East Coast Road, Forrest Hill - Raised zebra crossing East Coast Road, Forrest Hill - Raised zebra crossing
Proposal status: Feedback closed 22 December 2020 - last updated 5 March 2021
Reference number: RSU1819-008B
Proposal outcome
In December 2020, we proposed changes to improve the safety of people crossing the road by upgrading the existing zebra crossing and pedestrian island at 208 East Coast Road. We also proposed to relocate the bus stop outside 203 East Coast Road. 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 by June 2021. We will be in touch with local residents and business prior to any construction taking place.
Community feedback
Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge. A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below.
- Suggestions to install a crossing with traffic lights instead of a zebra crossing. This is a residential, low speed environment and we consider a raised zebra crossing the most appropriate treatment for the location. The raised crossing will reduce driver speeds, encourage people to cross at this location and will reduce the severity of injury should a pedestrian be involved in a collision. Pedestrian crossings with traffic lights are usually considered on high traffic multilane arterial roads with significant crash history.
- Concern that the raised crossing is not suitable for vans, trucks and motorcycles. The project aims to slow drivers down to a safe speed at and near the crossing location. The design of the raised platform is considered appropriate for all vehicles including buses, trucks, motorcycles and cars towing a trailer or boat. The detailed design for this project will include the appropriate warning signs and road markings that will alert road users in advance approaching the platform.
- Concerns that it is dangerous for the crossing to be located on a bend and that it is difficult to see people at the crossing. Suggestion to move the crossing towards Kenmure Avenue intersection to give approaching vehicles better visibility of waiting pedestrians. The crossing is located where the demand to cross the road is and it serves the nearby bus stops and schools in the area. We investigated alternative crossing locations, but they were considered not suitable due to site constraints such as driveways and visibility of the crossing. New broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times) will make it easier for both drivers and people crossing to see each other. In addition, the raised table will slow driver speeds and improve pedestrian safety at the crossing.
Moving the crossing towards the Kenmure Avenue intersection would reduce visibility for the southbound drivers to see both the crossing and pedestrians due to road geometry. - Concerns that the crossing is located too close to the driveway of the new 10-unit development at 199/201 East Coast Road. We will carry out vehicle tracking during the detail design phase to ensure that driveway movements are not compromised.
- Requests for broken yellow lines at various locations along this stretch of road. Concerns from some residents about difficultly entering and exiting driveways, and parked cars blocking visibility causing drivers travelling north to cross the centre line. The proposed broken yellow lines between 210 and 212 East Coast Road aim to ensure that vehicles do not have to cross the centre line travelling north. Past the driveway of 212 East Coast Road, the flush median ends leaving enough space for parking and for drivers travelling along East Coast Road. We need to balance the parking needs of residents and visitors whilst maintaining reasonable access to the road. Some parking has been retained between the bus stop and the proposed crossing as it helps to slow down drivers approaching the crossing without compromising the visibility of the crossing.
- Concern with visibility of the crossing for the vehicles using driveways outside 199/201 East Coast Road. The crossing is raised at its existing location and visibility will remain clear between the crossing and the driveway of 199/201 East Coast Road at the property boundary. In addition, we expect driver speeds approaching the crossing will be slower, making to easier for drivers exiting these driveways.
- Concerns that cars park too close to driveways. Concerns that this causes visibility issues and can force drivers into the middle of the road to avoid parked cars. We understand that vehicles parked on the road can sometimes be an inconvenience. Parking within one metre of a driveway is illegal and this is clearly outlined in the NZ Road Code. If a vehicle is parked within one metre of your driveway and blocking your access, please call parking enforcement on 09 355 3553 with vehicle details and enforcement shall be organised.
- Concern at the speed of cars travelling along East Coast Road. The changes we are making will help to slow drivers down to a safe speed around the crossing location.
- Concern that people cycle and use electric scooters, often at speed, on the footpath. It is illegal to ride a bicycle on footpath unless for mail delivery or if the cycle has very small wheels. Although electric scooters can be used on the footpath, the rider must operate the device at a safe speed and give way to pedestrians as required by Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency). The responsibility of enforcing illegal riding of cycles and electric scooters lies with NZ Police and not with AT.
