no rth syd n e y coun ci l r e por t s · pdf filereport to general manager ... additional...

ITEM EPS07 REPORTS 16/05/15

N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L R E P O R T S

Report to General Manager Attachments:

Nil SUBJECT: Grosvenor Street - Interim Traffic Safety Improvements AUTHOR: Aurelio Lindaya, Manager Traffic and Transport Operations ENDORSED BY: Duncan Mitchell, Director Engineering and Property Services EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Council at its meeting held on 17 November 2014 resolved (Min. No. 526): THAT Council call for a comprehensive traffic study to be undertaken in the Neutral Bay area. The report should include an analysis of the current situation, the incident reports into recent accidents, the coroner’s recommendations following a fatal pedestrian accident at Beecroft on 2 May 2012, and specific recommendations to address:

improved traffic flow increased pedestrian safety increased cyclist safety possibility of one way systems in some areas additional traffic calming measures additional pedestrian crossings/relocation of existing pedestrian crossings increased street and pedestrian/footpath lighting improved parking access and safety possible relocation of bus stops The report should also take into consideration the number of the schools, child care

centres, places of worship and other community institutions located in the area, the increasing number of people using cycling as their preferred mode of transport, and a survey of residents, parents and other interested parties.

THAT in the intervening period whilst the traffic study is being prepared, Council call for an urgent report on interim public safety measures (bollards, barriers, planter boxes), that can be implemented to prevent any further accidents, similar to that which occurred in Grosvenor Street on 22 October 2014 where a car reversed into a cafe in the 90 degree angle parking section of Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay, from occurring. This report details an investigation of interim public safety measures to improve safety in Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay. The comprehensive traffic study for Neutral Bay is programmed for completion by July 2015. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The financial implications for the proposed interim traffic safety improvements are outlined in the body of the report.

Report of Aurelio Lindaya, Manager Traffic and Transport Operations Re: Grosvenor Street - Interim Traffic Safety Improvements

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RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT Council approve the installation of stainless steel bollards as per the North Sydney Public Domain Style Manual and Codes on the southern side of Grosvenor Street, between Young Street and Ben Boyd Lane, to improve pedestrian and outdoor dining safety. 2. THAT Council seek RMS approval for a 40K High Pedestrian Activity Area along the entire length of Grosvenor Street, between Waters Road and Ben Boyd Road and that the proposal for a 40K High Pedestrian Activity Area be referred to the North Sydney Traffic Committee for technical consideration. 3. THAT Council endorse the conversion of the existing 90 degree angle parking spaces in Grosvenor Street from “Rear to Kerb” to “Front to Kerb” and the proposal be referred to the North Sydney Traffic Committee for technical consideration. 4. THAT Council undertake a safety audit of all outdoor dining areas, particularly outdoor dining areas adjacent to angle parking spaces. 5. THAT Council approve the installation of appropriate traffic safety measures in outdoor dining areas across the LGA, as identified in the safety audit. Comment by Director Corporate Services: Funding for the project is appropriate.


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LINK TO DELIVERY PROGRAM The relationship with the Delivery Program is as follows: Direction: 2. Our Built Environment Outcome: 2.6 Improved traffic management BACKGROUND In response to a number of collisions involving injuries and a fatality that occurred in Neutral Bay on 10 October 2014, 13 October 2014 and 22 October 2014, Council resolved (Min. No. 526): THAT Council call for a comprehensive traffic study to be undertaken in the Neutral Bay area. The report should include an analysis of the current situation, the incident reports into recent accidents, the coroner’s recommendations following a fatal pedestrian accident at Beecroft on 2 May 2012, and specific recommendations to address:

improved traffic flow increased pedestrian safety increased cyclist safety possibility of one way systems in some areas additional traffic calming measures additional pedestrian crossings/relocation of existing pedestrian crossings increased street and pedestrian/footpath lighting improved parking access and safety possible relocation of bus stops The report should also take into consideration the number of the schools, child care

centres, places of worship and other community institutions located in the area, the increasing number of people using cycling as their preferred mode of transport, and a survey of residents, parents and other interested parties.

