consultative traffic forum - sutherland shire · 7/7/2017 · consultative traffic forum 7 july...

Business Paper

Consultative Traffic Forum

Friday, 7 July 2017 8:30am

Committee Rooms 203 and 204, Level 2, Administration Building

4-20 Eton Street, Sutherland

Consultative Traffic Forum 7 July 2017

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. APOLOGIES

2. DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

3. REPORTS FROM OFFICERS – CONSULTATIVE TRAFFIC FORUMCTF001-18 Georges River Road, Jannali - Parking Conditions Between Box Road and

First Avenue

CTF002-18 Intersection of Kingsway, Port Hacking Road South and Mackay Street,

Caringbah

CTF003-18 Portable Speed Warning Sign Pilot Program

4. LATE REPORTS TABLED AT MEETING (if any)

5. LATE MATTERS RAISED AT MEETING (if any)


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CTF001-18 GEORGES RIVER ROAD, JANNALI - PARKING CONDITIONS BETWEEN BOX ROAD AND FIRST AVENUE

Attachments: Nil

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• A concern has been raised regarding obstruction of sight lines from driveways due to the high

density of parking along both sides of Georges River Road, Jannali. Traffic and parking

conditions were re-examined with a view to determining whether parking restrictions or marked

parking spaces are warranted.

• No action is proposed.

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

THAT:

1. The updated report on parking and traffic conditions in Georges River Road between Box

Road and First Avenue be received and noted.

2. No action be taken regarding the request for parking restrictions or marked parking spaces in

Georges River Road between Box Road and First Avenue.

3. Sutherland Police be requested to consider speed enforcement patrols during selected

morning and early evening weekday peak periods in Georges River Road between Box Road

and First Avenue, Jannali.


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LOCATION

Georges River Road, Jannali, between Box Road and First Avenue.

REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE

Ms Eleni Petinos, State Member for Miranda (CR17-183107).

ISSUES

- Parked vehicles

- Increased traffic volumes

- Speed

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION BY CONSULTATIVE TRAFFIC FORUM

On 04-06-2010 (CTF021-10) the Consultative Traffic Forum considered a report on traffic and parking

conditions along the subject section of Georges River Road and recommended that no action be

taken. The matter of speeding was referred to NSW Police.

COMMENTS FROM INVESTIGATING OFFICER Kerbside parking by railway commuters in the local streets surrounding the Jannali Railway Station

has been occurring for well over 25 years. Since the 2010 investigations, commuter parking on both

sides of Georges River Road has extended up to approximately 250 metres north-east of Box Road,

an increase of approximately 100m.

Observations of traffic conditions in Georges River Road between Box Road and First Avenue,

including an evaluation of the results of a 7 day traffic survey recorded outside No.109 during July

2016 and detailed investigation of parking conditions, has revealed the following:

• Average daily traffic volume is 9,717 vehicles per day (9,974 vehicles per day in 2010).

• The weekday morning AM peak hour traffic flow ranged between 885 to 907 vehicles per hour

and occurred between 8 to 9am.

• The weekday PM peak hour traffic flow ranged between 827 to 980 vehicles per hour and

occurred between 5 to 6pm.

• The mean and 85 percentile speed recorded was 48km/h and 57km/h respectively (52km/h and

59km/h in 2010).

• Only one crash has been recorded in the Centre for Road Safety's database for the latest

available 5 year period ending June 2016. This crash occurred outside No. 113 Georges River

Road and involved a 66 year old driver colliding with the open door of a parked car at 18h50 on

Monday 19 September 2011 (one crash in 5 year period ending December 2008).

• The parking of commuters vehicles generally extends for a distance of 250 metres down the

road from the roundabout at Box Road.

• Kerbside parking at night and on weekends is scattered and relatively limited.

• The carriageway is approximately 10 metres wide.

http://crms.ssc.nsw.gov.au/Community_Prod/Secure/Content/Products/CustomerService/Forms/ManageEvent.aspx?pac=2&navhist=2810913&eid=7736943


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• Motorists parked their vehicles close to the kerb and generally clear of driveways.

• On a typical weekday during the seven day survey period, a total of between 362 to 418 (3.5% -

4.0%) large vehicles, including buses, were recorded travelling over the traffic counter.

