Charing Cross, St Aubin: Installation of Zebra Crossing

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A decision made on 15 October 2009 to approve the installation of a two stage zebra crossing at Charing Cross in St Aubin

Decision Reference: MD-T-2009-0091
Decision Summary Title :	Charing Cross, St Aubin - Zebra Crossing		Date of Decision Summary:	8 October 2009
Decision Summary Author:	Acting Senior Engineer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Charing Cross, St Aubin - Zebra Crossing		Date of Written Report:	8 October 2009
Written Report Author:	Acting Senior Engineer		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: The installation of a new two stage zebra crossing at the southern end of Charing Cross in St Aubin’s Village.
Decision(s): The Assistant Minister approved the installation of a two stage zebra crossing, with a 2.5m wide central refuge island, at the eastern end of Charing Cross in St Aubin.
Reason(s) for Decision: To allow the widening of the existing central Island and the installation of a two stage zebra crossing at Charing Cross in St Aubin, following a request to improve pedestrian facilities from the Connétable of the Parish.
Resource Implications: Resource has been allocated from the Sustainable Transport Initiatives Fund and the work can be carried out on site by resources from within the Department.
Action required: TTS to procure the equipment required, widen the existing island, and install the crossing using money allocated from the Sustainable Transport Initiatives Fund.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Charing Cross, St Aubin: Installation of Zebra Crossing

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

CHARING CROSS, ST AUBIN - ZEBRA CROSSING

Purpose of the Report

The installation of a two stage zebra crossing with a 2.5m wide central island at the southern end of Charing Cross, in St Aubin’s Village.

Background

A request has been made by St Aubin’s residents to the Connétable of St Brelade for safe pedestrian crossings in the centre of the village. The Department had been asked to review the area to the west of the Parish Hall with a view to improving pedestrian safety and facilities. The Department has reviewed the area and as a result of that study recommended that a widened central island and zebra crossing at the southern end of Charing Cross be provided, but that no measures be introduced on La Neuve Route at this time. The report was presented to, and discussed with, the Connétable of the Parish and representatives of the St Aubin Residents Association, representatives of the St Aubin Traffic Action Group, and other interested parties at a meeting held at the Parish Hall on 30 July.

Discussion

The Department has undertaken a survey of pedestrian movements in the area of Charing Cross and the southern end of La Neuve Route immediately to the west of the Parish Hall, see attached drawing No1. The survey showed that there were no strong pedestrian desire lines at any point west of the Parish Hall area A on drawing No1, but a concentrated desire line at the southern end of Charing Cross, area B on drawing No1. Where controlled pedestrian crossings are installed at locations with pedestrian desire lines that are not concentrated, and there are sufficient gaps in traffic to allow pedestrians to cross without recourse to the controlled crossing point, national and local experience indicates that there are likely to be pedestrian injury accidents either side of the controlled crossing. Further study was therefore concentrated on area B, Charing Cross.

Surveys of vehicle speeds and numbers had previously been carried out in various locations in the area, including Charing Cross. The 85th percentile speed of vehicles at this location is considerably lower than the maximum recommended of 35mph for a zebra crossing to be considered. Vehicle speeds could be further slowed creating a “traffic calming affect” by widening the central island in Charing Cross, thus narrowing the carriageway and available space for vehicles.

Vehicle and pedestrian numbers are such that a zebra crossing should operate without serious delay to vehicular traffic.

Inter-visibility between pedestrians and vehicles is an important requirement for the safe operation of a zebra crossing. Were the zebra crossing to operate in a manner whereby pedestrians establish precedent over both directions of traffic and cross both lanes in one, there would be some concern that it could not operate safely. If, however, the zebra crossing could operate as a two stage crossing, whereby pedestrians establish precedence over each direction of traffic in turn, there is sufficient visibility. A widening of the existing central island currently splitting the east and west bound lanes of Charing Cross would achieve this.

The Emergency Services were consulted at an early stage.

It is therefore considered that a location at the eastern end of Charing Cross, see drawing No2, is appropriate for the installation of a zebra crossing, provided that the crossing operates as a two stage crossing.

Under Article 69 of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 and in accordance with MD-T-2009-0080 the Assistant Minister for Transport and Technical Services may, after consultation with the Connétable of the Parish in which the road is situated, establish on any road such crossings for pedestrians as the Assistant Minister considers necessary.

Conclusion

That a widened central island is required enabling a two stage zebra crossing to function safely, and the zebra crossing should be constructed at the eastern end of Charing Cross in St Aubin.

Recommendation

The Assistant Minister is recommended to approve the installation of a two stage zebra crossing, with a 2.5m wide central refuge island, at the eastern end of Charing Cross in St Aubin.

Reason(s) for Decision

To allow the widening of the existing central island and the installation of a two stage zebra crossing at Charing Cross in St Aubin, following a request to improve pedestrian facilities from the Connétable of the Parish.

Resource Implications

Resource has been allocated from the Sustainable Transport Initiatives Fund and the work can be carried out on site by resources from within the Department.

Action Required

TTS to procure the equipment required, widen the existing island, and install the crossing using money allocated from the Sustainable Transport Initiatives Fund.

Written by:	Acting Senior Engineer
Approved by:	Director of Transport