Park and Ride Charges while being “considered” they are not being adopted any time soon
Seems Labour’s Transport and Auckland spokesperson Phil Tywford has entirely missed the point on Auckland Transport’s proposal to charge when using a bus or train station’s park and ride.
This is what he said earlier today:
From Voxy
Oi Auckland Transport: fare’s fair – Twyford
Auckland Transport should go back to the drawing board on its proposal to charge commuters for its park-and-rides, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says.
“When we need to be getting people out of their cars and onto public transport, it’s crazy to be making it more expensive to catch the train or bus.
“For many Auckland commuters it is already cheaper to drive than to take public transport. If anything, Auckland Transport should be reducing fares to make public transport more competitive.
“If the park-and-ride carparks are overflowing, the answer is to either build more or provide better feeder bus services,” Phil Twyford says.
—ends—-
Source: http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/oi-auckland-transport-fares-fair-twyford/5/222492
If Twyford had paid attention to the debate that has been ongoing for a year now and actually read the material from Auckland Transport rather than making poxy remarks like above he will realise:
- Auckland Transport is not going to charge for Park and Rides (yet)
- Auckland Transport are looking at building a framework on the conditions needed and to be followed if and when a Park and Ride starts becoming a paid facility
- Auckland Transport and even commentators to Talking Auckland, and Transport Blog know that paid Park and Rides will not be considered until the New Auckland Bus Network (as well as proper feeders) starts rolling out starting with South Auckland late 2016
- Expanding park and rides before the New Bus Network and feeders are in place will only worsen local congestion (think cart and horse)
- Free park and rides are a form of subsidy given that they under cut urban feeder buses that would attract a possible one-stage AT-HOP fare (unless on a Monthly Pass)(Free Parking is NOT Free Parking)
- Auckland Transport is aware of the more complex nature of charging for Park and Rides that have large rural catchments like Papakura Station. However, this comment made here: Auckland Parking Strategy to be Adopted was one I liked: I’d say $2 a day for Papakura Park & Ride would be a pretty good deal.
Last time I used it was back in July last year and it was difficult to find a park coming in at a slightly later time, 9-10AM or so. The rationale for charging for parking means that people who most value the parking can always find it, so it’s actually better for rural users to have a small charge on the park to encourage people who do have other options (papakura feeder buses, walking, or biking) to use them.
So let’s all take a step back folks on paying for Park and Rides. They are not going to happen any time soon but Auckland Transport does need to establish the framework (hopefully with consultation in mind) for how to establish and operate a Paid Park and Ride in the future as part of an OVERALL strategy.
Talking Southern Auckland 
The real problem with Auckland’s public transport—and one that is rarely mentioned in the Talking Auckland blog—is that it’s too expensive. Portland, Oregon, is often held up as the greenest, most sophisticated North American city, a model for Auckland. After all, Oregon is the same area as NZ, has the same sized population, and is dominated by Portland in the same way that Auckland dominates NZ, although Portland is a little larger than Auckland. It has an excellent above ground light rail system where several major downtown roads (think Queen and Albert St equivalents) have been made one-way to accommodate the trains which run on the roads amid the traffic like very long trams. It also has a decent bus system. A daily pass for all buses and trains is $5, and $2 for “honoured citizens”, those over 62 and that includes foreign visitors like me (I’ve spent quite a few months there in recent years). Auckland is hoping to get a daily pass down to ~$18 in a few years time and now also plans to charge for its Park and Rides! That’s why people take their cars. Incidentally, Portland public transport is not uniquely cheap in The US. Boston is cheaper, NY and Washington more expensive, but nowhere that I’ve been approaches Auckland. Then, of course, a significant part of Auckland’s rates go on public transport, so ratepayers still pay heavily for it even if they can’t afford to use it!
Incidentally, the northern Park and Rides at places called Albany and Silverdale (which are largely beyond this blog’s realm of consciousness) are overflowing by 7.30 am.
Is our public transport actually expensive and expensive compared to the car?
I would argue “No” when looking at the running sheet provided by the AA seen here: https://voakl.net/2015/05/20/transport-poverty/
I would also argue is public transport expensive compared to our productivity slipping year on year in Auckland owing to car congestion and everyone being sprung up like a spring? The answer I would argue is No.
In terms of subsidies towards the OPEX of our public transport system especially rail is decreasing and has done 22% over the last 12 months. Less subsidy means less “burden” to the ratepayer and tax payer.
Should Park and Rides be charged for? The urban ones with no rural catchments certainly ONCE the New Bus Networks and its feeders are rolled out for reasons I mentioned in the post.
As for Park and Rides that have rural catchments. I have explained my reluctance to charge for them but another commenter did give a good reason in doing so.
So it comes back to this; you want public transport to be “cheaper?” Then our productivity needs to go up rather than down. And for our productivity to go up we need the workers like me and you not to be strung up like wires each day of the working week. Hence why a more balanced approach to public transport investment that again I have mentioned before like both the Southern Motorway upgrade due to start in October AND the City Rail Link ASAP.
And no north of the bridge does not escape my mind. I have a certain Rodney Councillor reminding be weekly of the issues up there in return I remind her of the issues down in the South. We both agree stuff needs to be done and both of us are pragmatic about how to get it and get there.
I also extend an invitation to you to write a guest post like I had with the “West Auckland Ratepayer” in reaction to the Transport Levy.
If you wish to write one no matter how sharp you wish to be (no personal attacks though) give me a buzz 🙂
Somewhat puzzled by the scathing retort in reaction to Phil Twyfords comment. Poxy remarks? I don’t think so.
He’s simply stating his position, something wrong with that? Suggest you take a step back for sure!