Get Moving: Orakei to get park and ride option

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Q: As a regular train passenger from Orakei into the city, I wonder what provision there will be for parking in the future. Already by 8.30am it is difficult to find a park and one nervously parks beside nearby buildings with no guarantee of not being towed. - Claire Elliott, St Heliers.

A: Auckland City, which owns the land adjacent to the station, is currently in meetings to establish a park-and-ride scheme at Orakei.

The station upgrade is due to be completed by June, and will include 100 carparks, initially envisaged as free to encourage train use.

The pedestrian overbridge will need to be extended, as well.

Q: Can you find out when the disgusting westbound onramp to the Northwestern Motorway from Newton Rd will have all its potholes and bumps fixed? The roads I travelled on in Vietnam recently were better than this. - Gaye Waite, Massey.

A: Such is the power of this column that Transit has now inspected the onramp, confirmed your opinion of it, and a contract to mill off and replace the surface is currently being let.

It is worth mentioning that the whole area will be resurfaced at the end of the Central Motorway Junction project, but that's about 18 months away.

Q: Any current news on when emission testing is going to be included in a Warrant of Fitness? - Morri Murphy, Morningside.

A: Compulsory vehicle emission testing as part of the WOF is due to come into service around the middle of 2006.

It will mean an extra charge of about $3.80.

At the same time, sulphur in diesel will be reduced from the current 500 parts per million (ppm) to 50 ppm, as another step towards cleaner air. All good news.

Q: The authorities have not only got rid of the bus lane in Fort St now that it is no longer used, they have made the street no exit. Why is this? - Peter Tomlinson, Auckland.

A: Pre-Britomart, it was entry-only into Fort St from the Customs St end.

A bus-only exit was installed there as a temporary measure while Britomart was being built, and now that this bus lane is surplus to requirements, the street is a no-exit one.

One reason is that it means that one phase of the lights at this intersection can be removed, which implies that traffic might move along Customs St a bit faster - equally, it might not - and another reason is that it cuts down bus noise for apartment dwellers in the area.


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