Remember the ‘bad old days’ when traffic was backed up two blocks along Horton Street?
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What with a mix of stop signs and pedestrian crossings combining to make the intersection with Clarence Street something akin to an obstacle course?
Cr Rob Turner remembers those days and says the solution to the intersection’s woes have for too long been the domain of the ‘Monday experts’.
Addressing Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s December 14 meeting, Cr Turner offered up some invaluable advice on the Port Macquarie Town Centre pedestrian facility investigations.
Referring to the tabled report, Cr Turner said he was excited by two findings and recommendations.
“I think the two things I am excited by are the intersection of Clarence and Horton streets and the plan for traffic lights at the Gordon and Horton streets intersection,” he said.
“The Roads and Maritime Service also sees the need; I would urge council to get designs underway for those traffic lights moving as quickly as possible.”
And his fellow councillors apparently agreed deciding to include an allocation to complete the detailed design of the signalisation of the Gordon and Horton streets intersection in the draft 2017/18 operational plan.
Also recommended are, to note the information in the report, undertake further detailed investigations and develop concept plans for the proposed treatments contained with in the report, and, undertake a community engagement program in relation to the proposals including the wider community as well as specific stakeholders such as the access sub-committee, town centre master plan sub-committee and Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, following the detailed investigation and development of concept plans.
Council also requested a report be presented to a future council meeting detailing the outcomes of the community engagement and any future actions.
Councillors were told that traffic management of a town centre environment must seek a balance between the often competing needs of both motorised and non-motorised traffic and pedestrians.
There are areas of Port Macquarie CBD where vehicular traffic and parking facilities tend to have priority over pedestrian movement and council is investigating the issues in relation to this imbalance, a report tabled at the meeting said.
The investigation was funded by Roads and Maritime Services.
Key findings and recommendations
Key findings and recommendations of the study are:
Gordon Street and Horton Street intersection (roundabout)
Issues: Poor pedestrian connectivity, pedestrian crash history; Key pedestrian connection to south from CBD; Small diameter roundabout carrying large volumes of traffic, congestion, crash history.
Recommendation: Convert roundabout to signals with pedestrian crossings on all three legs; Signals will provide safer and better pedestrian connectivity and increase traffic capacity.
Gordon Street and Hollingworth Street intersection (roundabout)
Issues: Poor pedestrian connectivity and sight distances.
Recommendation: Install pedestrian refuge, kerb ramps and footpath connections on eastern Gordon Street approach to roundabout
Horton Street & Hayward Street intersection (roundabout)
Issues: Noted desire for pedestrians to cross at this location, poor existing amenity with restricted viability in parts; Large pedestrian crossing distances at roundabout increases exposure distance; The wide kerb promotes faster vehicle speeds which were noted turning left from Horton Street to Hayward Street heading west.
Recommendations: Pedestrian refuge on western approach; Kerb build outs, kerb ramps and associated line marking.
Horton and William streets intersection (traffic signals)
Issues: No significant issues identified
Recommendations: Retain existing traffic signals.
Horton Street between Clarence Street and William Street
Issues: High pedestrian crossing volumes; Limited visibility in parts due to parked cars; Limited amenity for people with prams, wheelchairs etc as most crossing movement occurs between parked cars.
Recommendations: Install two raised pedestrian zebra crossings at key crossing desire lines to improve amenity, including associated signage, line marking, parking changes and lighting
Clarence Street & Horton Street intersection
Issues: No significant issues identified; Deliberate ambiguity was seen to work quite well.
Recommendations: Retain existing intersection form; Ensure line marking, signage, vegetation and lighting upkeep.
Clarence Street & Short Street intersection
Issues: Proximity of the west bound hold line causes queuing across the zebra crossing and increased conflict with pedestrians; Substandard lighting reduces visibility and may increase likelihood of a crash; Vegetation restricts visibility on south west corner.
Recommendations: Improve zebra crossing lighting in line with Australian Standards; Vegetation maintenance; Minor line marking and signage alterations.
Short Street Midblock zebra crossing
Issues: Substandard lighting reduces visibility and may increase likelihood of a crash.
Recommendations: Review and upgrade zebra crossing lighting in line with Australian Standards.
Short Street & William Street intersection (roundabout)
Issues: Large pedestrian crossing distances at roundabout increases exposure distance; Wide kerbs promote faster vehicle speeds through the intersection.
Recommendations: Reconfigure to provide short ancillary turn lanes on approach; Reduction of pedestrian crossing location to one lane; Kerb blisters, pedestrian refuges and better defined pedestrian paths.
Short Street & Hayward Street intersection (roundabout)
Issues: Strong pedestrian desire line at this location but conflict between pedestrian and vehicles exiting roundabout.
Recommendations: Pedestrian zebra crossing on eastern approach including associated signage and lighting
William Street & Hay Street intersection
Issues: No significant issues identified although large pine trees reduce visibility
Clarence Street & Hay Street intersection
Issues: Substandard lighting reduces visibility and may increase likelihood of a crash.
Recommendations: Review and upgrade zebra crossing lighting in line with Australian Standards
CBD High Pedestrian Activity 40km/h Speed Zone
Issues: Relatively high traffic speeds for CBD environment; Pedestrian amenity within the CBD and driver expectation.
Recommendations: Implement high pedestrian activity area 40km/h speed limit; Erect signage and line marking to advise of change to speed and road environment; Undertake education and community awareness campaign to ensure understanding and maximum effectiveness of 40km/h zone.