• On a typical weekday during the seven day survey period, in a north-easterly direction, 2.4% of

vehicles travelled in excess of 61km/h (6.1% veh >61km/h in 2010).

In the letter to Ms Petinos, the resident has requested that the matter previously investigated be re-

examined. As can be seen from the data presented above, no statistically significant changes have

occurred to traffic volumes or crash data. The mean, 85th percentile and excess speed has shown

significant reductions.

Providing parking restrictions in this section of Georges River Road is not appropriate from a parking

management viewpoint as the commuter parking would simply be transferred further down the road or

to other surrounding streets. The marking of parking spaces is not appropriate as this section of

Georges River Road is not in a town centre.

From a traffic perspective, the cars parked adjacent to the kerb in Georges River Road are legally

parked and the narrowing of the available carriageway width during the day due to these parked cars

would be effective in reducing the speed of motorists in this section of Georges River Road.

The resident's concerns regarding excessive speed is not confirmed by the traffic survey. It is clear

from the data that excessive speed has reduced significantly. However, the excess speed data will be

made available to Police, for consideration of enforcement action.

RISK RANKING SCORE N/A.

FINANCIAL / RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS N/A.

LIST OF APPENDICES

NIL.

File Number: 2017/262950


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CTF002-18 INTERSECTION OF KINGSWAY, PORT HACKING ROAD SOUTH AND MACKAY STREET, CARINGBAH

Attachments: Appendix A and Appendix B

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• In November 2016 a crash at the intersection of Kingsway, Port Hacking Road South and

Mackay Street, Caringbah resulted in the death of a 26 year old female pedestrian.

• Representatives from Council, NSW Police and Roads and Maritime Services have

subsequently investigated pedestrian safety options at the intersection including consideration

of a proposal for the prohibition of the right turn movement from Port Hacking Road into

Kingsway.

• The proposed right turn prohibition is not supported.


THAT:

1. The report on pedestrian safety at the intersection of Kingsway, Port Hacking Road South and

Mackay Street, Caringbah be received and noted

2. Roads and Maritime Services consider installation of red arrow protection for pedestrians for

all conflicting pedestrian and vehicle turning movements at the intersection.


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LOCATION

Intersection of Kingsway, Port Hacking Road South and Mackay Street, Caringbah.

REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE

Previous decision of Sutherland Traffic and Traffic Safety Committee 2 December 2016 (STR067-17).

ISSUES

Pedestrian Safety.

COMMENTS FROM INVESTIGATING OFFICER Background

The intersection of Kingsway, Port Hacking Road and Mackay Street, Caringbah is signalised and

operates under the control of Roads and Maritime Services and is located within the Caringbah town

centre. The intersection operates in close coordination with the adjoining signalised intersection of

Kingsway and President Avenue approximately 65m to the west. A map of the intersection is shown in

Appendix A attached to this report. The significant features of the intersection are summarised as

follows:

• Kingsway consists of 4 lane approaches in both directions.

• Mackay Street has a two lane approach.

• Port Hacking Road South has a 3 lane approach.

• Pedestrian crossings are located across Mackay Street, Port Hacking Road South and the

eastern leg of Kingsway.

• With the exception of No Right turn from Kingsway into Mackay Street, all other turning

movements are permissible at the intersection.

• Right turn movements out of Mackay Street and Port Hacking Road South operate on a filter

phase.

In November 2016 a crash at the intersection resulted in the death of a 26 year old female pedestrian

who was crossing the eastern leg of the Kingsway in a northbound direction. A truck turning right out

of Port Hacking Road into Kingsway collided with the pedestrian.

Representatives from Council, NSW Police and Roads and Maritime Services have collected relevant

data and met on site to discuss pedestrian safety options at the intersection including consideration of

a proposal for the prohibition of the right turn movement from Port Hacking Road into Kingsway.

Traffic Count Data Site observations and traffic counts have been undertaken at the intersection. A traffic count summary

is shown in Appendix B attached to the report. Some key features of the data are summarised as

follows:


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• Kingsway is an arterial State Road with an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of

approximately 30,000 vehicles per day east of the intersection.

• Port Hacking Road South is a local distributor road with an AADT of approximately 12,000

vehicles per day.

