Penney Avenue, Mount Roskill – Speed Bumps Penney Avenue, Mount Roskill – Speed Bumps

Proposal status: Closed consultation

Reference number: RTV-406

Proposal update

In February 2022 we invited community feedback on our proposal to improve pedestrian and driver safety on Penney Avenue, Mt Roskill by installing two speed bumps. These changes are in response to requests from residents who are concerned about high vehicle speeds on Penney Avenue.

Next steps

Construction is now planned for early 2024, subject to funding.

Download the latest proposal drawings for Penney Avenue (PDF 4MB)

Proposal outcome

In February 2022, we proposed changes to improve pedestrian and driver safety on Penney Avenue, Mount Roskill, by installing two speed bumps. These changes are in response to requests from residents who are concerned about high vehicle speeds on Penney Avenue. After reviewing all the feedback, we are proceeding with the work as proposed. These works will help support our Vision Zero goal.

What happens next

We anticipate the changes will be constructed in the 2022/23 financial year. We’ll write to you again next year with more detail about the commencement of works, as construction is subject to budget availability. Further, we will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

Community feedback

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge. In the community feedback people expressed support for the speed bumps because the high driver speeds on Penney Avenue is a concern for them. Residents expressed their belief that the proposed speed bumps will improve driver safety around the corner by preventing vehicles from speeding into and out of the corner and will prevent speed related accidents from happening at this location. A summary of the additional comments and queries we received, and our responses to them, is below.

Request for more speed bumps to be installed

Request for speed bumps to be installed at no.103 Webster Avenue on the corner and on Penney Avenue between the Penney Avenue corner and the Webster Avenue corner.

Thank you for raising this request with us, and bringing your concerns to our attention. Auckland Transport believes that the proposed speed bumps will reduce driver speeds on Penney Avenue and prevent drivers from speeding before, around and after the corner. The advisory speed limit signs at this bend will be replaced to a lower advisory speed, to ensure that drivers approach the corner at a low speed. Once the speed bumps have been installed Auckland Transport will continue to monitor driver speeds on Penney Avenue, to see if further speed calming measures at Webster Avenue are required. Please also note that further speed calming measures will be installed once this area of Mount Roskill is prioritised as part of the residential speed management programme.

Request for the speed bump shape to be domed and not the new shape that has been installed around the city.

Thank you for your request, we are pleased to inform you that the speed humps will be dome shaped.

Speeding

Request for the speed limit on Penney Avenue to be reduced.

The aim of this proposal is to change the speed environment of Penney Avenue. Our speed calming projects aim to reduce vehicle speeds in high-risk areas to survivable speeds (30km/h) for all drivers. The speed limit reduction process has to follow specific speed bylaw guidelines which will be enacted on a priority basis outside of this project. Your request will be passed on to the residential speed management team.

Request for more speed bumps to be installed to prevent drivers from speeding on the straight after the corners.

We are currently unable to proceed with your request. This project proposes treatment at Penney Avenue’s corner because there have been a considerable number of recorded crashes at this location, ranking it as a high priority for speed calming measures to be installed. Further speed calming measures will be installed once this area of Mount Roskill is prioritised as part of the residential speed management programme.

Request for a judder bar to be installed on Webster Avenue and Penney Avenue, to prevent drivers from speeding before and after travelling around the corners.

This project proposes treatment at the Penney Avenue corner because there have been a considerable number of recorded crashes at this location that can be attributed to high driver speeds. There have been no reported crashes at the Webster Avenue and Penney Avenue intersection that highlight the need to prioritise the installation of speed bumps at this stage. The advisory speed limit signs at this bend will be replaced to a lower advisory speed. Further speed calming measures will be installed once this area of Mount Roskill is prioritised as part of the residential speed management programme.

Request for some additional speed bumps to be installed on the long, flat sections of both Penney Avenue and Webster Avenue to prevent drivers from speeding after travelling through the corner.

This project proposes treatment at the Penney Avenue corner because there have been a considerable number of recorded crashes at this location that can be attributed to high driver speeds. Further speed calming measures will be installed once this area of Mount Roskill is prioritised as part of the residential speed management programme.

Request for chicane traffic islands to be installed down Penney Avenue to reduce driver speeds.

