A new rideshare service in Devonport will give customers improved access to public transport, reducing congestion and freeing up parking.
Auckland Transport is seeking expressions of interest to launch a one-year trial of a ridesharing service called AT Metro Local. It will allow customers to use a smartphone app to schedule or call an on-demand electric vehicle to take them to and from the Devonport Ferry Terminal and their destination.
This scheme aims to encourage more people to use the ferry, which will reduce congestion on the roads, as well as opening up more parking spaces at the ferry terminal. The vehicles will operate within a 3km radius of the ferry terminal, primarily in the morning and afternoon peak.
AT's Chief Transport Services Officer Mark Lambert says, "This is an exciting opportunity to try a new way of using technology to improve public transport for Aucklanders.
"This trial will give customers more options to access the public transport network and attract new customers. The intent of the trial is to test how this type of service can improve access to public transport with a view to future potential roll-out to other hubs on the network. An added benefit is that it will use electric vehicles, which reinforces AT's sustainability programme."
Devonport has been chosen as the location of the trial because it has a unique geography in which the only ways in and out are on the ferry to the city centre or along the heavily congested Lake Road.
Last year AT did a two-week trial of the service which showed that ferry passengers were enthusiastic about it and there is enough demand for it to work. Once the tender process has finished AT will announce the start date, which is expected to be mid-2018, and how much it will cost to use.