• Mackay Street is a local road with an AADT of approximately 4,000 vehicles per day

• Approximately 70 to 80 pedestrians per hour cross the eastern approach of Kingsway during the

morning and evening peak periods.

• Approximately 70 to 80 vehicles per hour turn right from Port Hacking Road into Kingsway

during the morning and evening peak periods.

Discussion

It is noted that this type of vehicle - pedestrian conflict is a common occurrence at a high number of

intersections between multi lane state roads and local roads in areas of high pedestrian activity. It is

current Roads and Maritime Services policy to mitigate these risks through the use of red turning

arrows that hold turning vehicles when the conflicting pedestrian movement is activated. This currently

exists for the right turn movement from Port Hacking Road into Kingsway.

Site observations and further analysis of crash data at the intersection indicates that there is no other

significant or unique traffic behaviour, crash history or design feature that would warrant prohibition of

the right turn. In this regard there have been no other crashes at the intersection that involve vehicles

turning right from Port Hacking Road into Kingsway.

Therefore, from a risk management perspective it is important to consider the circumstances of the

fatal incident and whether it is likely to reoccur. In this regard it should be noted that the crash is still

the subject of a detailed police report and court case, the details of which are unavailable at the time

of writing this report. However, given the information at hand, it is considered that the risk of

recurrence is highly unlikely given that sight lines for vehicles and pedestrians are clear and the right

turn is held by the red arrow. Both the RMS and NSW Police representatives concur with this

assessment.

It is important to note that whilst prohibition of the right turn movement would remove this particular

risk, vehicle and pedestrian conflict with similar associated risk would still exist for the left turn

movements on this and the two other pedestrian crossings at the intersection. These conflicts are not

currently managed by red arrow left turn protection. It is also important to note that prohibition of the

right turn movement would also increase other risks such as:

• alternate routes still require turning movements onto Kingsway where there is some history of

crashes associated with these movements eg: Jacaranda Road / Kingsway and Gannons Road

/ Kingsway - 2 tow away and 2 injury crashes related to right turn movements onto Kingsway.

• Increased conflict with pedestrians and turning movements in Mackay Street north of Kingsway.


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• Poor gap acceptance with increased risk and delays for right turn movements from Mackay

Street into Kingsway.

Conclusion

On balance the prohibition of the right turn movement from Port Hacking Road into Kingsway is not

supported.

Roads and Maritime Services should consider installation of red arrow protection for pedestrians for all

conflicting pedestrian and vehicle turning movements.


This map has been produced with the most current data

available to Council as supplied by various sources.

INFORMATION IN THIS MAP IS SUBJECT TOCOPYRIGHT.

Council is not responsible for any inaccuracies in the data

provided. Contact Council’s Land Information Unit (ph. 9710

0116) for more information.

Sutherland Shire Council Mapping

8

Printed:

Metres

400Scale 1:

23/06/2017

160

at A4

Legend

Land


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CTF003-18 PORTABLE SPEED WARNING SIGN PILOT PROGRAM

Attachments: Appendix A

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Speeding is a continual issue of concern for the community and is difficult for road authorities to

manage. It can result in an increase in the number of crashes and/or their associated severity.

• Traditional measures to address speeding issues include educational programs, police

enforcement and traffic calming and/or other engineering measures.

• It is proposed to trail and evaluate the use of portable speed warning signs as an alternative

speed reduction measure.


That the Consultative Traffic Forum support the establishment of a Pilot Program for a six month

trial of three portable speed warning signs within the Sutherland Shire.


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Background

Speeding is a continual issue for road authorities to manage, especially on local streets and around

schools. Speeding increases the required stopping distance of vehicles to avoid a crash. This in turn,

can result in an increase in the number of crashes and/or their associated severity. Speeding may be

due to poor driver behaviours such as impatience, hooning, distracted drivers or not knowing basic

road rules, for example, 50km per hour on local roads in New South Wales.

Council receives numerous requests from the community concerning real or perceived speeding

issues. Traditional measures to address these issues include educational programs, police

enforcement and traffic calming and/or other engineering measures. Whilst enforcement can be an

effective measure it is outside of Council's control, can be difficult for NSW Police to resource and is

not suitable or able to be undertaken at all locations. The use of traffic calming devices such as speed

humps, chicanes and roundabouts can be expensive and intrusive and is only considered warranted

at high risk locations.

