As the busy summer season arrives, Auckland Transport (AT) and Waiheke Local Board will trial a new way to manage traffic at Matiaitia and to help reduce congestion and improve traffic safety around the ferry terminal.
Matiatia is the gateway to Waiheke Island, with over 20 ferry services arriving daily. It now has over a million visitors a year. Peak season, from mid-December to late February, sees visitor numbers swell.
John Strawbridge, AT's Group Manager for Parking Services, says AT worked with the Waiheke Local Board and Waiheke Transport Forum to look for a temporary solution to summer congestion.
"We will trial a new way to manage traffic at Matiatia over the busy summer period to help reduce congestion and improve overall safety for everyone who uses the area," he says.
"AT will need to relocate some parking spaces in the lower car park to create the dedicated taxi rank and additional public pick-up area. However, these will be replaced with a new parking section in the area next to the old Harbourmaster's building. The existing on-street, public drop-off zones will be retained."
The trial will run from early December 2019 till 13 April 2020 and will involve:
- More space created for buses - making it safer and easier to manoeuvre. Only buses will be able to operate out of the seaward keyhole area
- The seaward keyhole area will also include a space for a mobility drop-off and a loading zone. A larger public pick-up zone will be built within the lower car park. The current drop-off zone will remain
- A dedicated taxi/shuttle stand will be created in the lower car park, alongside the public pick up area
- Adjustment of the on-street drop-off zone just before the ferry terminal, to accommodate realignment of the existing mobility space.
