Time-Limited CBD Periphery Parking Looks to Stay

A trial of time-limited car parking spaces on the peripheral streets of New Plymouth’s CBD has gained the support of most nearby residents.

As a result, the Council’s Monitoring Committee tonight (Tuesday) recommended that the time-limited parking spaces become permanent.

The matter will be considered by the Council at its meeting on 28 April.

In October 2007 about 150 parking spaces with parking restricted to 120 minutes were created in groups of one or two per block on several streets around the CBD’s periphery, on a 12-month trial basis. The trial was established after residents asked the Council to address the unavailability of on-street parking in their streets during business hours.

The time-limited bays would provide short-term parking for residents and their visitors in the CBD’s periphery during working hours, when on-street parking was at a premium, while ensuring there was ample supply of free day-long parking within walking distance of the CBD for inner-city workers.

“Our recent survey of residents adjacent to these parking spaces showed significant support for the time-limited parking areas – just over 84 per cent of the survey respondents thought the trial had worked well,” says Manager Roading Assets Max Aves.

“The residents say the time-limited bays have been of benefit to them and their visitors.

“Some questions were raised about the monitoring of the time-limited spaces and whether some of the bays at the outer edge of the peripheral area are needed, so we’ll be following up on both of those issues – including whether the time limit on some of those spaces should be revoked.”

During the trial period 24 occupancy surveys were undertaken, showing that use of the parking bays varied between 14.9 per cent and 41.2 per cent.