With improved technology the use of portable speed warning signs is a practical and relatively

inexpensive alternative to potentially bridge the gap between traditional educational, enforcement and

engineering measures. Essentially a portable speed warning sign is a temporary installation that uses

radar technology to record and advise oncoming motorists of their travelling speed using an LED

display. As an example they are quite often used at major road works sites with reduced speed limits.

Council has been using products of this type around school zones for some years, however the

existing units are dated and difficult to deploy.

Benefits

Industry evidence indicates that the portable signs can be used to increase motorists' awareness of

their travelling speed and adherence to the speed limit at problem locations. An extensive program

has been running at Brisbane City Council and to date, there has been a marked decrease in the

number of motorists travelling above the speed limit after passing the signs. The data from the

portable speed warning signs has shown an average speed reduction of more than 9 km per hour

across all sites since the program began in November 2013. Inner West Council in Sydney has also

successfully used the portable signs with similar positive results.

How Council’s portable speed warning signs will work

• The default setting for the sign is blank.

• As a motorist approaches the sign, their speed is detected by radar and one of the following

three messages is displayed.

1. If the motorist is driving at or below the speed limit, a smiley face is displayed.

2. If the motorist is driving above the speed limit by up to 9 km/h, the vehicle’s speed is

displayed below a “SLOW DOWN” message.


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3. If the motorist is driving 10 km/h or more above the speed limit, a “SLOW DOWN”

message is displayed.

The speed readings are not used to issue infringement notices. The purpose of portable speed

warning signs is to give motorists feedback on their driving behaviour. Both Brisbane City and Inner

West Council rotate the use of the signs to various suitable locations to increase their overall

effectiveness across their wider road networks. Examples of the messages that can be displayed are

attached in Appendix A.

Selecting suitable sites

Portable speed warning signs are not suitable for all locations in the road network. Potential sites

would be identified based on feedback from the community and the assessment of Council’s Traffic

and Transport officers. A site assessment is then required to determine if an appropriate physical

location for the sign can be found. Some of the factors considered in the site assessment are listed

below.

• Visual impact on adjacent residents.

• Sufficient vehicle visibility (presence of obstructions such as trees and other traffic signs).

• Clearance from driveways and infrastructure such as power poles and service pits.

• Clearance from low-hanging power lines and television cables.

• Adequate sunlight for the sign’s solar panels.

• Separation between other traffic signs to ensure drivers have sufficient time to read messages.

Affected property owners would also need to be consulted.

At this stage it is proposed that Council trial and evaluate the effectiveness of the portable signs at the

following typical locations each of which have different characteristics:

1. Residential

2. Shopping strip

3. School

The results of the trial will establish the merits for Council to consider an expanded program with

additional site installations at known problem locations.

Speed Display Features

• Comes with software, accessible through laptop (Bluetooth). Can adjust speed limits (school

zones, etc), times of operations, access data.

• Radar tracks vehicle speed twice. First time is at around 150m (activates speed display),

second time when vehicle passes out of range.

• Useful as speed calming as unlike speed humps and chicanes, the unit does not impact on all

drivers.


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• Is erected on a 80mm post, heaviest piece is 9kg.

• 80 watt solar panel allows 24 hour use (3 years battery life).

• Light sensor equipped for night use (or can be turned off during certain times).

• Front panel can be customised with Council logo / message.

• Good community acceptance

• Frangible post design

• The unit has a reading distance of 150m

Cost Whilst there are a number of different products on the market, both Brisbane City and Inner West

Councils have successfully chosen to use the same product which is available at under $6500 each

(including GST). The package features a three colour LED panel, aluminium enclosure, internal data

recorder and 80W solar kit.

Installation of the portable speed warning sign involves construction of a small concrete foundation

below the ground on Council owned road verge. The platform has a lid which sits flush with the

ground. Once the speed sign is removed, the lid will remain. This allows rotation of devices between

sites and the site can be reused if speeding at that location continues to be an issue. Footings used in

Brisbane City Council cost about $3,000 each. As such it is estimated that the cost to Council for

supply and installation would be approximately $10,000 each.

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A - Photos of installed signs.



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consultative traffic forum - sutherland shire · 7/7/2017 · consultative traffic forum 7 july...

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