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A decision made (06/10/2006) regarding Proposed central refuge island at Longueville Road - Acquisition of land at Miladi Parade.

Subject:	Proposed Central Refuge Island at Longueville Road – Acquisition of Land at Miladi Parade
Decision Reference:	MD-PH-2006-0039	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		NA
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	NA	Report File ref:		PBA 15/1288/1 (job n° 240)
Written Report – Title	Proposed Central Refuge Island at Longueville Road – Acquisition of Land at Miladi Parade	Written report - author		Philip Ahier
Decision(s): As recommended by Property Holdings: The acquisition from Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd of a strip of land forming the northern edge of the Miladi Parade car-park abutting Longueville Road, having an area of approximately 181 sq ft, in order to re-align the road and pavement to create a central refuge island. The payment to the vendor of: · a consideration of £181 for the land · £10,250 in compensation for the use of the vendor’s car-parking spaces as contractor’s working space · reimbursement of the vendor’s reasonable legal and surveyor’s fees to be funded from Property Holdings’ vote 02320.IXP008 Acquisition of Land – Major Reserve. All work associated with the scheme to be undertaken at no cost to the vendor, – to be funded from Transport and Technical Services. The provision of a log-roll fence on the vendor’s land to separate the car-park from the re-aligned pavement on Longueville Road, and the granting of access rights to the vendor onto the pavement for maintenance and/or replacement purposes – to be funded from Transport and Technical Services. cont .. Under Standing Order 168 (1) (a) and 168 (3) the Minister for Treasury and Resources hereby notifies the States that he has accepted the recommendation of Property Holdings to agree to the above-mentioned land transaction. The Minister hereby authorises the Attorney General and the Greffier of the States to pass any contracts on behalf of the Public of Jersey that may be necessary. After the expiry of 15 days following presentation to the States the transaction may be concluded.
Reason(s) for decision: Under Standing Order 168 (1) (a) and 168 (3) the Minister is required to notify the States of his acceptance of recommendations to dispose, acquire, let or rent land on behalf of the public of Jersey.
Action required: In accordance with Standing Order 168(3) of the Standing Orders of the States of Jersey, this decision must be presented to the States at least 15 working days before the contract is passed before the Royal Court. The Director of Property Holdings is to instruct the Law Officers’ Department and the States Greffe to pass the necessary contract, and to copy this decision to the Minister, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.
Signature: (Assistant Minister)[1] Deputy J Le Fondré			Date of Decision: MD-PH-2006-0039

Central refuge island at Longueville Road - Acquisition of land at Miladi Parade

TREASURY AND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

PROPERTY HOLDINGS

Property Transaction for Ministerial Decision - Minister for Treasury and Resources

Proposed Central Refuge Island at Longueville Road – Acquisition of Land at Miladi Parade

PBA 15/1288/1 (job n° 240)

Purpose

To inform the Minister of the land acquisition required to provide a pedestrian refuge island on Longueville Road, and to seek a decision from the Minister as to whether he wishes to proceed with the land acquisition on the in-principle terms agreed with the vendor.

Background

In October 2003, Property Services was instructed by the former Public Services Department to negotiate with the owner of Miladi Parade over the acquisition of a small strip of land at the car-park to allow a “central refuge island” to be constructed at Longueville Road.

The owner of Miladi Parade, Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd, is not a willing seller, but agreement has been reached for the purchase of the land on the terms set-out below.

Current Situation

The terms agreed between Property Services and Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd for the acquisition of the strip of land are as follows:

Area of land to be acquired:	A strip of land along the northern edge of the car-park at Miladi Parade abutting Longueville Road, having an area of approximately 181 sq ft, as shown on drg n° RC/052006 Revision, the land being required to re-align the road to allow the creation of a central refuge island.
Consideration:	The public will pay Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd the sum of £181 [1] for the land to be acquired.
Compensation:	The public will pay Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd the sum of £10,250 in compensation for the use of the company’s adjacent parking spaces for contractor’s working space during the works.

The works:	The public will be responsible for all works in connection with re-aligning the road and forming the central refuge island, including all costs. This will include providing a log-roll fence between the new re-aligned pavement on Longueville Road and the Miladi Parade car-park.
Fees:	The public will meet the reasonable legal fees incurred by Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd in connection with drafting, agreeing and passing the contract before the Royal Court, and also the reasonable fees of the vendor’s surveyor in connection with the negotiations that have taken place.
Other terms:	The log-roll fence which is to be provided between the new re-aligned pavement on Longueville Road and the Miladi Parade car-park is to comprise 75 mm diameter logs. When provided, it will be in the ownership of Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd, and the public will grant the company access rights onto the Longueville Road pavement to maintain and/or replace the log-roll fence. Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd will be free to amend or replace the log-roll fence subject to obtaining planning consent and complying with any other relevant statutory conditions.

