Skip to main content

Rodney Road & Queen St, Northcote Point - Zebra crossing & traffic calming Rodney Road & Queen St, Northcote Point - Zebra crossing & traffic calming

Proposal status: updated 20 July 2018

Reference number: MIP1718-323

We're proposing changes in your area

Pedestrian safety improvements

  • Installation of a raised zebra crossing with kerb buildouts at the intersection of Rodney Road and Queen Street, Northcote Point.
  • The proposed installation of a speed table outside property 12 Rodney Road.
  • Half of existing angle parking to be removed and remarked as parallel parking.

Rodney Road

  • Proposed raised zebra crossing 6m wide (4m flat top, 1m ramps), with associated signs and road marking and kerb buildouts.
  • Trim vegetation.
  • Retain existing angled parking on Rodney Road from Intersection with Queen St to 3 Rodney Road and remove wheel stops (x 12) and widen the footpath to existing fence line/property line at this location.
  • Extend no stopping lines parking restrictions to achieve the required sight distance.
  • Proposed tree on footpath as part of Northcote cycleway project.
  • Proposed speed table 8m wide (6m flat top, 1m ramps) – outside 12 Rodney Road.
  • Existing angled parking to be removed and remark as parallel parking from property 3-9 Rodney Road.
  • Lighting upgrade.

Queen Street

  • Zebra crossing sign with supplementary 'on right' sign.
  • Install a new 6 metre wide raised zebra crossing with kerb buildouts at the intersection of Rodney Road and Queen Street, with a new zebra crossing sign on Queen Street.
  • Install a new 8 metre wide raised speed table outside property number 12 on Rodney Road.
  • Plant a new tree on the footpath as part of the Northcote Cycleway project.
  • Retain the existing angled parking on Rodney Road from the intersection to number 3 but remove the wheel stops (x 12) and widen the footpath to the existing fence line.
  • Remove the existing angled parking from property number 3 to property number 9 Rodney Road and remark this as parallel parking, and extend the no stopping parking restrictions to achieve the required sight distance.
  • Upgrade lighting.

Download the proposal drawing for Rodney Road and Queen Street (PDF 976KB)

Why the changes are needed

The purpose of this proposal is to provide essential connectivity and safe mobility for pedestrians, as there are currently no safe alternative crossing facilities provided.

The impact of the proposal on the intersection efficiency would be minimal as it runs parallel with the main movement – the north-south straight phase. The speed table on Rodney Road will provide a traffic calming effect on Rodney Road, providing safer speeds for pedestrians and all vulnerable road users.

The removal of existing angle parking, and remarking as parallel parking was in response to further site observations and safety concerns raised by the local community through the Local Board.

Proposal outcome

This project will proceed with minor changes to the next stage of detailed planning. A summary of the community feedback we received and answers to questions and concerns is below. Changes based on this feedback include making no further changes to the hedge line on the property located on the corner of Queen Street and Rodney Road; and relocating signage for the speed hump on Rodney Road.

