and pricing it to discourage long-term parking in particular are key tools in the region's efforts to persuade people to make more use of public transport, walking and cycling.

On the other hand, adequate parking must be available to support the economic vitality and viability of individual developments or centres.

Finding the right balance will be essential.

The Auckland Regional Parking Strategy will encourage the region's councils to treat parking as part of a multi-modal transportation system rather than as an isolated land-use issue in their district plans. In particular, councils will be encouraged to:

• restrain the supply of parking in town centres as public transport services to those centres improve
• give priority to short-stay parking on streets and in publicly-owned parking facilities, to make it easy for people visit for shopping or business appointments
• reduce parking on arterial roads, except where it is essential to the economic life of a shopping or business centre on the road
• plan now for park and ride facilities that will be needed to support Auckland's rail and bus network, and
• manage the urban design aspects of car parking, particularly as part of higher density developments.

Consultation brochure

Draft Strategy

Background material