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Handsomedan

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#233745 1-May-2018 08:36
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Firstly, let me start by stating that I have sent the below (in italics) to AT, in the hope that I'll get constructive feedback....I don't anticipate that I will.

 

This is really just me venting.

 

 

 

I received a pamphlet from the helpful staff at Constellation Station this morning and having read it, I see it lists the following as action points:

 

  • Lengthening Southbound platform
  • Constructing Northbound platform & over bridge
  • Extending Northern Busway to Albany

 

 

At no point in the literature that I have, does it mention an increase in car parking facilities at Constellation Station – probably the only thing that actually NEEDS to be done.

 

 

 

For a number of years now, the car parking at and around Constellation has been woefully inadequate.

 

Creating a multi-storey car parking facility in the location of the lower carpark, or purchasing the land and extending up the slope next to the Police Station would perhaps be the most logical first steps rather than extending platforms that are rarely full, or creating a Northbound platform and over bridge.

 

 

 

Is AT ever going to address the car parking situation at Constellation? It’s one of the contributing factors in many people continuing to use their cars instead of public transport.

 

Personally, if I do not get to the surrounding roads by 6.50am, I cannot get a park near the station. To get a park at the station, I’d need to be there closer to 6.30am. A ludicrous situation for a “Park and Ride” station with few real and convenient options from feeder buses.

 

 

 

What bugs me about the above is that despite having raised this several times in the past, I have never received an answer that addresses the issue - it appears that they believe the system works, because the carpark is full every day.

 

So is the motorway, so it's a moot point.

 

 

 

 





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minigopher17
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  #2005622 1-May-2018 08:41
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I believe the opinion of AT has always been there's no need for extra carparking as the "new network" when rolled out to the North Shore later this year will provide more than adequate cross-town connecting buses to stations.

 

I personally agree that all busway stations need more parking - Akoranga only having 4 hour max parks means it's useless for taking the bus to events over the bridge as you fear being ticketed or towed when you get back.




  #2006075 1-May-2018 15:36
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AT want you to catch a bus to the busway station to catch your busway bus


Davy
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  #2006082 1-May-2018 15:43
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But there are very few buses, and you might have to wait for half and hour for most places on the Shore. Same for coming back home, so it ends up taking hours to get to work and back.



jonb
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  #2006085 1-May-2018 15:44
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Would have cost next to nothing to level the ground of the carpark area to the lowest point of the slope during original construction, then a second storey would be a simple add-on.


blackjack17
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  #2006101 1-May-2018 15:59
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Costs of multistory carparks aren't cheap.  Looking at figures at least $35,000-$50,000 per carpark https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2014/05/15/what-do-carparks-cost-to-build/ 

 

 

 

So to provide 1000 carparks you are looking at around $35 million. 

 

Each double decker bus can carry around 100 people so that is only 10 buses of people.

 

They could charge for the parking, but then for a price to recover the building costs would make it similar to simply parking in the city.

 

There is also the opportunity cost of building a parking building.  One building that can hold a 1000 cars or 500 apartments that can hold 1500 people?

 

 

 

A better question is why the park and ride is so cheap (free?) that there are never any free slots.  Wouldn't a better option be to increase the price till there is a 90% occupancy rate.





Handsomedan

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  #2006111 1-May-2018 16:10
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blackjack17:

 

Costs of multistory carparks aren't cheap.  Looking at figures at least $35,000-$50,000 per carpark https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2014/05/15/what-do-carparks-cost-to-build/ 

 

 

 

So to provide 1000 carparks you are looking at around $35 million. 

 

Each double decker bus can carry around 100 people so that is only 10 buses of people.

 

They could charge for the parking, but then for a price to recover the building costs would make it similar to simply parking in the city.

 

There is also the opportunity cost of building a parking building.  One building that can hold a 1000 cars or 500 apartments that can hold 1500 people?

 

 

 

A better question is why the park and ride is so cheap (free?) that there are never any free slots.  Wouldn't a better option be to increase the price till there is a 90% occupancy rate.

 

 

Or you could fund it thus (I put this to them about 5 years ago):

 

As there's no guarantee that the car park is only being used by commuters on the bus service, how about you install a barrier that requires a HOP Card to be swiped to enter or take a ticket.

 

Take a ticket = cash payment to exit. Swipe HOP card and if it is used on that day, exit = $0.00

 

That way, non-commuters pay for the carpark to be built. Commuters get a car park.

