TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
IMPROVEMENTS TO STREET LAYOUT IN THE PARADE
AND GLOUCESTER STREET
Purpose of the Report
To provide pedestrian facility and other improvements to the street layout in The Parade and Gloucester Street.
Background
During the States of Jersey debate on the Sustainable Transport Policy in 2010, the Connétable of St Helier successfully brought an amendment to that policy instructing TTSd to investigate pedestrian facility improvements at five locations in St Helier. The junction of the Parade and Gloucester Street was one of those locations. Gloucester Street is due to be re-surfaced during 2013. The Department has developed a scheme improving pedestrian facilities at that junction as well as proposals for Gloucester Street and The Parade outside the Hospital that can be carried out efficiently as part of that re-surfacing project.
Discussion
The proposals that have been developed for Gloucester Street and The Parade area are as follows:
At the junction of Gloucester Street and Newgate Street:
To widen the footway on Newgate Street at the junction with Gloucester Street so that pedestrians will only need to cross one lane of traffic, have a shorter distance to cross and will be better seen by motorists. There are currently very few cycle stands in the area and this build out will provide space to provide up to four cycle stands. This proposal is shown at sketch 1.
Between the entrance of Spectrum and the junction with The Parade:
To widen out the footway to reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians wishing to cross this section of Gloucester Street, protect the visibility splay for vehicles exiting the Spectrum residential development, and provide space for additional cycle stands. During the consultation period the Department were asked to consider an unloading bay in this location. This request can be accommodated and an unloading bay has been incorporated into the scheme. This proposal is shown at sketch 2.
At the junction of The Parade and Gloucester Street:
To replace the existing traffic island at the junction of Gloucester Street and The Parade with a much larger island which will provide more space for pedestrians to wait, and shorter crossing distances for pedestrians to get to and from the Island. This proposal is shown at sketch 3.
On the section of Gloucester Street adjacent to the Don Memorial;
To reduce the road width to a single lane, to provide kerb build outs at each end of this section of road to reduce crossing widths for pedestrians, to provide space for a bus shelter adjacent to the bus stop, and to provide additional parking by switching to chevron parking. These proposals are shown at sketch 4.
On the Parade outside the Hospital:
To move the existing Pelican crossing to a location closer to both the new Accident and Emergency Department entrance and the main Hospital entrance, reduce the widths of the two traffic running lanes and widen the parking lane to create a buffer zone between parked cars and moving cars, and change the junction of Cheapside and Elizabeth Place to a “filter in turn” junction. Pedestrian surveys show that there are a large number of pedestrians who cross the Parade outside the Hospital who do not walk out of their way to use the pedestrian crossing.
A public consultation has been carried out using the consultation portal of the States of Jersey website gov.je. The consultation was publicised by erecting site notices at various locations in Gloucester Street and The Parade, and a press release was issued which led to an article in the Jersey Evening Post and a feature on the Radio Jersey breakfast show. A period of three weeks was allowed for the public to respond. Fifteen responses to the consultation have been received by the Department - two phone calls, two letters, and eleven e-mails. An officer from the Department visited the businesses on Gloucester Street between the “Century Buildings” vehicular access and The Parade, and recorded the comments made.
Two of the respondents considered that the proposals were not an appropriate use of public money, a number of respondents expressed concern over the safety of some of the details of the proposals, five respondents had concerns over parking, one business asked for an unloading bay, and five of the respondents generally supported the proposals. The Department has answered all the consultation responses to clarify details which had been misunderstood in some cases. An unloading bay in Gloucester Street has been provided at a suitable location as requested by one of the businesses. The project team will co-ordinate the timing of the re-location of the pelican crossing with the “Guide Dogs for the Blind” as requested by a representative of that organisation. The Department has reviewed the safety concerns raised and are satisfied that the proposals will create safer conditions for all road users.
Conclusion
The changes to the pavement layout, islands, junctions and pelican crossing position will all improve access for pedestrians, meet the ever increasing demand for additional cycle stands in this area and improve levels of safety for all road users.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the proposed changes and pedestrian facility improvements to The Parade and Gloucester Street as detailed in the discussion section of this report.
Reason(s) for Decision
To provide pedestrian facility and other improvements to the street layout in The Parade and Gloucester Street.
Resource Implications
The work can be carried out using TTS Civil Works section staff and funded from the Infrastructure Capital vote.
Action Required
Acting Senior Engineer for Transport Policy to liaise with the appropriate officers in the Highways and Infrastructure Section to implement the work.
Written by: | Acting Senior Engineer, Transport Policy |
| |
Approved by: | Director of Transport |
| |
Attachments: | Sketches of proposed works |
I:\Minister\2013\Ministerial Decisions 2013\MD Improvements to Street Layout Parade and Gloucester Street\WR Improvements to Street Layout Parade and Gloucester Street.doc
gov.je