Recommendation

It is recommended that:

The public acquires from Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd a strip of land forming the northern edge of the Miladi Parade car-park abutting Longueville Road, having an area of approximately 181 sq ft, in order to re-align the road and pavement to create a central refuge island.

The public pays a consideration of £181, plus payment of £10,250 in compensation for the use of car-parking spaces as contractor’s working space, plus payment of the vendor’s reasonable legal and surveyor’s fees.

The public carries-out all work associated with the scheme at its own cost.

The public provides a log-roll fence on the vendor’s land to separate the car-park from the re-aligned pavement on Longueville Road, and grants the vendor access rights onto the pavement for maintenance and/or replacement purposes.

Written By: Philip Ahier

Signature …………………………

Authorised By: (Director/Assistant Director PH)

Signature ………………………… 04 October 2006

APPENDICES:

APPENDIX A - Report by the Transport and Technical Services Dept - Transport Policy Section

Pedestrian Crossing Facility at Miladi Parade - Design Considerations

APPENDIX B – Supplementary Report by the Transport and Technical Services Department

Construction and Maintenance Costs of Alternative Pedestrian Crossings

APPENDIX A - Report by the Transport and Technical Services Dept - Transport Policy Section

Pedestrian Crossing Facility at Miladi Parade- Design Considerations

The Department has identified the requirement for measures to address accidents along Longueville Road for some time. However, due to the scattered and diverse nature of the accidents along the length of Longueville Road, there is no single solution to addressing the causes of these accidents. The Department has progressed various schemes as the opportunities have arisen. For example, the installation of high friction surfacing on the junction of Rue des Pres and Longueville Road has reduced the frequency of injury accidents, at this location.

There has been pressure from some residents, as well as their Political Representatives for the area, for a crossing facility at a location near to Miladi Parade. Indeed this local pressure lead to a commitment, by a previous Environment and Public Services Committee, to provide a crossing facility at this point, and funding was sourced from the ‘car-park trading fund’ for pedestrian facility improvements on Longueville Road, as well as on St Aubin’s Road, St Lawrence.

The Department has carried out a review of the area and worked up a design for the most suitable type of crossing in the area.

The design options were:

Do nothing
Provide a Zebra Crossing. Approximate cost £5,000
Install a Pelican Crossing. Approximate cost £15,000
Build a Central Refuge Island with attendant road carriageway re-alignment. Approximate cost £25,000, excluding the cost of land acquisition.

The above have been listed in order of ascending capital cost. Option 2 would require the paint to be maintained annually, option 3 would have significant on going maintenance and replacement costs every 15 years, while Option 4 would have negligible maintenance costs.

However, balanced against capital and ongoing headline costs as well as ease of installation, it is important that an appropriate crossing type is selected for the site in question.

The average speed of traffic at this site exceeds 35mph. (hourly 85th percentile speeds vary between 33 and 45mph depending on the hour of the day) Design guidance recommends against installing zebra crossings where traffic speeds exceed 35mph.

Research (including local examination of accident statistics) has shown that “under used” pelican crossings have accident rates that are significantly above the average. The traffic signals are triggered on very few occasions and drivers become accustomed to not stopping. However, when the signals are triggered by a pedestrian the red signal may be ignored by drivers leading to accidents to pedestrians on the crossing. Committee report INSTALLATION OF CONTROLLED PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS dated 13/10/2003 refers.

A central refuge crossing is likely to have a mild traffic calming affect on traffic speeds, as well as preventing inappropriate overtaking in the area, a cause of two of the accidents involving injury to vehicle occupants over the last 4½ years.

The attached plan shows the current distribution of accidents along Longueville Road for the years 2001 to mid 2004.

Surveys indicate that 11 to 12 hundred vehicles per hour use this stretch of road both east bound and west bound for most of the day, and up to 7 pedestrians per hour attempt to cross the road. This may be augmented by suppressed demand if a crossing facility were to be installed at this location.

The cost of an injury accident to society is on average c. £62,000 (UK COBA 1998 prices). One injury accident prevented, during the lifetime of a central refuge crossing facility at this location, would pay the capital cost for that facility.

Plan of Site with proposed central refuge Island.

