Ramsgate Terrace, Mairangi Bay - Raised Pedestrian Crossing Ramsgate Terrace, Mairangi Bay - Raised Pedestrian Crossing

Raised zebra crossing

• Belief that raised crossing is not necessary and that there are no supporting pedestrian traffic surveys or evidence of accidents at location, which demonstrate a crossing is needed. Belief that speed hump to the east and the 30km zone to the west are sufficient in providing pedestrians with a safe place to cross.  
  A pedestrian survey was carried out at this location and showed that there were a number of pedestrians crossing here utilising the existing raised courtesy crossing. It was also observed that school children were one of the main users. Although there have been no reported crashes at this location, this project was nominated by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board for the Community Safety Fund Programme, which is a programme focussed on tackling road safety concerns raised by the Local Board on behalf of their community. At this location there is an existing raised courtesy crossing which we are proposing to upgrade to a raised zebra crossing. The significant difference between the two being that pedestrians will have the right of way over vehicles when crossing the road. This gives priority to the pedestrians and increases their safety.  
• Query as to cost and practicability of installing a foot activated sensor crossing which lights up to alert drivers of people about to cross, in place of a raised crossing. Belief the this would be a better approach as it does not require kerb buildouts or removal of car parks.  
  The kerb build out is required at this location to allow pedestrians walking past the crossing an unobstructed path past pedestrians waiting to cross. This is specifically important for wheelchair users, mobility scooters and people pushing children in prams. The build out also results in a shorter distance the pedestrians will need to cross and narrowing of the road to encourage further speed reduction. Due to sight visibility requirements (vehicles to see pedestrians waiting to cross and stop safely) and movement of buses through this section (prevent clashes with oncoming vehicles), the removal of 6 parking spaces adjacent to the crossing to the north will be needed for the safety of all road users. The infrastructure suggested is not an approved traffic control device to be used on Auckland roads. Therefore, this cannot be easily implemented and would need to go through an approval process which could include a trial period which can be very lengthy. For this crossing specifically we do not think this is necessary as there is an existing raised courtesy crossing which we are upgrading so that pedestrians have priority over vehicles. 

• Concern that raised crossing will cause damage to vehicles, result in unnecessary stress on cars, increased exhaust fumes and excessive braking.  
  The speed table will be built to current AT standards which will not damage vehicles given that they are road legal and travel over the crossing at the recommended advisory speed. With regards to air pollution due to perceived increased exhaust emissions, we do not do studies in NZ for air quality at zebra crossings or speed tables. We do monitor air quality at some of the busiest intersections in Auckland and this reveals that the air quality standards are rarely exceeded. 
• Concern that the proposed raised crossing will increase congestion on Ramsgate Terrace. Concern location of proposed raised crossing is too close to the entry/exit to Countdown supermarket. Concern that location of proposed crossing is too close to the roundabout.  
  At this location there is an existing raised courtesy crossing which we are proposing to upgrade to a raised zebra crossing. The significant difference between the two being that pedestrians will have the right of way over vehicles when crossing the road. This gives priority to the pedestrians and increases their safety. This crossing is approximately 160m away from the Countdown which should not have a significant effect on congestion, or operation of this entry/exit. Similarly, the crossing is approximately 260m away from the roundabout and should not have a significant effect on the operation of this intersection. 
• Belief that a signalised crossing would be safer for pedestrians.  
  Although signalised crossings provide pedestrian prioritisation over vehicles, they do not manage motorists' speeds to an acceptable level. This does not align with Vison Zero and the safe system approach which is Auckland Transport’s current policy. A signalised crossing at this location would also be more difficult to fit in given the size of the footpath, retaining wall and little to no berm space. 
• Belief that highest crossing demand is not at proposed crossing location, suggestions to install the crossing elsewhere nearby.  
  A pedestrian survey was carried out at this location and showed that there were a number of pedestrians crossing here utilising the existing raised courtesy crossing. It was also observed that school children were one of the main users. 
• Concerns around the location of pedestrian crossing, belief it is too close to the corner, and should not be positioned on a downhill slope.  
  All required lines of sight have been checked and are met at this location to ensure visibility is maintained for pedestrian safety. 

Parking

• Concern that parking is in high demand and parking removal will impact residents, visitors and users with mobility needs. Queries as to whether removal of parking is necessary. Requests to reduce number of parking spaces removed.  
  Due to visibility requirements (vehicles being able to see pedestrians waiting to cross and stop) and movement of buses through this section (prevent clashes with oncoming vehicles), the removal of 6 parking spaces adjacent to the crossing to the north will be needed. A parking survey was carried out on this section last year in February 2020. On average the removal of these 6 parking spaces will not affect the parking demand on this section as it is generally underutilised. It was noted during this survey that during the evenings particularly when the Club has an event the demand on the western side (Bowling Club side) does increase but even with removal of the 6 parks, the remaining parks should be able to accommodate this demand. 
• Request to install car park markings to emphasise parking spaces.  
  Along this section of Ramsgate Terrace there are existing “hockey stick” markings indicating appropriate parking spaces.  
   

