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Bushlands Park Drive, Albany – P120 parking restrictions Bushlands Park Drive, Albany – P120 parking restrictions

Proposal status: Feedback closed 8 June 2020, last updated 11 December 2020.

Reference number: RTV-304 

In June 2020, we proposed changes in your area

To increase parking turn-over in the area, we proposed P120 (2 hour) parking time restrictions along one side of Bushlands Park Drive in Albany. Our proposal was in response to requests from residents through the Local Board. Currently, the unrestricted parking is used by people occupying these spaces for large amount of time. These changes are expected to improve short-term parking availability for visitors to the area. The time restrictions would be in effect from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and affect 37 on-street parking spaces.

Download the proposal drawing for Bushlands Park Drive (PDF 428KB)

Proposal outcome

We have made changes to the design based on community feedback. In response to community feedback, we will be adding broken yellow lines (No stopping at all times) along sections of 3 narrow side roads (Rimu Rise, Kanuka Way and Wineberry Place) and their junctions with Bushlands Park Drive.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our proposal and gave us the chance to better understand your community and concerns. A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below.

Community feedback

P120 restrictions

  • Multiple concerns that the P120 restrictions will only move the problem onto the narrow side streets instead.
    We understand concerns of cars parking in side roads, but a recent parking survey conducted by Auckland Transport (AT) shows that the occupancy of Bushlands Park Drive is within acceptable range. The P120 restriction will result in some vehicles parking in surrounding roads but the impact will be minor.
  • Multiple requests for P120 restrictions to be included on the side streets too (including Rime Rise, Kanuka Way, Wineberry Place and Pukatea Avenue). 
    On-street parking is a valuable asset and careful consideration is given when proposing any changes. In this instance we believe the proposal should provide enough short-term parking and proposing any more P120 restrictions is not necessary. Extending the restriction can lead to poor utilisation of parking and create problems for residents when looking for long term parking.
  • Multiple concerns about resident parking/requests that residents are provided with an exemption. 
    Auckland Transport’s parking strategy mentions that the residential parking zone approach is used in older suburbs such as the city fringe where parking demand is high across a larger area and there are many heritage properties without off-street parking. Our observations show that the majority of houses on Bushlands Park Drive have off-street parking so does not meet the criteria.
  • Requests for restrictions to be extended the full length of Bushlands Park Drive.
    On-street parking is a valuable and finite asset and parking controls are applied where we wish to encourage availability by reducing occupancy. Our parking occupancy survey clearly indicates that the high levels of parking demand do not extend the full length of Bushlands Park Drive and extending them would not be justifiable.
  • Suggestions that the restriction is applied to all of Bushlands Park Drive and all surrounding side streets. 
    Careful consideration is given when deciding the length and timings for restrictions. We believe that the proposed restriction should be sufficient and will ensure proper utilisation of the spaces. Increasing the restriction further will create other issues for the residents and will result in poor utilisation of parking. AT’s recent parking survey shows that the on-street occupancy on Bushlands Park Drive is within acceptable range and any dispersion in vehicles caused by the proposal should be accommodated with minor impact.
  • Concerns having P120 restrictions on only one side of the road will cause issues on the other side and suggestions to make both sides P120. 
    AT feels that there is no justification to have the parking restrictions on both sides of Bushlands Park Drive as it is over 7.5 metres in width and is not classified as a narrow road. The absence of a residential exemption scheme means that the potential impacts of having restrictions on both sides of the road on residents would be much greater. When vehicles are parked on both sides the traffic lane may not be able to accommodate two lanes of traffic but that is a common occurrence across Auckland and encourages slower traffic speeds leading to benefits in road safety.
  • Suggestion for a sign saying "Towaway Area Resident Vehicles Only".
    AT no longer proposes ‘Residents Only’ parking restrictions. This type of restriction was stopped in 2007 as it reserves the road, which is a public asset, for the use of an individual which is not permitted.
  • Suggestions for an alternative time of 9am to 1pm or 10am to 4pm.
    When proposing a two-hour restriction, such a limited operational period of 9am to 1pm or 10am to 4pm would be easy to avoid and reduce its effectiveness.
  • Request to extend the time limits to include the weekend too. 
    The most recent parking occupancy survey shows that the parking demand for Bushlands Park Drive on weekends is low and implementing any restriction during the weekend will result in creating problems for the residents and therefore is not preferred.
  • Suggestion to make it P180 rather than P120. 
    We believe P120 provides ample time for any short-term activity in the area. Extending the time for the restriction makes it far more convenient for a person looking to park for a long period to move their vehicle to avoid enforcement therefore defeating the purpose of implementing the restriction.
  • Concern the time restrictions won't be enforced. 
    AT will enforce any parking restriction as part of its normal compliance patrols. AT does not have sufficient resources to be able to dedicate resource to any area on a full-time basis. To report infringements, please contact our parking enforcement call centre on 09 355 3553, which operates 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Broken yellow lines

