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Scotsmoor Drive, Wattle Downs – Zebra crossing Scotsmoor Drive, Wattle Downs – Zebra crossing

Proposal status: closed 11 October 2018

Reference number: MIP1819-018

We're proposing changes in your area

We are proposing to install a patrolled and raised Zebra crossing on Scotsmoor Drive, Wattle Downs outside Reremoana Primary School. This would include new signage, footpath improvements and new 'No stopping at all times' parking restrictions around the crossing. 

Download the proposal drawing for Scotsmoor Drive (PDF 3MB)

Why the changes are needed

Reremoana Primary School has been in contact with us requesting a crossing facility as they are concerned about the safety of their pupils around the road. The main access point has multiple uses and relatively high vehicle volumes presenting many risks, especially at pick-up and drop-off times. We believe that the proposed changes would provide a safe and controlled crossing for the students. 

Proposal outcome

This project will proceed without changes to the next stage of detailed planning. Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback. A summary of this feedback and answers to community questions and concerns is below.

Feedback received

  • This proposal received positive responses from community members and stakeholders who supported improving the pedestrian safety on Scotsmoor Drive, particularly for the school children by installing this patrolled raised zebra crossing, as well as the encouragement in walking to school.
  • Concern that installing pedestrian crossings right in front of a bus stop would present a higher risk to pedestrians and a frequent "pause/stop" for the bus to pull over.
    This bus stop serves 1 route (363) only with the bus stopping here every half hour during peak periods and every hour during inter-peak periods. The bus stop length has also been reduced and moved away from the crossing location to maximise the spacing between the crossing and the bus stop thus minimising any risk.
  • Suggestion to move zebra crossing closer to school main entry to lower any risk posed to pedestrians by the buses.
    This location was explored but is not recommended as it would place the crossing in a very busy area in terms of vehicle movements – where cars would be turning into and out of the school drop-off area. In addition, pedestrians would also be required cross the road plus the drop-off slip lane. Furthermore, our surveys, observations and discussions with the school have confirmed the proposed location is at the pedestrian desire line.
  • Request that further speed calming measures such as speed humps should be installed along Scotsmoor Drive, request for us to reduce the speed here for the safety of the school children. Respondent notes that it does get busy at peak times. Requests were also made for speed calming on Hadley Wood Drive.
    This area will be considered as part of our Residential Speed Management programme which looks at areas rather than individual roads. We are currently developing a plan to reduce speeds on Auckland’s roads. This plan will identify the highest priority areas for the initial roll out of speed reduction, on approximately 10% of our road network, including residential areas. This new area-based focus recognises that traffic-calming changes on one street have a flow-on effect on the surrounding neighbourhood. This plan will support all drivers to travel at the appropriate speed and to the road condition. In addition to speed reduction, we also intend to make infrastructural changes to encourage drivers to slow down. We intend to carry out these changes over a three-year period from 2019, targeting delivery to a small number of residential areas each year. These areas have been prioritised to reduce the incidence and impact of crashes. This is 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.
    More information, including the residential areas that will be prioritised for further investigation will soon be available on the AT website.
  • Request for us to consider installing a zebra crossing on Hadley Wood Drive as well respondents noted that there are a large number of school children who cross at this pedestrian refuge too and that some drivers treat pedestrian-priority in different ways here. Request for us to consider upgrade the two crossings at the same time, as they are both popular crossings.
    This site will be reviewed separately and if an upgrade is recommended it will then be added to our long list of sites for Minor Improvement projects for prioritisation against other projects on the network.  
  • Suggestion for another crossing on the other side of Scotsmoor and Turnberry to improve safe crossing options for school children.
    As above, this site will also be reviewed separately and if an upgrade is recommended it will then be added to our long list of sites for Minor Improvement projects for prioritisation against other projects on the network.
  • Respondent says that cycling becomes quite tricky in this area during peak times, even as an adult. Request for easy and clear pathways for kids to be able to cycle to and from school.
    The majority of the Wattle Downs peninsula already has existing traffic free esplanade paths that can provide safe routes through this area and do the school. These walkways have been constructed by Auckland Council to improve local access. As a result we currently have no immediate plans for cycling changes in this area, and other areas are currently a higher priority due to their lack of cycling facilities.
  • Concern that there is limited foot traffic here and therefore no need for a pedestrian crossing here.
    Our pedestrian surveys, observations and discussions with the school confirm that a controlled crossing is required at this location. Our assessment also confirmed the proposed location is at the pedestrian desire line.
  • Concern that better locations are available on Scotsmoor Drive/the crossing should be moved to directly in front of the school.
    This is the best location for the crossing. Moving the location of the crossing closer to the school gate was explored but is not recommended as it would place the crossing in a very busy area in terms of vehicle movements – where cars would be turning into and out of the school drop-off area. In addition, pedestrians would also be required cross the road plus the drop-off slip lane. Considering that the crossing will often be used by children we would not want to place any unnecessary risks upon them.
  • Concern that the proposed broken yellow lines would restrict the ability for residents guests to visit them and remove all on street parking, further concern that this will mean a loss of amenity and potentially impact property values.
    We believe that there is still ample on-street parking available to the north and south on Scotsmoor Drive as well as on Kirkaldy Street.
  • Concern that users will drop rubbish which would blow onto properties and that noise levels will rise, as well as a loss of privacy and views for residents. 
    The crossing will cater for the same school children currently in the area so the placement of the crossing here is unlikely to attract more rubbish or noise levels than any currently experienced. In addition, Auckland Council can assist with rubbish clearing if required.
  • Suggestion that an improved drop-off zone in front of the school would be a safer option than installing a crossing as it would minimise the need for children to cross the road.
    Children will always need to cross Scotsmoor Drive and we encourage walking and cycling over being dropped off by car, so installing a safer crossing option over the road is essential.
  • Suggestion that speed reduction instead would also be an effective tool.
    Even with speed reduction, there is still the need for a controlled crossing.
  • Request to install only a raised crossing somewhere on Scotsmoor Drive and not a Zebra nor Patrolled crossing.
    A patrolled raised zebra crossing is the safest solution and option for the school and the children.

Next steps

This work will happen in between July 2019 and June 2020 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.