gm20151102 updatemeeting finaledited
TRANSCRIPT
Belgrave Road Feasibility and Design StudyUpdate Meeting – Presentation of Draft Options
2nd November 2015
Objective of today’s presentation
• To let you know what progress we have made on the analysis and designs
• To explain the principles of how we have developed the options so far
• To get some interim feedback on these ideas
• To set out the next steps of the process
Street Audit
Aims: To understand how the Golden Mile functions for businesses, and what implications this has on the physical environment.
73 stores have been audited, with the following data collected:
• Type• Servicing and deliveries• Opening hours• Ownership• Number of staff and how they get to work• Issues and requirements
Fashion
Other
Jewellery
Restaurants
You said, we listened
• You said that there was widespread dissatisfaction with the number of traffic signals on Belgrave Road
• We understand there is uncertainty about how significant changes to Belgrave Road might work
• You told us about importance of these four pedestrian crossings:– Cossington Street– Law Street– Rothley Street– Dorset Street
• We have developed three options based on the previous workshop:– Retain the existing arrangement of 4 traffic lanes– Reduce the number of lanes to 2, but keep the central median– Reduce the number of lanes to 2 and remove the central median
Existing situation
• Nine sets of traffic signals between Belgrave Circle and Melton Turn
• All pedestrian crossings require people to cross the road in two stages
• Pedestrians, motorists and cyclists all have difficulty moving across Belgrave Road
• Access to the car parks is not obvious
• Discontinuous provision for cycling
Common to all options
• Fewer traffic signals – improved efficiency of remaining signals
• Retained controlled pedestrian crossings at these key locations:– Cossington Street– Law Street– Rothley Street– Dorset Street– Abbey Park Street
• Pedestrians can cross the road in one go at these locations
• However, there are changes to minor road traffic movements to achieve this
• Provision for cyclists to cross Belgrave Road
• Bus laybys removed to maximise footway and minimise delay to buses
• Better access to car park at Belgrave Gate
Option 1 – Four traffic lanes with a central median
• The option that is most similar to the existing situation
• The junction at Melton Turn is simplified to operate more efficiently and with a better crossing arrangement for pedestrians
• Macdonald Road junction has signals removed but the junction is placed on a raised table – this slows traffic to make it easier to judge gaps in traffic flow, and a Zebra Crossing is also introduced
• The remaining five sets of signals are designed to operate with as few stages as possible: meaning the delay to traffic is minimised
Option 2 – Two traffic lanes with a central median
• Pavements are widened – space available for coach parking
• Melton Turn – junction operates with Give Ways and Zebra Crossings
• Zebra Crossings also provided at Dorset Street and Moorgate Street
• Macdonald Road – priorities revised to improve access to car park, and to break up “platoons” of northbound traffic for a calmer environment
• Informal crossings provided at Cooper Street, Macdonald Road and Olphin Street – vehicles have priority but courteous behaviour encouraged by lower speeds
• The four remaining sets of signals are designed to operate with as few stages as possible: meaning the delay to traffic is minimised
• Cycle lanes provided on Belgrave Road
Option 3 – Two traffic lanes
• Two traffic lanes in a single carriageway
• Pavements are widened – space available for coach parking
• Melton Turn – junction operates with Give Ways and Zebra Crossings
• Zebra Crossings also provided at Dorset Street and Moorgate Street
• Macdonald Road – priorities revised to improve access to car park, and to break up “platoons” of northbound traffic for a calmer environment
• Informal crossings provided at Cooper Street, Macdonald Road and Olphin Street – vehicles have priority but courteous behaviour encouraged by lower speeds
• The four remaining sets of signals are designed to operate with as few stages as possible: meaning the delay to traffic is minimised
• Cycle lanes provided on Belgrave Road
Next Steps
• Base traffic model now complete
• Welcome initial feedback on traffic options and public realm ideas – by end of this week at the latest
• Traffic modelling will help us to refine the options to provide the most optimal solutions, which will be taken to consultation
• Public consultation begins 1 December with exhibition at the Neighbourhood Centre