Bairds Rd, Otara and Otara town centre - Pedestrian safety improvements Bairds Rd, Otara and Otara town centre - Pedestrian safety improvements

Consultation status:  closed 14 May 2018

Proposal reference: RS1617-081B

We are proposing a range of pedestrian safety measures along Bairds Road and through Otara town centre.

Changes have been localised to four main clusters that residents may provide feedback on, detailed below. When submitting feedback using our online survey, please ensure that any comments that pertain to specific treatments also include a reference to the cluster number.

Why the changes are needed

The changes proposed for Bairds Road will address missing links for pedestrians and will improve connectivity by providing crucial pedestrian crossing facilities. Reductions in the speed limit and associated changes in Otara town centre will reduce the likelihood and severity of accidents, and will increase driver and pedestrian awareness while traveling through the town centre.

Feedback results

The proposal received mixed feedback with some concerns raised by respondents. After reviewing this feedback and all other supporting evidence, the proposal will proceed without changes to the next stage of detailed planning.

Specific feedback

• Concern that the proposed pedestrian refuge islands outside of 114 and 176 Bairds Road will contribute to peak hour traffic congestion by limiting access for turning vehicles. Our pedestrian surveys indicate that there is significant pedestrian crossing demand at these points. The construction of pedestrian refuge islands will reduce the amount of time pedestrians are exposed to oncoming traffic and will also help reduce the speeds of vehicles entering the town centre. Pedestrian safety is a priority at this location, and we do not expect significant delays to vehicles as a result of the changes.
• Concern that the proposed pedestrian refuge islands in front of 176 Bairds Road will create safety hazards as this is a merge zone for northbound vehicles on Bairds Road. The pedestrian refuge is located far away enough from the merge zone (approximately 30 metres), that we do not expect for this to be an issue. Vehicles should have already merged and should be travelling in a single lane at this location.
• Request to prohibit southbound vehicles on Bairds Road from turning right into the car park across from 176 Bairds Road, as they frequently block other vehicles. This would be likely to encourage drivers to make risky and unsafe manoeuvres in order to access the car park. As such, we are unable to consider this request at this time.
• Request to install a single raised zebra crossing in the vicinity of the proposed roundabout, rather than two as outlined in the proposal. Zebra crossings have been proposed at locations that are considered pedestrian desire lines, i.e. where pedestrians frequently cross. These are crucial features of the proposal that we expect will help improve pedestrian safety and connectivity in Otara Town Centre.
• Suggestion that the proposed roundabout will need to accommodate large trucks and transport vehicles, which frequently utilise the intersection of Bairds Road and Hayman Street on their routes. During the design stage, appropriate measures were taken to ensure that the roundabout would accommodate large vehicles. In this case, the outer perimeter of the central island will be mountable to allow large trucks to travel through the roundabout without manoeuvrability issues.
• Request to maintain the existing 50 km/hr speed limit throughout Otara Town Centre. Studies have shown that the likelihood of accidents involving pedestrians significantly decreases when vehicle speeds are reduced from 50 km/hr to 30 km/hr. This proposal aligns with Auckland Transport’s Speed Management Plan for Town Centres and aims to create a safer and more hospitable environment for the most vulnerable road users.

Next steps

We expect to introduce this work between July 2018 and June 2019, subject to further changes in design or funding issues. Contractors will issue 48-hour notices to all affected residents prior to construction work.