  • Requests for broken yellow lines instead of P120 and to extend the length by up to 30 metres.
    Broken yellow lines are generally proposed on one side of the road when a road is narrow (i.e. less than 6.9m). This is not the case for Bushlands Park Drive as most of the street is over 7.4 metres. Installing broken yellow lines means permanent loss of parking and is not supported by the majority of residents because it creates parking issues.
  • Suggestion that broken yellow lines would be more effective (it will provide two clear traffic lanes and one parking lane). 
    Broken yellow lines are generally proposed when a road is narrow which is not the case for Bushlands Park Drive. While this would create a second traffic lane, it would also have potential to encourage high traffic speeds with negative impacts on road safety.
  • Requests for broken yellow lines on side roads and their intersections with Bushlands Park Drive as people don't follow the 6 metre rule. 
    It is clearly stated in road user rule that parking within 6 metres of an intersection is illegal and therefore installing broken yellow lines to reinforce this is a duplication and not required. However, as a result of community feedback and the strength of opinion on this issue, we will be installing broken yellow lines as part of the proposal. These will be within and on the junctions of Rimu Rise, Kanuka Way and Wineberry Place.
  • Request for current broken yellow lines on right hand side of Bushlands Park Drive to be extended. 
    AT only consider adding broken yellow lines to ensure access when a road is less than 6.9m in width. Bushlands Park Drive does not fall below this width until its most easterly point so AT does not feel that it is appropriate. Proposing this control on one side of the road can encourage increased traffic speeds with potentially lower safety outcomes.

Visibility/access

  • Concern that the proposal does not address cars parking very close to corners and driveways. 
    Road user rule states that parking within 6 metres of an intersection is illegal. However, as a result of community feedback and the strength of opinion on this issue, we will be marking broken yellow lines on certain junctions. With regards to vehicle entrances, the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 paragraph 6.9 clearly states when a vehicle is considered to be breaching that rule no additional controls or road markings are required to enforce this rule. Parking within 1 metre of an intersection is illegal and therefore enforceable. If you observe this, please contact AT Enforcement on (09) 355 3553.
  • Concern cars will park on Kanuka Way and cause poor visibility to exit onto Bushlands Parks Drive.
    As many people have raised this concern and Kanuka Way is a narrow road, we will install limited broken yellow lines on Kanuka Way.
  • Concern it does not fully address the issue of traffic and visibility in both directions (will still exist for 2 hours). 
    Part of the consideration for installing broken yellow lines to ensure access is that the road must be less than 6.9m in width. Bushlands Park Drive does not fall below this width until its most easterly point so AT does not feel that it is appropriate. Proposing this control on one side of the road can encourage increased traffic speeds with potentially lower safety outcomes.
  • Concern that it will still be difficult for rubbish collection and emergency vehicles to get around.
    The majority of Bushlands Park Drive is more than 7.4 metres wide and is not considered narrow. AT considers this section to be able to accommodate parking on both sides of the street safely and have a live lane which is accessible by emergency services and residents without any problem.

Alternative parking

  • Suggestion for building a bigger car park at the University as most of the people parking on this road are going there.
    A new car park would be an option for the University to consider. This issue is common across the region with institutions that do not have sufficient parking to meet the demand of their students and staff. Auckland Transport wishes to encourage a mode change and supports the use of alternative modes of transport, such as public transport as an alternative to private vehicle.
  • Query why Auckland Council hasn’t already built a multi-storey car park near the bus station.
    AT appreciates that the demand for spaces at the Park and Ride car park far exceeds the supply. AT does not feel that increased capital expenditure on an increased number of parking spaces is the best way forward and would prefer to see modal change with more customers using public transport feeder services.

Free parking

  • Suggestion that other parking is too expensive.
    The current pricing for the Albany paid parking zone is $1 per hour making it $8 per day. This is significantly cheaper than any private paid parking provider in the area. AT also has a number of frequent bus services in the area and would prefer to see modal change with more customers using public transport feeder services.
  • Concern there is no other free parking in the area.
    On-street parking is a valuable and finite public asset and the restrictions do tend to change over time as objectives and demand changes. The Auckland Parking Strategy is clear that as demand increases then AT will consider interventions to ensure parking availability.

Next steps

These works were planned to take place in November 2020, however there has been a delay. The new target date for completion is February-March 2021.