THAT in the intervening period whilst the traffic study is being prepared, Council call for an urgent report on interim public safety measures (bollards, barriers, planter boxes), that can be implemented to prevent any further accidents, similar to that which occurred in Grosvenor Street on 22 October 2014 where a car reversed into a cafe in the 90 degree angle parking section of Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay, from occurring. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS Community engagement will be undertaken in accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Protocol. SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT The sustainability implications are of a minor nature and did not warrant a detailed assessment.


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DETAIL Traffic Conditions Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay, is a local road which provides access to residential properties and the Neutral Bay commercial precinct and a number of outdoor dining areas. Given the diverse mix of land-uses, traffic volumes and parking pressures are high in this area. Traffic counts commissioned by Council reveal that the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume in Grosvenor Street, between Ben Boyd Road and Young Street, is 4006 vehicles per day (vpd) with an 85th percentile speed of 29 km/h. An 85th percentile speed of 29 km/h is low for local roads with default speed limits of 50km/h. The low speeds can be attributed to the current traffic calming devices in the street and the narrow traffic lanes. An Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume of 4006 vpd is also acceptable for a local road performing a minor collector road function according to the RMS Functional Classification of Roads Guidelines.

Figure 1: Locality Map


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Parking Conditions Parking occupancy surveys undertaken in 2013 and 2014 indicate that Grosvenor Street has an average on-street parking occupancy rate of 71.3%. The average peak occupancy rate (11am-2pm) for the section outdoor dining section of Grosvenor Street, between Young Street and Ben Boyd Lane is 75%. Council generally aims for an occupancy rate of about 80-90% to ensure that the parking spaces are being effectively utilised whilst still ensuring motorists are able to find a parking space.

Figures 2 and 3: Outdoor dining areas in Grosvenor Street Land Use and Transport Council’s Local Environmental Plan 2013 (LEP) identifies that the land uses adjacent to Grosvenor Street, between Waters Road and Ben Boyd Road, are zoned as high rise residential (R4) to the north and mixed-use business zone (B4) to the south. The future intensification of land use density will have a significant impact of traffic and parking in the area and will be considered further as part of the comprehensive traffic study for Neutral Bay (draft due for completion July 2015). Crash Statistics In addition to the collision which occurred in Grosvenor Street in late 2014, a review of the RMS vehicle crash database has been undertaken. This RMS data is based on actual Police reports relating to crashes where persons are injured or where vehicles have had to be towed away. Generally this data is received 9 - 12 months after the events. It should be noted that the RMS crash database is the standard database used by forensic traffic engineers and transport planners to assess crashes on urban roads in NSW and other states and territories have similar crash databases. An analysis of the crashes in Grosvenor Street reveals that there have been eight recorded crashes in the 8.5 year (102 month) period from January 2005, through to and including June, 2013. Of the eight recorded serious crashes, two involved pedestrians related crashes, two involved manoeuvring related crashes, two involved vehicles crashing into parked vehicle’s doors, one involved a vehicle that crashed into a parked vehicle and one involved a ‘right turning vehicle crashing into a vehicle coming toward it’ crash.


