Tri-Nations test for Cup traffic plan

Eden Park computer generated image of the final look of the new stadium to be completed in 2010. Photo / Supplied

Trains and buses feature in organisers' blueprint of ways to get to Eden Park

Rugby World Cup organisers will use this winter's Tri-Nations match at Eden Park as the first test of a transport plan unveiled yesterday.

The plan includes residents-only parking zones extending 1km or more from the rugby citadel, to encourage up to 75 per cent of fans to leave their cars at home during the four main cup matches at Eden Park.

An inner zone will be barricaded off, apart from a limited number of vehicle entry points for residents and VIP visitors.

Permits will also be needed to park in three large outer areas to the north, south and east of the rugby stadium.

Dominion Rd will remain open to general traffic, but New North Rd will be closed between Eden Terrace and Kingsland, as will much of Sandringham Rd.

Of the 60,000 fans expected at Eden Park for cup matches, trains will carry more than 16,000, buses will transport about 7000 and chartered coaches are expected to account for another 15,000.

Although about 8000 bus and coach passengers will be brought into a new 12-bay terminal being built as part of the Eden Park redevelopment, the rest will be dropped off around the intersection of New North Rd and Bond St.

That has unsettled the Eden Park Neighbours Association, which believes too much activity is being concentrated on one pinchpoint.

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority hopes a new lane being built by Auckland City between Walters Rd and the top of Sandringham Rd will keep bus passengers away from crowds of 15,000 people expected to descend on the nearby Kingsland railway stations, which is being enlarged to cope with six-car trains.

But neighbours association president and independent city council member Mark Donnelly sees the transport plan as a "high risk strategy".

He he believes too many transport options are concentrated on the New North Rd-Bond intersection.

"There'll be cars, shuttle buses, coaches, taxis," he said.

"Our suggestion was that shuttle buses should go down Dominion Rd - they are putting too much emphasis on one corner of the ground."

Auckland RWC 2011 transport director Bruce Barnard, who has managed transport for major Australian events such as the Grand Prix and the 2006 Commonwealth Games, said Mr Donnelly's association was among a range of organisations consulted over the plan.

But a decision had been made to keep Dominion Rd free for taxis and regular bus services.

"Every effort needs to be made to try to keep Auckland operating as close to normal as possible," he said.

"The aim of the plan is to try and have the [special event] public transport operations to the north and west of the venue, and keep the south and east free of services so that traffic will flow."

Mr Barnard said the residents-only parking zones would be enforced from about three hours before matches until 1 hours afterwards.

He acknowledged that if the cup matches were being played now, rather than in September and October next year, "we may struggle to deliver the number of people we have to move."

But he was confident infrastructure improvements such as widening Sandringham Rd, enlarging Kingsland Station, and installing new rail track signals to enable trains to load passengers from both its platforms simultaneously after the matches would help Auckland to host "a world class event" next year.

He said large elements of the plan would be tested at a series of big games to be played at Eden Park between now and September next year.

These included a Tri-Nations match to be played in two months, on July 10.