Regular blog
readers may remember our last update
on traffic and road safety issues in West Hobart (10
November). Council asked consultants MRCagney to investigate
the issues the residents were raising and to provide a report.
The MRCagney report
“West Hobart Local Area Traffic Investigation” [22 December 2015] was included
in the agenda for the City Infrastructure Committee meeting of Wednesday 27
January, together with some recommendations in response from Council staff.
You can find the
agenda and print out the report (pp41-69 of the full agenda) from this
link. We strongly encourage you to
take a close look at the analysis and recommendations of these Melbourne-based urban
planning and transport consultants. There
are some important findings and recommendations made. If you have trouble printing the report, contact us as we may have some hard copies available.
Following
approaches from WH residents, the City Infrastructure Committee agreed to defer
consideration of this report until the next meeting of the Committee, which
will be on Wednesday 24 February.
Between then and now, they will seek to have the principal consultant
involved, Steven Burgess, present and explain his findings to all Aldermen.
The report’s main
recommendation aimed at making it safer for residents of all ages to cross busy Hill St is to install traffic signals at two points: at the Hill and Arthur St intersection, and
at the Hill and Patrick St intersection (currently a roundabout). Importantly,
the signals will provide inviting, formalised crossings at the signalised
intersections themselves, “where current pedestrian outcomes are poor”.
In addition,
establishing these two sets of signals would break up the flow of traffic into “platoons”
along both major and minor roads. Breaking
up the continual flow of traffic would offer quiet periods in which pedestrians
could cross Hill St more easily, especially during peak times. The mid block crossing points could also be
improved to become more attractive and feel a lot safer than the current “pedestrian
refuge” crossing points.
Installation of the
traffic signals would also create a safer environment for cyclists in West
Hobart.
The consultants provided guidelines used in Victoria and
Queensland for installation of zebra crossings.
Interestingly, the report identifies that there are intersections along Hill St that
approach the pedestrian demand levels required for a zebra crossing at peak
periods (MRCagney Report 3.3.2). This issue deserves greater consideration as
an interim solution during peak hour traffic.
Strangely, the
consultants do not appear to agree with the residents’ view that West Hobart is
a residential area and should not have a connector route running through it and
a general speed limit of 50kph. Given that Council has undertaken to look at reducing
speed limits in residential communities across Hobart, in line with regular
practice in communities in Melbourne for example, this advice should cause some
concern.
It is also of concern
that the report does not agree with the Council’s decision to reduce speed
limits in the vicinity of Caldew Park.
We are a little alarmed that this decision may be reviewed and
retracted.
Another disappointment
was the failure to support the inclusion of a bikelane around the relatively
level transit line through Cavell/Hill/Lansdowne/Hill Streets. Similarly, there is no advice that improvements
to the pedestrian crossing points should not be to the detriment of bike riders
by forcing them into pinch points with the faster moving traffic.
If you have some
concerns when you read this report, please share them as comments here or be
prepared to contact your Aldermen to make representations. You can also get in touch with WHEN via
whenvnet@gmail.com.