Extract from Road Traffic Accident Plot, showing area of Longueville Road

APPENDIX B – Supplementary Report by the Transport and Technical Services Department

Construction and Maintenance Costs of Alternative Pedestrian Crossings

Construction Costs

Zebra Crossing Types

Site where Belisha Beacons are used to indicate crossing location

Also assumes the road is well lit- Some sites may require street lighting or an upgrade to the street lighting

Work Item	Approximate Cost.
Drop kerbs	£400
Install Tactile Pavers	£500
Reinstate Tarmac	£300
Provide Power Supply	£1500
Road Crossing for electric cable for Belisha beacon on other side of road from power supply.	£1000
Install Belisha Beacons	£750
Install electrical “cut out” pillar	£150
Road Painting to include white panels road studs Zig zag Lines on approach, and allowing for traffic management	£500-00
Traffic Management	£100
Total	Approximately £5,200

Site where Astucia Road Studs are used to highlight the presence of a crossing as at the waterfront

Also assumes the road is well lit- Some sites may require street lighting or an upgrade to the street lighting

Work Item	Approximate Cost.
Drop kerbs	£400
Install Tactile Pavers	£500
Reinstate Tarmac	£300
Provide Power Supply	£1500
Bespoke flashing stud installation from Astucia	£5 to 6,000 based on previous installations
Provide and Install Control Cabinet	£500
Provide and Install electrical “cut out” pillar	£150
Road Painting to include white panels road studs Zig zag Lines on approach, and allowing for traffic management	£500-00
Traffic Management	£100
Total	Approximately £10,000

Pelican Crossing

Work Item
Drop kerbs
Install Tactile Pavers
Reinstate Tarmac
Provide Power Supply
Control equipment, traffic signals, poles, pedestrian push buttons, tactile cones etc
Provide and Install Control Cabinet
Provide and Install electrical “cut out” pillar
Road crossing to install duct across the road for running cables to signal heads at opposite side of road from controller.
Road Painting to include road studs Zig zag Lines on approach, and allowing for traffic management
Traffic Management for civils works
Total Cost based on Bath Street and Grande Marche crossings installed in the last year.	£15,000

Central Refuge to Provide Pedestrian Facility and a Mild Traffic Calming Effect

Also assumes the road is well lit- Some sites may require street lighting or an upgrade to the street lighting

The following table lists the work which would be required for a central refuge where no road widening is required.

Work Item	Approximate Cost.
Drop kerbs	£400
Install Tactile Pavers	£500
Reinstate Tarmac	£300
Provide Power Supply	£1500
Half road Crossing for electric cable from electric power supply to Island in road	£750
Install Central Island Internally illuminated “Keep left” traffic bollards	£500
Install electrical “cut out” pillar	£150
Road Painting to include black out to existing centre lines not obliterated by Island and add centre lines to deviate either side of Island	£250
Traffic Management	£500
Total	Approximately £5,000

In the case of the Miladi Parade installation the following items are required to be added, and are roughly in the order the work would be carried out.

Site Clearance (Clear flower bed and kerb edging etc)	£500
Move letter box to new position agreed with post office.	£1500
Provide log roll to de-lineate between footpath and car park	£5000
Construct section of road to Category A standards	£5000
Take up and re lay kerbs to achieve required horizontal alignment of road	£1000
Re construct footpath where required	£1000
Planting if required	£1000
Contingency	£5000
Total	£25,000

Maintenance Costs

1. Zebra Belisha Beacons

The belisha beacons are relatively low cost to run and maintain, probably £200 per year. The poles may require replacement at intervals in a salt laden environment. I would anticipate that Longueville would be reasonably benign, as compared to Beaumont and that a pole should make 15 to 20 years. Current replacement costs for a pole would be about £250. The cost of maintaining the white lining of a zebra is influenced by the white panels being in the wheel tracks of vehicles, thus wearing at a faster rate than lines that do not get scrubbed by tyres. The cost of each visit to re-mark a full zebra crossing is of the order £500, including the traffic management which is required to carry out the work.

2. Zebra Astucia Studs

Astucia studs have proved expensive when maintenance is required, though I understand Astucia are working on product revisions to improve maintainability. Currently maintenance on the Astucia studs at the Waterfront is carried out by a technician who visits the Island, when a number of the studs have failed. The cost of the visit is negotiated at the time.

White lining as above.

3. Central Refuge Island

Central refuge Island bollards are again relatively low cost to run and maintain, say no more than £200 per year. The plastic of the bollards degrades over time, and require replacement. I understand such plastic bollards are £100 to £150. The white lining for a refuge tends not to be scrubbed by wheels and can last as much as 4 years in some places. The process of marking these lines is also more straightforward.

4. Pelican Crossing

The day to day maintenance of a modern pelican crossing installation is included in a maintenance agreement we have with Siemens. There is a cost, but it is rolled up with all the other equipment on the Island. However, with a pelican the signal equipment should be replaced every 12 to 15 years depending on the location. The cost of signal equipment replacement, with no attendant civils work is £6000 at current prices.

[1] The consideration, compensation and fee reimbursement payable to Miladi Parade (2001) Ltd will be sourced from the vote Acquisition of Land – Major Reserve 02320.IXP008.