Auckland Transport rarely install chicanes because of the high cost associated with implementation, the high number of on-street parking removal and the ongoing maintenance costs in comparison to speed bumps, which achieve the same results for a fraction of the implementation and maintenance costs.

Parking congestion

Suggestion to construct berm parking bays to address parking congestion on Penney Avenue.

Auckland Transport do not install parking bays, except in special circumstances and when there are no parking alternatives available for narrow roads.

Suggestion to install “no parking” signs on Penney Avenue to increase road width, and perhaps introduce time parking restrictions on some spaces on Penney Avenue.

The parking needs of both residents and visitors must be balanced with maintaining reasonable access to our roads. Removing on-street parking for residents is both unpopular and has the potential to increase vehicles speeds along residential streets. Given this, we will not be proceeding with your request at present. You can request network changes that you would like to see around Auckland via our online form where your feedback will be sent on to the relevant team.

Concern that a current safety issue is cars parking at the intersection of Penney Avenue and Doug Goodwin Place. Suggestion to paint broken yellow lines on the intersection to discourage this activity.

As stated in the Road Code, it is illegal to park within six metres of an intersection, and Auckland Transport’s current policy is that we do not install broken yellow lines to indicate this. It is felt that if this situation arises, as a first stage, parking enforcement is the most appropriate means of educating motorists of their legal obligations and we encourage you to contact us on (09) 355 3553 with the vehicle details to request a parking enforcement officer to visit the site. Further steps will be taken depending on infringement levels.

Concern that parking congestion on Cormac Street is a safety issue, as there is poor visibility for drivers travelling through the street and that this needs to be addressed urgently.

While parked vehicles may reduce the traffic flow on Penney Avenue to a single lane, there are a number of opportunities where vehicles can pass at driveways. These same parked vehicles also discourage drivers from speeding as cars parked on either side of the road give drivers the impression of a narrow road, encouraging greater care when driving. As a result we believe that on-street parking serves as an effective tool for maintaining acceptable speeds on Cormack Street.

Concern that the real safety risk on Penney Avenue is parking congestion, as parked cars create a narrow road and obstruct drivers’ visibility.

Penney Ave is approximately 9.1 metres wide, which is not considered a narrow street. We consider a street to be narrow if the road is less than 7 metres wide. At a minimum, this width allows two metres worth of parking on each side of the road while retaining a 3 metre through lane, which emergency services have confirmed is the minimum space required for their vehicles to have access.

The parking needs of residents and visitors must be balanced with maintaining reasonable access to our roads. While parked vehicles may reduce the traffic flow on Penney Ave to a single lane, there are a number of opportunities where vehicles can pass at driveways. These same parked vehicles also discourage drivers from speeding as cars parked on either side of the road give drivers the impression of a narrow road, encouraging greater care when driving. As a result we believe that on street parking serves as an effective tool for maintaining acceptable speeds on Penney Ave.

Broken yellow lines

Request for broken yellow lines to be painted on the corner of Penney Avenue to prevent people from parking here to improve driver visibility.

Broken yellow lines are usually only painted to address issues with the flow of traffic or significant safety issues along a road. The proposed speed bumps will reduce driving speeds to 30km/h which will reduce the level of risk for all road users. Given this, visibility is not expected to be a serious issue at this location to prioritise the installation of broken yellow lines.

Suggestion to paint broken yellow lines at the corner of Webster Avenue.

Thank you for your suggestion. There have been no reported crashes at the Webster Avenue and Penney Avenue intersection indicating that it is operating relatively safely in its current form, we currently have no plans to paint broken yellow lines at the corner of Webster Avenue. You can request network changes that you would like to see around Auckland via our online form where your feedback will be sent on to the relevant team.

Suggestion to paint broken yellow lines down the western side of Penney Avenue, as when cars park on either side of the road, the road becomes too narrow and dangerous for two lanes of traffic to travel down safely.

Penney Ave is approximately 9.1 metres wide, and is not considered to be a narrow street. We consider a street to be narrow if the road is less than 7 metres wide. At a minimum, this width allows two metres worth of parking on each side of the road while retaining a 3 metre through lane, which emergency services have confirmed is the minimum space required for their vehicles to have access.

