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The Drive, Epsom - Pedestrian crossing improvements The Drive, Epsom - Pedestrian crossing improvements

Proposal status: Feedback closed 19 May 2020, last updated 15 November 2021.

Reference number: CSFM1.5b 

Proposal update

In April 2020 we advised you that COVID-19 had a significant impact on AT and the wider Auckland Council whānau, and that funding had been constrained so we were not able to estimate a construction date. Funding for this project was successfully secured, and we completed construction this month (November 2021). 

In May 2020, we proposed changes in your area

Albert-Eden Local Board and Auckland Transport proposed to upgrade the pedestrian crossing at 41 The Drive, Epsom. The change is in response to requests from the community to improve crossing facilities outside Epsom Normal Primary School. The proposal aims to make this busy crossing point safer for children walking to and from school.

We proposed to:

  • upgrade the zebra crossing to a zebra crossing raised to a platform level with the footpath, including new kerb extensions, orange beacons, road markings and signs to make it safer for children crossing the road at the beginning and end of the school day.
  • install red high friction surfacing on the approaches to the crossing to help slow vehicle speeds and improve visibility of the crossing.
  • extend the broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times) zones on either side of the crossing and on either side of the bus stop at 46 The Drive to help improve visibility for all people using the road. This will remove a total of 8 car parking spaces.

Download the proposal drawing for The Drive (PDF 1.9MB)

Community Safety Fund

This proposal is part of the Community Safety Fund. Auckland Transport is partnered with the Albert-Eden Local Board to deliver this project, as part of more than 80 safety improvement projects across the Auckland region. The Community Safety Fund is a $20 million programme focused on addressing local road safety concerns raised by the community to local boards and ward councillors.

Epsom: 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 The Drive 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).

Proposal outcome

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on AT and the wider Auckland Council whanau. As a result, Auckland Council is implementing an Emergency Budget which will reduce AT’s capital and operating budgets. This could mean this project is delayed. We will be in touch with you once we know more about how this project will be impacted by the current budget constraints. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

The proposed changes will proceed to the next stage of detailed planning before being constructed. Thank you to everyone who responded to our proposal and gave us the chance to better understand your community and concerns. A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below.

Community feedback

  • Request that the width of the pedestrian crossing is enough for high student traffic. The proposed crossing is wider than the existing one, so we do not anticipate this to be an issue.
  • Concerns about loss of on-street parking for visitors and contractors as the side streets are always very full. Parking removal is required near the crossing to ensure that approaching vehicles have clear visibility of people using it. We minimise parking removal by building the kerbs out at the crossing to allow people crossing to see past parked cars.
  • Requests to have parking restriction apply during school hours only so that residents can use the spaces after school and at weekends. Parking removal is required near the crossing to ensure that approaching vehicles have clear visibility of people using it. We minimise parking removal by building the kerbs out at the crossing to allow people crossing to see past parked cars.
  • Requests to have a dedicated School Zone on this section of The Drive. This section of The Drive is a dedicated School Zone. Electronic warning signs have been installed to notify drivers that they have entered a school zone.
  • Suggestion to have fencing along broken yellow lines to prevent parking. Pedestrian fencing at these types of locations are no longer supported by Auckland Transport, as they create their own hazards in terms of children climbing over them or being trapped behind them when crossing the road.
  • Request for confirmation of a walking countdown timer at the Greenlane intersection. Auckland Transport only installs countdown timers at non-staggered, mid-block crossings or at Barnes Dance intersections where all traffic stops, and pedestrians can cross in any direction at the same time. Countdown timers require full protection for the pedestrian from traffic movements. To do this at The Drive/Greenlane intersection we would hold up traffic longer than necessary every time the crossing runs, not only at school start and finish times, even if there is only one pedestrian.
    The Greenlane/The Drive intersection uses “partial protection” on all crossings. This means left turners are held back for part of the crossing, not the full crossing. This has now been changed to “full protection” meaning left turners will be held back for the full crossing phase, allowing more time for children to cross safely.
  • Request for dedicated separate cycle ways in the area to encourage bike riding. There has been 1 reported minor injury crash in the last 5 years involving a cyclist. This would indicate that The Drive is currently operating relatively safely for cyclists.
    Manukau Road has been identified as an area/road for future cycling infrastructure under the Connected Communities Programme. Consultation with Local Boards, residents and businesses will form part of the design process. The aim of the programme is to deliver an improved road safety environment which meets the needs of local residents and visitors. As these projects are currently in early stages, detailed timeframes on when consultation or construction will occur are not yet available.
  • Question about the school crossing warning signs being installed, are they electronic and do they include ground sensors? The proposed signs are static signs however, this section of The Drive has electronic signage that activates during school drop off and pick up times.
  • Request for the crash/accident statistics for this crossing. There are no reported crashes at this crossing in the last 5 years. This upgrade is a proactive approach to enhance the overall safety at this crossing point.

Next steps

We will be in touch with you once we know more about how this project will be impacted by the current budget constraints. Once funding is secured, our contractors will send notices to residents or businesses affected by works 48 hours before the work starts.