Glengarry Road, Glen Eden – Zebra crossings and parking restrictions Glengarry Road, Glen Eden – Zebra crossings and parking restrictions

Crossing location

• Respondents suggested that the crossings are unnecessary due to insufficient pedestrian demand. We have carried out pedestrian counts along Glengarry Road and found that the majority of people cross near 100 and 108 Glengarry Road. The numbers crossing at these locations justify the installation of a zebra crossing.
• Respondents suggested that these are unsafe locations for the crossings and suggested they should be located closer to the bus stops. We assessed design factors such as the pedestrian desire line (the most comfortable route to cross the road), the safety of the current location and alternative locations for the pedestrian island. This assessment has indicated that the current location of the crossing is at the pedestrian desire line, where the highest volumes of people cross the road. Experience from similar locations throughout Auckland suggests that, if the crossing was at a different location, people would continue to cross the road where they find it most convenient and not use the crossing facility provided. Therefore, the proposed location for the crossing is the most appropriate option.
• Respondents expressed concern that the crossing location would cause access problems to some properties. Vehicle tracking has shown that the proposed raised crossings don’t interrupt any turning movements into/out of driveways.
• Respondents queried whether enough room has been left to allow for turning movements into Rosier Road, specifically when multiple drivers are waiting to turn. Our traffic count data for right turning vehicles from Glengarry Road into Rosier Road show that there will not be operational issues related to the proposed crossings design.
• Respondents expressed concern that the proposal will halt traffic flow. There are major speeding issues on Glengarry Road. The proposed improvements are aimed at making the road environment safer for all road users, school children in particular.
• Respondents requested 2 additional crossings across Glengarry between the Shetland/Rosier corner and the Glendale Road end to allow for children accessing local schools. This is outside the scope of this proposal, but we will consider it in our future regional pedestrian safety studies.
• Respondents expressed concerns about driver visibility when exiting Shetland Street onto Glengarry Road. Shetland Road is stop controlled. Our site observations and investigations have not raised any major concerns. The proposed raised crossing should improve the safety for turning vehicles by creating a slow traffic environment.

Speed management

• Respondents requested a raised island on the bend to ensure drivers do not cross the centre line when cutting the corner. Due to existing driveways along Glengarry Road, a raised island is not a solution. AT has a project to improve road markings and advisory signages along Glengarry Road. This project will help with the issue of drivers crossing the centre line.
• Respondents requested speed management measures between 200 and 240 Glengarry Road. We are currently working on a plan to reduce speeds on Auckland’s roads. This programme focuses delivery to areas that have been prioritised for changes 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. While we do appreciate your concerns, Glengarry Road has not been identified in the first group of areas within our Residential Speed Management programme as other areas in the region are experiencing higher speeds and safety risk. We have added your comments to our database to indicate support for safer speeds in your area.
• Respondents stated that the downhill speed bumps on Rosier Road are not of sufficient height to reduce speed. There are no speed bumps along Rosier Road.
• Respondents suggested that the speed bumps by the bus stops and in front of the shops would be sufficient to reduce speed. Alternately, respondents requested speed bumps on the new crossing facility. The raised crossings will act as traffic calming measures, whilst their main purpose is to facilitate a safe crossing place for people, including school children.
• Respondents requested ‘SLOW’ painted road markings on the northern facing side of Rosier Road. ‘SLOW’ road marking on Rosier Road approaching Glengarry Road will be considered.
• Respondents expressed concern that compulsory stop signs in the area are not observed, and requested speed cameras, driver speed feedback signs and warning lights. Not stopping at stop signs is an offence and such behaviour should be referred to the New Zealand Police. Installing speed cameras is the responsibility of the New Zealand Police. However, we will raise your concerns with the them directly at our next liaison meeting. We will also consider refreshing the existing road markings.
• Respondents suggested a roundabout at the intersection of Shetland/Glengarry/Rosier. We have assessed the option of a roundabout at this location. After considering factors such as traffic volume and flow, road type, the general road environment and crash data, we found that a roundabout is not an appropriate traffic management option.
• Respondents suggested that a flush pedestrian crossing would be sufficient. Currently vehicles travel at high speed on Glengarry Road, often over the speed limit. This poses a danger to pedestrians and school students, who regularly cross the road to access the shops. Installing two raised pedestrian crossings aim to reduce speeding and ensure people can cross safely. Glengarry Road is on a bus route and the design of the raised zebra crossings ramp are based on a bus friendly gradient.
• Concerns were raised about the comfort of driving on the raised pedestrian crossing for people with back injuries. Currently vehicles travel at high speed on Glengarry Road, often over the speed limit. This poses a danger to pedestrians and school children, who regularly cross the road to access shops. Installing two raised crossings would help prevent instances of speeding and ensure people can cross safely. Glengarry Road is on a bus route and the design of the raised crossings are based on a bus friendly gradient. This produces a smoother ride for buses. They are also designed to reduce vehicles speed to 25km/h and driving over them at this speed has little impact on passenger vehicles.
• Respondents requests a raised island on the bend to ensure drivers do not cross the centre line when cutting the corner. Due to existing driveways along Glengarry Road, raised table is not a solution. AT has a project to improve road markings and advisory signages along Glengarry Road. This project will help with the issue of drivers crossing the centre line.