While parked vehicles may reduce the traffic flow on Penney Ave to a single lane, there are a number of opportunities where opposing vehicles can pass at driveways. These same parked vehicles also discourage drivers from speeding, as cars parked on either side of the road give drivers the impression of a narrow road, encouraging greater care when driving. As a result, we believe that on street parking serves as an effective tool for maintaining acceptable speeds on Penney Ave.

Concern that the speed bumps are not required on Penney Avenue

Concern that the speed bumps are not needed as there is an increased number of cars parked on the street which has slowed high traffic speeds.

This project proposes changes at the Penney Avenue corner because there have been a considerable number of recorded crashes at this location that can be attributed to high driver speeds. This indicates that there is a need for speed calming devices at this location, to address existing speed-related issues and prevent further accidents from happening.

Concern that this proposal will cause increased emissions.

Thank you for your feedback. Given the geometry of the road, drivers are expected to decelerate before approaching the corner regardless of the presence of the speed bumps. Therefore, the installation of the speed bumps will have minimal impact on emissions. We do not undertake studies in New Zealand for air quality at speed calming devices because there is not a measurable impact. We do monitor air quality at some of the busiest intersections in Auckland and this reveals that the air quality standards are rarely exceeded. This data is publicly available from the Auckland Council website.

Concern that currently there is enough construction happening on Penney Avenue to reduce traffic speeds and that this project should be undertaken after the waste-water work is completed.

Due to the safety concerns at the corner near no.74 Penney Avenue we would like to implement these works without delay, to prevent further accidents from happening. This installation of these speed calming devices is not expected to last more than a week, and will significantly improve safety on Penney Avenue.

Concern that the speed bumps will cause more dangerous crashes than make the roads safer.

Speed calming devices have proven to lower driver speeds by up to 30km/h. This project proposes treatment at the Penney Avenue corner because there have been a considerable number of recorded crashes at this location that can be attributed to high driver speeds. This indicates that there is a need for speed calming devices to address existing speed-related issues and accidents. To minimise any adverse effects, we are also installing advance speed bump signage to alert drivers to the newly installed speed bumps, so that they can approach and travel over the speed bump at an appropriate speed.

Concern that the speed bumps will act as a ramp and cars will not slow down and jump over them.

This proposal is expected to lower driver speeds on Penney Avenue, and the speed bumps are designed to ensure a smooth journey over the bump, provided that drivers approach and travel over the device an at appropriate speed.

Community requests

Request for the broken kerbs on Penney Avenue to be fixed.

Thank you for raising this request, your request has been passed onto the maintenance team.

We're proposing improvements in your area

We are planning to improve pedestrian and driver safety by reducing vehicle speeds on Penney Avenue, Mount Roskill, by installing two speed bumps.

We are proposing to:

Install a speed bump outside of 75/84 and 70/71 Penney Avenue. The speed bumps will guide drivers to slow down before approaching the bend in the road.
Install signs alerting drivers to the new speed bumps. The signs will also advise drivers that the recommended speed limit for travelling over the speed bumps is 25km/h.
Replace the existing sign at 103 Webster Avenue with a sign that will advise drivers to travel around the corner at 25km/h.

Download the proposal drawing for Penney Avenue, Mount Roskill (PDF 4.51MB)

This project is in response to requests from residents, who are concerned about high vehicle speeds on Penney Avenue. In the past five years there have been four recorded loss of control crashes on Penney Avenue at the bend. The signage will alert drivers to the upcoming bend in the road and the speed bumps will guide drivers to slow down before approaching the bend.

Give your feedback for Penney Avenue, Mount Roskill

If you would like to post in your feedback, download and print our feedback form template, fill in your details and send it freepost using the address details on the form.

What happens next

We’ll listen to all the feedback we receive, and then decide the best way to move forward.
We’ll post the outcome of this proposal and a summary of community feedback on this webpage.
We can email you the proposal outcome as soon as it’s ready – just select that option when you fill in the survey.

More Information

This proposal is supported with funding from the Auckland regional fuel tax.

Mt Roskill: Safe with us

Auckland Transport cares for your safety. We want to make our roads safe for everyone, people walking and cycling, especially for our kids and senior citizens and people driving. Projects like this one around Penney Avenue are another step towards our goal of achieving no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. We are guided by the Vision Zero approach to transport safety, which prioritises human safety over other measures (like minor time saving).