Other

• Belief that existing footpaths are of an adequate width and standard.  
  The existing footpath widths are less than 1.8m wide which is below the current Auckland Transport standard. The kerb build out/footpath widening is required at this location to provide pedestrians walking past the crossing an unobstructed path past pedestrians waiting to cross. This is specifically important for wheelchair users, mobility scooters and people pushing children in prams. 

• Request to reconsider the amount of signage or use an existing pole for 2 signs. Concern that some parts of Mairangi Bay footpaths now have so many signs it's hard to walk.  
  Only the legally required signage associated with a zebra crossing has been proposed. We will ensure that all new signage will not obstruct or significantly narrow the footpath. 
• Concern that Ramsgate Terrace is too narrow as it is currently. Concern that it is already difficult to safely pass by a bus or truck travelling in the opposite direction and widened kerbs at crossing point will increase this risk.  
  All appropriate requirements have been checked at this location to ensure vehicles including buses can safely pass each other. Furthermore, vehicles travelling past this point do so at a slow speed which decreases the risk of a crash or high severity crash occurring between oncoming vehicles 

Surrounding Area

• Concern that the side of Matipo Rd pedestrians will reach when leaving the crossing has no footpath for most of its length. Request to extend footpath on Matipo Road. Your request has been added to our New Footpath Candidate List. The new footpath candidate list is prioritised and your request falls outside the top-ranking footpaths for investigation, however we will review requests every six months. More information including proposed new footpaths for construction along with the top-ranking footpaths for investigation can be found here.  
  All footpath requests are scored based on the following things:  

• Proximity to schools, public transport and community facilities 
• Speed and the number of vehicles that use the road o If there are already footpaths nearby or on the other side of the road (areas with no footpaths score higher) 
• Addressing a gap in the existing footpath network  
• Maximum cost of $1,000,000 (one million).  

We have around 800 requests on our list; therefore, we must prioritise our investment. We can only fund the top 10-15 requests each year. This means your request is unlikely to be constructed in the near future. However, your request will stay on the list until it prioritises high enough compared to other requests. Local Board discretionary funds are available for transport projects, including new footpaths. We share our footpath list with the local boards each year, but you are also welcome to approach your Local Board with your request. 

• Request to install a crossing on Matipo Road, near the junction with Ramsgate Terrace. Request for an additional crossing to be installed on Coromandel Crescent (off Maxwelton Drive), to allow primary school children to cross and slow the speed of vehicles in this street.  
  There have been no reported crashes in the last 5 years at either of these intersections, which would suggest that it is currently operating relatively safely compared to other intersection on the Auckland network. We therefore cannot currently justify any changes at these locations. However, we will continue to monitor these intersections and reassess the situation if necessary. Hibiscus and Bays Local Board also have discretionary funds available for transport projects including installing new crossings. If you wish to further pursue this crossing request, we suggest contacting the Local Board for them to consider for inclusion in their programme. 

• Request to install speed bumps or implement a 30km/h zone in Matipo Road. We don’t plan to add speed calming to Matipo Road right now.  
  We are dealing with other areas first because they have higher speeds and safety risks. However, we have recorded this location on our database for future consideration. Our Residential Speed Management Plan: From 2019, we’ve focused on reducing vehicle speeds in residential areas rather than single streets. We choose our priority areas based on:  

• the number of crashes  
• safety risk 
• traffic speed  
• land use  

• concerns from residents and elected representatives.  

Visit our website for information about how we made our decisions and to see the priority areas: https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/safe-speeds-programme/city-and-town-centres-urban-residential-and-rural-safe-speeds-programme/residential-speed-management-programme/ Auckland Transport (AT) controls over 7,300km of roads and is responsible for ensuring that all these roads have speed limits that are ‘safe and appropriate’ for their function, design, safety and use. The Safe Speeds programme is reviewing speed limits on roads across our network to identify where changes are needed. Due to its scope and scale, the program is divided into multiple tranches for delivery purposes. We are currently focusing on the top 10 per cent of high-risk areas. That’s because doing so is likely to return the best benefits, which is to immediately reduce the high rates of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. This approach is in keeping with NZTA’s Speed Management Guide. 

• Concern that AT have implemented a number of pedestrian safety measures such as speed bumps and raised crossings in Mairangi Bay already, which are limiting traffic flow and perceived as being over the top.  
  The Mairangi Bay area is a residential/town centre environment which we expect a high level of pedestrian movement. New infrastructure such as a raised crossing and speed bumps will help create a safe slow speed environment which will further encourage the use of active modes in this area. Speed is not the cause of all crashes, but it will determine the outcome of every crash. Even small reductions in travel speed can result in significant reductions in crashes happening and consequently improve the survivability rates of crashes that may occur. Our strategy acknowledges that people, no matter how well trained or skilled, will make mistakes. The transport system must be designed, built and operated so that a mistake does not mean that you lose your life or are seriously injured. 
• Query about whether AT's past proposal to install a signalised crossing further along Ramsgate, near the supermarket, is still going ahead. Belief this crossing location was more suitable. This project has been cancelled: https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/afternoon-peak-hours-bus-lane-for-ramsgate-terrace/