 

 

 

The question remains...would charging everyone for the car park have the right effect? No - I don't think so - it'd drive bus commuters back onto the roads - after all, why use a bus if you can have the convenience of a car for the same cost?

 

The feeder buses simply don't work. As was pointed out above - you can wait a considerable time for a feeder bus and if you work outsode of 9-5, you don't have feeder buses at all. Hours of travel will often await you.





Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

 

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale 

 

 

 

*Gladly accepting donations...


  #2006126 1-May-2018 16:25
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northshore gets it new simplified network by the end of the year. maybe wait and see how that pans out.

 

our service (mangere bridge) increased to every 5 minutes from 650am, then 10 mins from 715am and 20 minutes from 730 till 930am then its back to half hourly. big increase on what is used to be.

 

makes catching the train easier should you need to do that.


 
 
 

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wellygary
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  #2006131 1-May-2018 16:35
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blackjack17:

 

Costs of multistory carparks aren't cheap.  Looking at figures at least $35,000-$50,000 per carpark 

 

 

@$40K @3% interest means you need ~$5/day just to cover the finance cost,

 

To pay it back over 30 years is about the same again,

 

$10 per day for park and ride Rosedale is simply not viable unless there is another oil shock...


Sam91
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  #2006204 1-May-2018 19:24
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I would charge single occupant vehicles a parking fee and let multiple occupant vehicles park free. I suppose this would require a toll booth of some sort.

I usually catch a feeder bus to Constellation and then jump onto another bus to town. Or I'll get an express bus during peak times. The worst is travelling off-peak, if I miss my bus from Constellation to home, it's a 30-minute wait for the next one.


sdav
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  #2006282 1-May-2018 21:25

In terms of Park and Ride I think Constellation is fine. That area is far better serviced for feeder buses than say Hibiscus Coast which was at capacity the day the expansion opened! That station also attracts rural people or people who have no option but to drive part of their journey so Park and Ride is more warranted. The closer to the city you get the less they should be required and the feeders more frequent.

 

Although OT, I would rather see a solution to buses being caught in the motorway traffic between Fanshaw St and Onewa Road. Left most lane on the bridge should be a dedicated bus lane at afternoon/evening peak.


Linuxluver
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  #2006312 1-May-2018 22:38
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Davy: But there are very few buses, and you might have to wait for half and hour for most places on the Shore. Same for coming back home, so it ends up taking hours to get to work and back.

 

Yep. All true. 

The new network is supposed to fix that....and that was under National. Maybe under the new government it will REALLY be fixed. They care about public transport far more than National ever did.  But it will take some time....and less moaning about the regional fuel tax that will make it possible. 





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blackjack17
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  #2006338 2-May-2018 05:04
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Linuxluver:

Davy: But there are very few buses, and you might have to wait for half and hour for most places on the Shore. Same for coming back home, so it ends up taking hours to get to work and back.


Yep. All true. 

The new network is supposed to fix that....and that was under National. Maybe under the new government it will REALLY be fixed. They care about public transport far more than National ever did.  But it will take some time....and less moaning about the regional fuel tax that will make it possible. 



National and labour have nothing to do with the new network. it was AT/Auckland council.




Krishant007
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  #2006339 2-May-2018 05:48
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Would people be okay to pay for the park and ride (like $1 per day or $25 for a month pass or something of that sort). Or something like dedicated carpool spots?

 

In SF for example, for the train parking, they charge $3 per day for parking if your car is there between 5am-3pm. After 3pm, parking is free. They issued parking tags so when you tag on at the station, they have a separate parking tagger where you tag to pay for parking. That way, they keep track of which parking tag has been paid for. The system sort of works. 

 

I guess the main solution to this problem would be for a multi story parking which is paid for by the users (at nominal costs). 


blackjack17
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  #2006343 2-May-2018 06:13
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The issue with park and rides that aren't at the edge of networks is they don't benefit those that they are designed to.

Say you add 1000 new parks to the stop. Suddenly it becomes easier to park there than it does to take a connecting bus or to walk or drive and the park is full and you are in the same situation as you were before. They can also encourage people to drive in from further to avoid fare boundaries




Davy
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  #2006416 2-May-2018 10:19
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I agree blackjack17. If council and AT would only fix the buses then we could get a lot more cars off the roads without spending up on car-parking, but half-hour wait times will kill any idea of moving people onto public transport in any great number.

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