By Claire Ahuriri

There is a chance that the free parking for commuters at the Albany and Constellation busways is about to change.

A shortfall from the Auckland Regional Transport Authority means that the North Shore City Council is going to look next week at the option of charging fees for parking in these two busway carparks, even though they have been free since they were opened with the ideal of promoting bus travel.

With both the Council and ARTA, the blame appears to be pointed everywhere else, and the word is that the shortfalls have to be made up somehow – and it appears that it could be free parking that suffers.

The busways would only cost about $1 or $2, they say, but some fear with the bus fare on top of that, it will be enough to push some commuters back into their cars.

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