TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
ST PETER’S VILLAGE - REPLACEMENT OF PELICAN CROSSING WITH
TWO REFUGE ISLANDS
Purpose of the Report
To approve the removal of the pelican crossing on La Route de Beaumont, near the junction of La Route de Beaumont and La Rue de L’Église.
Background
The Minister approved funding to build pedestrian refuge islands in St Peter’s Village under Ministerial Decision MD-T-2009-0059. The Department has now completed detailed design work on this proposal, which is shown on the attached drawing.
Discussion
The pelican crossing in St Peter’s Village was installed a number of years ago when there was a Post Office located on the east side of the road, with substantial settlement on the west side of the road, and large numbers of pedestrians crossing to the Post Office. Following the development of the St Peter’s Co-Op supermarket the Post Office has been moved into this building. As a result there are very few people using the pelican crossing. When pelican crossings become under-used there is a significant risk that drivers will become unaccustomed to stopping for the red light. There may therefore be an occasion when a driver does not stop for the red light and collides with a pedestrian using the crossing under a “false sense of security”.
The principle of removing this pelican crossing was discussed with the St Peter Roads Committee at a meeting on 15 April 2009, and the Department has subsequently written to the Connétable enclosing a detailed drawing of the proposals. In an e-mail of 03 August 2009, the Connétable of St Peter confirmed that he was happy for the pelican crossing to be removed once the pedestrian refuges have been constructed.
The existing signal equipment is due for replacement and would have had to be replaced during 2009 or 2010 depending on available budget. The installation and long term maintenance costs of a pedestrian refuge island are significantly less than they would have been for the replacement equipment and ongoing maintenance required for a pelican crossing.
Conclusion
The pelican crossing, with the change in local circumstance, is no longer the preferred or safest solution for helping pedestrians cross the road, and a pedestrian refuge island is now the preferred solution. The existing traffic signal equipment is due for replacement, therefore now is a good time to remove the pelican crossing all together and replace it with a pedestrian refuge Island.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the removal of the pelican crossing and replace it with two pedestrian refuge islands, one each side of the junction with La Rue de L’Église.
Reason(s) for Decision
To improve pedestrian crossing facilities in the St Peter’s Village area.
Resource Implications
Funding has been identified to construct the pedestrian refuge islands from the Sustainable Transport Fund, and the work will be carried out with Departmental operatives. Ongoing annual maintenance and power supplies currently required for the pelican crossing equipment will no longer be required.
Action Required
Transport and Technical Services Department to carry out the work.
Written by: | Acting Senior Engineer – Transport Policy |
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Approved by: | Director of Transport |
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Endorsed by: | Director of Municipal Services |