- Concern that the proposed bus stop location creates a pinch point as the road narrows and vehicles are also parked on the opposite side of the road. This issue was considered while developing the design. The changes we are making allow drivers to overtake a parked bus without passing into the oncoming traffic lane.
- Concerns that the new bus stop location will affect traffic flow. Suggestions include that it will be dangerous for vehicles waiting to turn right into driveways and that cars travelling south will have to cross the centre line in order to pass the bus. The width of both traffic lanes next to the proposed bus stop is approximately 7 metres. This allows drivers to pass each other and stay within the lane while a bus is at the bus stop. In addition the raised zebra crossing will slow driver speeds in the area, improving safety at this location.
- Suggestions to move the bus stop to other locations including 193 East Coast Road and 195 East Coast Road. Moving the bus stop to outside 193 or 195 East Coast Road was considered but not preferred as these locations are further away.
- Concern that the proposed bus stop location covers a driveway. Buses are generally only stationary for a short period of time at this bus stop, approximately 30-45 seconds. Therefore we consider that the operation of the driveway will be similar as existing.
- Suggestion that the existing location is better as it ensures that the buses are stopped out of the traffic. The existing bus stop is located on a bend. This causes the buses to stop away from the kerb. The greater the gap left between the bus body and the kerb, the higher the risk for bus passengers when they get on/off the bus, especially for mobility impaired passengers. Based on our vehicle tracking simulation, vehicles will be able to overtake a parked bus at the proposed bus stop without crossing over the centre line.
We're proposing improvements in your area
Aucklanders have told us that moving around our city safely and easily is important to them. We are proposing some improvements to your area and are asking for your views. We want to improve the safety of people crossing the road by upgrading the existing zebra crossing and pedestrian island at 208 East Coast Road. We are also proposing to relocate the bus stop outside 203 East Coast Road.
In November 2018 we asked for your views on a similar proposal. We advised you in April 2019 that as a result of community feedback and engineering requirements we would redesign and consult with you again. The redesign process took longer than anticipated and was further delayed due to the impact of COVID-19.
The changes we are proposing
- Upgrade the existing zebra crossing to a zebra crossing on a Swedish-style raised table. Swedish-style raised tables have only one sharp ramp and a more gentle exit which gives a smoother ride for vehicles and passengers.
- Install tactile pavers which are yellow guidance paving markers to help visually impaired people to find their way to the crossing and safely cross the road.
- Add a skid-resistant road surface to both approaches to the crossing.
- Install new road markings and signs to support the new crossing.
- Relocate the bus stop and bus shelter from outside 203 to 207 East Coast Road. This includes painting bus stop road markings and additional broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times) at each end of the stop. This will remove 2 parking spaces outside 207 East Coast Road and will gain 1 parking space outside 205 East Coast Road.
- Repair the footpath on both sides of the crossing and outside 207 East Coast Road.
- Paint broken yellow lines outside 210 – 212 East Coast Road and from the crossing to the corner of Kenmure Avenue. This will remove approximately 6 parking spaces.
- Remove a non-native tree outside 207 East Coast Road to support the bus stop relocation.
Download the proposal drawing for East Coast Road (PDF 2MB)
Auckland Transport would like to work with you to deliver safer roads in your neighbourhood. From our investigations we have identified that this crossing is a high risk location for pedestrian safety. The existing crossing provides access to the bus stop, and to the surrounding area. Our site observations have shown that drivers have poor compliance with existing speed limit. These proposed changes aim to slow the speed of approaching drivers and make the crossing more visible. It will prioritise people crossing the road and improve the safety for everyone using the road.
The bus stop does not meet the current standards required for using the bus network. To improve accessibility for people using buses, we need to relocate the bus stop and shelter to ensure buses can align better to the kerb. The changes will also ensure buses can enter and exit the stops safely and efficiently.
It is also necessary for us to remove some street parking to make sure people wanting to cross the road are able to see it clearly. We understand removing parking can be inconvenient, so we have minimised the removal of parking whilst maintaining clear visibility.
What happens next
- We’ll consider 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 by the Auckland regional fuel tax.
This proposal is part of a region wide pedestrian improvement programme which aims to improve safety at pedestrian crossings in high-risk locations. You can read more about the original proposal from November 2018 at Region wide pedestrian crossing improvements 2018.
Forrest Hill: 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 East Coast Road 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).