Saddleback Rise, Murrays Bay - Raised zebra crossing Saddleback Rise, Murrays Bay - Raised zebra crossing

Proposal status: Feedback closed 21 July 2020, last updated 2 September 2020.

Reference number: CSFB1.4 

In July 2020, we proposed changes in your area

To lower speeds and improve pedestrian safety Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and Auckland Transport proposed to install a zebra crossing raised to a platform level with the footpath at 106 Saddleback Rise, Murrays Bay. A traffic study at the intersection showed high vehicle speeds on approach to the crossing point. The proposal involved removing 10 parking spaces to help make the crossing more visible.

Proposed changes:

  • Upgrade the existing speed table at 106 Saddleback Rise to a raised zebra crossing to slow driver speeds on approach. This will include some orange reflective discs to make the crossing visible at night.
  • 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.
  • Install road signs to alert drivers of the crossing. Paint broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times) to ensure visibility at intersection.
  • Paint new road markings to guide drivers across the raised zebra crossing.

Download the proposal drawing for Saddleback Rise (PDF 1.2MB)

Community Safety Fund

This proposal is part of the Community Safety Fund. Auckland Transport is partnered with the Hibiscus and Bays 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.

Murrays Bay: 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 Saddleback Rise 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 when we know more about how this project will be impacted by the current budget constraints. When the budget is confirmed, the proposal will proceed without changes 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

  • The community response strongly supported this proposal. Many respondents were concerned at the speed of cars on Saddleback Rise, especially coming down the hill towards the crossing point, which is used by a walking school bus. Respondents said that cars often fail to stop to allow children to cross as there are not enough signs warning of the crossing and the crossing itself is unclear and confusing. The majority of respondents agreed that a raised crossing with more warning signs would help slow traffic and make the children feel safer crossing the road.
    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.
  • Several respondents were concerned that speed safety projects such as raised pedestrian crossings are an unnecessary expense that do not perform a useful function and lead to more congestion and accidents and therefore are unsuitable in this location.
    The focus of this proposal is to provide a safe pedestrian crossing facility on Saddleback Rise. The community has reported that cars speed along this residential road and often do not stop at the crossing to allow children to cross. The raised crossing will be easier for drivers to see and to slow down before driving over the raised platform, thereby making it safer for pedestrians to cross. We believe that this is an appropriate solution to improve safety in a residential area and that lower speeds will not contribute to congestion. Raised crossings are being implemented Auckland wide as part of Auckland Transport's Vision Zero approach. This is an ambitious new transport safety vision that states that there will be no deaths or serious injuries on our transport system by 2050.
  • A respondent was concerned that the crossing will block drivers turning left from Aotearoa Terrace into Saddleback Rise.
    The proposed raised crossing will be in the same location as the existing speed hump. There will be no change to the current road layout except that vehicles will need to stop and wait for pedestrians to cross the road.
  • A respondent was concerned about the safety of driveways exiting directly onto the raised zebra crossing.
    The driveway that exits onto the raised table is not approved by Council. It will be removed and reinstated as a crossing point level with the top of the table.
  • A respondent was concerned about access to underground cabling that is housed near the crossing point.
    The proposed crossing will be in the same location as the existing speed hump.  Access to underground cabling and other services will be maintained when the crossing is built.
  • A respondent was concerned that the existing speed bump is removed prior to the installation of the raised crossing.
    The existing speed hump will need to be removed before building the new raised crossing.  To help keep the community safe, traffic management measures will be in place while construction work happens.
  • A respondent was concerned that additional streetlights will impact houses with bedrooms fronting onto the crossing.
    The street lighting design will happen in the next detailed design stage of the project.  If required, additional lighting will be designed to minimise any impact on adjacent properties.
  • Multiple respondents requested more speed management be installed near the top of Saddleback Rise near Macnay Way and Penguin Drive e.g. mini roundabouts, speed bumps or chicanes or another raised crossing, as drivers speed in both directions along Saddleback Rise but especially down the hill towards the crossing.
    The focus of this proposal is to provide a safe crossing facility on Saddleback Rise. Auckland Transport has a plan to reduce unsafe speeds on Auckland’s roads. It targets areas prioritised by the level of safety risk and aims to reduce the incidence and impact of crashes. The initial roll out of speed reduction focuses on approximately 10 per cent of our road network, including residential areas. The plan will support drivers to travel at the appropriate speed and to the road conditions. Prioritisation and delivery are based on several factors, including the number of crashes, safety risk, traffic speed, land use and concerns raised by local residents and their elected representatives.
    While we do appreciate your concerns, Saddleback Rise has not been identified in the first group of areas within our Residential Speed Management programme as other areas in the region experience higher speeds and safety risk. More information, including the residential areas that will be prioritised for further investigation can be viewed on the Residential Speed Management Programme page on our website.
  • Respondents requested more traffic controls on Aotearoa Terrace as there is a lot of congestion and unsafe double parking at school pick up and drop off times.
    Auckland Transport support and encourage active transport and use of public transport for the journey to and from school. This is to support both road safety outcomes outside the school gate and reduce congestion on the roads. We have dedicated resources to promote parking and walking from identified locations close to schools, but not immediately in front of the school gate. Parking time restrictions are used to encourage turnover in areas that experience high parking demand. We are currently undertaking a trial looking at a number of suitable options to provide safety outside schools for all road users, in particular students and their families. We thank you for your patience during the trial period.
  • Multiple respondents were concerned that installation of broken yellow lines will reduce the already limited on street parking that is available in this area.
    We understand removing parking can be inconvenient, so we have minimised the removal of parking whilst maintaining clear visibility. We need to make sure people wanting to cross the road are able to see it clearly.
  • Multiple respondents were concerned that existing broken yellow lines restrictions are ignored at school pick up and drop off times, causing unsafe congestion on Aotearoa Terrace, blocking driveways and impacting business parking on the street.
    We appreciate the concerns you raise about this type of parking behaviour. The most effective way to address illegal parking is by reporting the problem when it is happening. Please contact our Parking Compliance Team on (09) 355 3553 if you see an illegal parking issue. We will dispatch a parking warden to the location as we can only take action against an illegally parked vehicle if one of our wardens witnesses the offence. When requesting enforcement, specific information such as the registration number of the vehicle and details of the parking offence will assist our officers.
  • A respondent asked if the crossing would be patrolled before and after school and if Murrays Bay Primary will provide this service.
    We have spoken with the school and they are willing to patrol the crossing. We will continue to work with them to develop a plan to patrol the crossing at the start and end of the school day.
  • There was a request for the speed bumps to be upgraded to a raised pedestrian crossing at 18 Lyons Ave where many children cross the road during and after school on the way to the beach.
    The focus of this proposal is to provide a safe crossing facility on Saddleback Rise. A crossing on Lyons Avenue is not included in the budget of this project. An investigation of Lyons Avenue shows there have been no reported crashes at this location in the last 5 years. This suggests that the street is operating relatively safely for pedestrians. Also, Lyons Avenue is a residential area with existing speed calming. We therefore expect vehicle speeds to be low making it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road at this location.

Next steps

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