Park-and-ride charges on the cards

Auckland's transport agency says it is considering charging people to use its park-and-ride facilities to cope with demand.

Auckland Transport has released a draft parking strategy today that also includes extending residents-only parking areas and lobbying the Government to raise infringement fines.

The agency said the recommendations were designed to reduce dependence on car travel and support development in town centres.

Its parking services manager Russell Derecourt said people using park-and-ride services at train and bus stations could be charged a small fee if certain criteria are met.

"Those four key criteria based around good access in terms of feeder services, other modes being accessible to the park-and-ride destination, integration to the HOP cards so that it's very simple for people to to tag in to park-and-rides."

Mr Derecourt said the Orakei park and ride was an example of a facility that could meet those criteria.

Raising fines was another measure Auckland Transport was planning to introduce in the city.

The draft strategy said fines - which were set by central government - had not increased for 15 years and no longer acted as a deterrent.

The Automobile Association said it was concerned Auckland Transport's proposal to raise parking fines was revenue gathering.

The AA's principal advisor Mark Stockdale said about half of Auckland Transport's income is from infringements. He said the other half was from the parking.

Mr Stockdale said the AA would like to see smart parking technology that encourages compliance and reduces the level of offending, such as extending parking within the time limit by cell phone.

Auckland Transport's The draft strategy said also recommended extending the number of residents-only parking areas.

Five-and-a-half thousand people made submissions on the strategy over the last year of consultation.

Auckland Transport is now seeking feedback on the proposal.