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Rangatira Road, Beach Haven - Pedestrian crossing upgrade Rangatira Road, Beach Haven - Pedestrian crossing upgrade

Proposal status: Feedback closed 16 July 2020, last updated 2 September 2020.

Reference number: CSFK1.12

Proposal update

In June 2020, Kaipātiki Local Board and Auckland Transport invited community feedback on our proposal to upgrade the pedestrian crossing at 84 Rangatira Road, Beach Haven. This was proposed to slow driver speeds on this busy road and improve safety for all people. This project is going ahead, but the construction timeframe has been updated.

Next steps

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on AT and the wider Auckland Council whānau. As a result, Auckland Council implemented an Emergency Budget which reduced AT’s capital and operating budgets, and we were not able to estimate a construction date at the close of the consultation last year.

Funding has now been secured for this project and construction is now planned to begin in mid-February 2022. We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

In July 2020, we proposed changes in your area

To slow driver speeds on this busy road and improve safety for all people, especially children as they walk to and from Kauri Park School, Kaipātiki Local Board and Auckland Transport proposed to upgrade the pedestrian crossing at 84 Rangatira Road, Beach Haven.

Proposed changes:

  • Upgrade the zebra crossing to a raised table zebra crossing level with the footpath, with enhanced safety features that aim to slow driver speeds and improve visibility for all people using the road.
  • Extend the raised table around the bend in the road so the edge of the ramp is straight for vehicles as they approach, which aims to reduce wear and tear on vehicles and the platform.
  • Reshape the traffic islands to improve access for cars turning in and out of driveways close to the crossing.
  • Install new footpaths, tactile pavers and driveways at 83 and 84 Rangatira Road so they are level with the speed table.

Download the proposal drawing for Rangatira Road (PDF 427KB)

Community Safety Fund

This proposal is part of the Community Safety Fund. Auckland Transport is partnered with the Kaipātiki 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.

Beach Haven: 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 Rangatira 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).

Proposal outcome

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

  • Many respondents supported this proposal, noting they were concerned about the speed of vehicles coming down the hill towards the bend in the road and not slowing down for the pedestrian crossing.
    We would like to thank all respondents for taking the time to provide feedback on this proposal. We believe that installing a zebra crossing on a table raised to the level of the footpath will help address the community’s speed concerns by slowing vehicles down as they approach the crossing. This will help make the crossing safer for everyone.
  • Respondent was concerned that widening the footpath will damage trees on the berm outside properties.
    The work to widen the footpath will not impact on any existing trees located outside properties near the crossing.
  • Respondent was concerned that the lighting poles for the crossing will be located on the footpath and be in the way of children scootering and cycling.
    The detailed street lighting design will recommend that the existing street lighting poles are relocated to the back of the footpath, if possible.
  • Respondent was concerned that a speed hump zebra crossing on a main arterial route will cause congestion as vehicles slow to go over it.
    We acknowledged that a raised table crossing may lead to some delay at this location. The raised table aims to improve pedestrian safety by encouraging slower speeds around the bend. As drivers are already negotiating the curve at relatively slow speeds, any additional delay is expected to be minimal. We believe the safety benefits that a raised platform will bring will outweigh any minor delays it may cause
  • Respondent was concerned that raised tables are designed for large vehicles and the entry and exit can cause damage to standard vehicles with low front spoilers.
    We design raised table crossings to ensure that all types of vehicles are able to travel over it safely at slow speeds. The raised table height, widths and gradients are in accordance with Auckland Transport standards and are appropriate for all types of vehicles expected at this location.
  • Respondent suggested that as the crossing is mainly for school children that a crossing with traffic lights, activated on request, is a better option than a speed table to reduce congestion and improve safety when the crossing is in use.
    A raised table crossing is proposed at this location to improve pedestrian safety by encouraging slow speeds around this bend. Traffic signals are not as effective at slowing speeds as a raised table or speed bumps. Also, to install traffic signal poles at this location and leave the required clearance for the overhead powerlines, would require the relocation or undergrounding of the powerlines. This might result in additional construction costs that cannot be justified. Therefore, a raised zebra crossing is considered most appropriate for this location.
  • Respondent suggested to install automatic pedestrian crossing arms that come down if a button is pushed as these are sturdier than the hand-held school patrol signs and would be less intrusive to traffic on a main route.
    There is no government approved automatic school patrol system available in New Zealand. Therefore, handheld school patrol signs will be provided at this location. A new school patrol sign system that allows signs to be attached to an orange beacon pole and stored on site will be considered at this location.
  • Respondent suggested that the best way to slow traffic approaching the crossing is to install speed bumps before the crossing at Kia Ora Rd and after the crossing at approx. 73/74 Rangatira Rd as many cars speed in this direction as it is downhill.
    The focus of this proposal is to improve pedestrian safety at the zebra crossing by encouraging slow speeds around the bend. As this road is a frequent bus route speed bumps on either side of the crossing are not considered appropriate for the location.
  • Respondent suggested that crossing warning lights, like in Mission Bay, would help make the crossing more visible, slow speeds and a raised crossing would not be needed.
    The proposed raised table provides a vertical speed calming measure, the edge of the ramp, which aims to physically slow down traffic. We believe a ramp is more effective at encouraging slow speeds than crossing warning lights. Therefore, a raised zebra crossing is considered most appropriate for this location.
  • Respondent suggested that chicanes are good for helping to slow traffic.
    The proposed raised table provides a vertical speed calming measure, the edge of the ramp, which aims to physically slow down traffic. We believe a ramp is more effective at encouraging slow speeds than chicanes. Therefore, a raised zebra crossing is considered most appropriate for this location.
  • Respondents were concerned about a raised crossing being located on a curve in the road as motorcyclists and cyclists lean over in a curve and this could cause accidents.
    The raised platform is designed to fit around the entire length of the bend to ensure that drivers, including motorcyclists, approaching the platform are not required to do so at an angle. The ramps of the raised platform are in advance of the start of the curve. Drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists will have sufficient visibility of the raised platform to allow them to slow down as they approach it.
  • Respondent requested to move the raised table further east or extend the platform, so it is safer for motorcyclists.
    No changes to the road level are proposed along the curve. Once motorcyclists or cyclists mount the raised platform, they are able to travel around the curve on a level, flat surface. Therefore, relocating or extending the raised platform further to the east is not required.
  • Respondent suggested to move the crossing 5 meters or so further along Rangatira Road towards the group of shops at the corner of Island Bay Road.
    The zebra crossing facility is located on a bend in the road to achieve optimum visibility for drivers approaching from both sides. Relocating it away from the top of the curve would result in reduced visibility in one direction. Also, the zebra crossing is provided to cater for Kauri Park School. Moving it further east towards Island Bay Road would move it away from the school entrance where most people wish to cross the road. Therefore, the current location of the zebra crossing is considered appropriate.
  • Respondent suggested to relocate crossing away from the apex of the corner to improve visibility.
    The zebra crossing facility is located on a bend in the road to achieve optimum visibility for drivers approaching from both sides. Relocating it away from the top of the curve would result in reduced visibility in one direction. Therefore, to ensure pedestrian safety, the current location of the zebra crossing is considered appropriate.
  • Respondent requested to see incident statistics for this location as this is a dangerous corner with lots of close calls.
    A review of incident records over the past five years showed four accidents have been recorded within 50 metres of the zebra crossing. Two accidents involved a vehicle colliding with the rear end of another vehicle stopped or slowing, one involved a driver reversing out of a private property colliding with another vehicle and one involved an unlicensed driver losing control of the vehicle when travelling around the bend.