Parking removal

• Respondents expressed concern about the impact of parking removal on local businesses and the ability for visitors to park by residential properties. Parking restriction is necessary to enable a safe crossing by increasing the visibility of both the pedestrian and approaching vehicles. Although there will be a slightly reduced number of parking spaces, our assessments have found that there is sufficient parking space along Glengarry Road to serve the area.

Footpath works

• Respondents expressed concerns about the impact of footpath works on residents and queried steps taken to ensure adequate access to property and ability to have rubbish collected. We will ensure that our contractor will notify the properties that will be affected during construction and manage the access to properties to minimise inconvenience during construction.
• Respondents expressed concern that the footpath works would decrease privacy and security for households. We will manage the situation as much as possible to minimise any interruption. We expect that any inconvenience associated with the road work on Glengarry Road during construction time will ease and revert to the normal condition when the road works are completed. In the interim, we will continue to monitor traffic conditions in this area.

Bus stops

• Respondents opposed the new location for the bus stop outside of number 83 and requests it is positioned by a fence and not directly outside of a property. Many bus stops throughout the city are located across vehicle access ways. This is particularly the case within the central business district where there is not always enough kerb space to accommodate the demand for loading zones, parking areas and driveways. We acknowledge this arrangement can be inconvenient at times, however as buses arrive infrequently and should only be stopped briefly to pick up and drop off passengers, this situation is not expected to impose a significant delay on drivers wanting to enter or exit private property.
• Respondents suggested that the current location for the bus stop is convenient and requested that it stay in the same place. As part of the standards for installing zebra crossings, they cannot be installed within or adjacent to a bus stop. The proposed location is based on the best location physically possible. Currently vehicles travel at high speed on Glengarry Road, often over the speed limit. This poses a danger to people crossing, including school children. Installing two raised pedestrian crossings aim to help reduce instances of speeding and ensure pedestrians can cross safely, resulting in the need to relocate the bus stop.
• Respondents suggested that we have overlooked the relocation of the westbound bus stop immediately outside the shops. To accommodate the raised crossing, based on standard design the bus stop is required to be shifted. The new proposed location of the bus stop is the best location physically possible.

Other

• Respondent requested full reasoning and genesis of the project. The proposal is in response to a series of requests from local residents to provide safe crossing facilities for school children. Currently vehicles travel at high speed on Glengarry Road, often over the speed limit. This poses a danger to people crossing, including school children. Installing two raised pedestrian crossings aim to help reduce instances of speeding and ensure pedestrians can cross safely.