Feedback received

  • The raised table at the intersection will cause congestion on Queen Street. Suggests relocating the raised table to outside 12 Rodney Road. The raised table is to ensure vehicles will slow down when turning left into Rodney Road and give way to pedestrians.
  • The raised zebra crossing will cause further congestion for those entering Rodney Road from the Queen Street intersection, and it poses a hazard to pedestrians crossing as vehicles often approach at a high speed. It is therefore suggested to relocate the zebra crossing further down Rodney Road, between 13 and 15 Rodney Road. The current zebra crossing and speed table is best located to align with the pedestrian path.
  • Request to install speed bumps on Council Terrace as the road is very narrow. As this does not relate directly to this proposal, we have passed this on to the relevant internal team who will investigate further.
  • Increase the height of the speed bump on Rodney Road in order to make it more effective. We have taken this feedback on board, and this will be incorporated into the detailed design phase.
  • The existing raised crossing is not high enough to slow vehicles, and motorists are often not aware that it is a crossing, therefore making the proposed second crossing a bad idea, which is also in an unsafe location for crossing pedestrians. We have taken this feedback on board, and we will incorporate increasing the height of the zebra crossing in the proposal in the detailed design phase.
  • Increase the height of the speed bump on Queen Street in order to make it more effective. The height and length of the speed table on Queen Street is designed to be bus-friendly. The height of the speed table cannot be changed.
  • Suggest installing a pedestrian refuge in the location of the zebra crossing to alleviate congestion caused by the proposed pedestrian crossing A zebra crossing is considered to be more appropriate as it gives priority to pedestrians. This proposal is based on the requests from the community.
  • Request to improve the crossing facility on Queen Street to make it more visible to motorists approaching at a speed. We understand that the visibility of the zebra crossing is an issue, and we are currently looking into ways to resolve this.
  • The proposed zebra crossing is not clearly marked and too close to the intersection with Queen Street, which will be a safety concern for pedestrians using the crossing, and therefore suggest relocating it to the Memorial Hall. The position of the crossing is where pedestrians would most frequently use it. The crossing is positioned in the pedestrian desire line (at the intersection), and if relocated to Memorial hall there is a possibility it won’t be utilised as pedestrians would still cross at the intersection (but now without priority which is the existing safety concern). Further to the signage and markings on Rodney Road and Queen Street, the zebra crossing is proposed to have a red surface which will make it more prominent and visible.
    Vehicles are unlikely to be turning at high speeds into Rodney Road, and this is further facilitated by the existing raised table on Queen Street. Sight lines at the intersection are adequate and pedestrians will have a clear view of vehicles.
  • The have been a number of requests to install or extend broken yellow lines. These include: broken yellow lines down one side of Rodney Road, to Council Terrace; extending the broken yellow lines on the southern side of Rodney Road to coincide with the angled parking across the street; installing broken yellow lines on side of the road between Church Street to where the road widens; installing broken yellow lines on either side of the driveway of 4 Rodney Road, installing broken yellow lines between 9 and 11 Rodney Road, and 10 and 12 Rodney Road to assist with visibility and manoeuvrability. As these requests do not relate directly to this proposal, we have passed the requests on to the relevant internal team who will investigate further.
  • Angled parking outside 11 Rodney Road should be removed and replaced with broken yellow lines, as cars parked here often block the driveway. This will not be an issue once the existing angled parking is removed and remarked as parallel parking.
  • The parking lines should not be extended, but the angled parking should be expanded to allow better parking facilities for the Freemasons Lodge, and Northcote War Memorial Hall. The Kaipatiki Local Board requested that the angled parking be removed. After consideration, we have decided to remove the angled parking and revert to the parallel parking arrangement.
  • Opposed to changing the hedge line in front of the current angled parking outside the residence on the corner of Queen Street and Rodney Road, as it is making the area look bare. We agree with this feedback, and we will not be making any changes to this hedge line.
  • Requests the angled parking not be replaced with parallel parking, as more parking is needed, not less. The Kaipatiki Local Board requested that the angled parking be removed. After consideration, we have decided to remove the angled parking and revert to the parallel parking arrangement.
  • Believes the removal of the wheel stops may pose a hazard to the children, visually impaired, and families with pushchairs using the footpath outside the kindergarten and Memorial Hall, therefore request to install a path kerb barrier such as a low steel barrier or higher metal fence. At this stage, no further additions will be made to the proposed removal of wheel stops, but we will continue to monitor this matter when the wheel stops have been removed.
  • Request to not have trees planted outside the Memorial Hall, as it is believed that one tree will block visibility from the corner of Queen Street, and the other will obstruct visibility from the driveway of 4 Rodney Road. The Local Board requested that trees be planted outside the Memorial Hall, however we will ensure that the visibility for all driveways is not compromised.
  • These changes should have been done during the cycle route upgrade. As this does not relate directly to this proposal, we have passed this on to the relevant internal team who will investigate further.
  • Requests a pedestrian crossing be added to the Vincent Road exit to Queen Street, as there is a pedestrian safety risk at this location during peak times. As this does not relate directly to this proposal, we have passed this on to the relevant internal team who will investigate further.
  • Suggests a traffic island on Rodney Road to assist pedestrians crossing and ensure cars stay on the correct side of the road, as cars often pass on the opposing side of the road to turn right out of Rodney Road. The proposed speed table will slow down the vehicle speed turning into Rodney Road, and this is likely to reduce the instants of vehicles crossing the centre line.
  • Concern has been raised over long vehicles parked in the angled parking impeding visibility and the flow of traffic. It is therefore suggested, that along with the removal of the wheel stops, to also install solid parking markings to define and separate the parking from the road. While we believe that this issue will be resolved because of the proposed removal of wheel stops, we will continue to monitor this.
  • Request to relocate the Speed Hump sign pole to a forward position in front of 13 Rodney Road, but clear of its entrance, as the current placement inhibits larger vehicles attempting to turn into the right of way to the rear of property 11A. We have taken this feedback on board, and we will be relocating the speed hump sign to a more appropriate location.

Next steps

This work will happen in between July 2018 and June 2019, but we will let you know if there are further changes or delays.

Our contractors will send notices to affected residents 48-hours prior to construction starting.