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Interim Traffic Safety Improvement Options A number of measures to prevent out-of control vehicles from entering into outdoor dining areas in Grosvenor Street have been considered to improve safety. Option 1 - Bollards - Recommended Option After considering a range of options (detailed below), it is recommended that Council approve the installation of stainless steel bollards to improve pedestrian and outdoor dining safety in Grosvenor Street, between Young Street and Ben Boyd Lane. Stainless steel bollards are identified as the preferred treatment in the adopted North Sydney Public Domain Style Manual and Codes and have energy absorbing properties for low speed vehicular impact. This bollard type has already been installed nearby in Young Lane (refer to Figures 3 and 4 of this report). In addition to the installation of bollards, it is recommended that the following traffic management changes be made in Grosvenor Street to further improve safety. These changes will require RMS approval and consideration by the North Sydney Traffic Committee. 1. Converting the entire length of Grosvenor Street to a 40K High Pedestrian Activity Area (HPAA). Traffic counts indicate that the street will meet the RMS requirements for HPAAs and the current traffic devices in the street (raised thresholds) and narrow traffic lanes encourage slower vehicle speeds which are also requirements for RMS approval. 2. Converting the angle parking spaces in Grosvenor Street from “rear to kerb” to “front to kerb”. Front to kerb parking is safer people on the footpath as motorists are facing the footpath while parking. Front to kerb parking also allows motorists to see the bollards on the footpath which reduces the likelihood that the bollards will be hit. The bollard design plan, which is the recommended option, is shown in Figure 2.


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Figure 2 - Stainless Steel Bollards (Preferred Option) (Typical Design)

Figures 3 and 4 - Examples of public domain style manual Stainless Steel Bollards (Young Lane, Neutral Bay)

Stainless Steel Bollards


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Option 2 - Wheelstops Wheelstops are generally not supported in areas with high pedestrian activity or in areas with medium to high parking turnover (which can result in high numbers of pedestrians walking to and from their cars). This is due to the trip hazards that wheelstops pose to pedestrians, particularly the blind and mobility impaired. The Australian Standards for Parking Facilities (AS2890.1) states that wheel stops should be avoided in any situation where they may be in the path of pedestrians or wheelchairs moving to or from parking vehicles. Further, wheelstops do not prevent out-of-control vehicles from entering the footpath as they are primarily designed to delineate where parked vehicles should stop. The wheelstop design plan is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 - Wheelstops (Typical Design) Option 3 - Planter Boxes Although planter boxes may improve the visual appearance of the public domain, they are not recommended for installation along the Grosvenor Street outdoor dining area as they reduce the width of the footpath which impacts on pedestrian access and outdoor dining areas. Due to the angled parking arrangement in Grosvenor Street, the planter boxes would have to be smaller and include gaps to allow pedestrians to access the vehicles. A planter box design plan is shown in Figure 6.

Concrete Wheelstops 32 Parking Spaces


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Figure 6 - Planter Boxes (Typical Design) Option 4 - Reversing the Parking Layout Reversing the 90 degree angle parking arrangement in the street from the southern kerb alignment to the northern kerb alignment is not supported as it would increase the number of pedestrians crossing the road. People who park on the northern side would be forced to cross the road, across two lanes of traffic, to access the commercial precinct and outdoor dining areas. This increases the potential for pedestrian collisions. Reversing the parking layout in Grosvenor Street, between Young Street and Ben Boyd Lane, requires linemarking and demolishing and reconstructing the traffic islands (kerb build outs) at the intersections and would be an expensive option to implement. The reverse angle parking arrangement would also result in the loss of 3 on-street parking spaces (from 32 spaces to 29 spaces). A reverse angle parking layout plan is shown in Figure 6.

Planter Boxes


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Figure 6 - Reverse Angle Parking (Typical Design) Costings Preliminary Cost Estimates of all options outlined in the report are detailed in Table 1. The costs include detailed design, traffic control, supply of all materials and construction. Option 1 (Recommended Option - Stainless Steel Bollards

$64,000

Option 2 - Wheelstops $16,000 Option 3 - Planter Beds $80,000 Option 4 - Reverse Parking Layout $75,000 Table 1 - Preliminary Cost Estimates Conclusion Outdoor dining safety across the LGA is of paramount importance. Concerns have been raised specifically with the outdoor dining area in Grosvenor Street given the collision which occurred last year and that these outdoor dining areas are adjacent to 90 degree angle parking spaces. To ensure that outdoor dining areas across the LGA are operating safely, it is recommended that Council undertake a safety audit of all outdoor dining areas in the North Sydney LGA. It is further recommended that Council approve the installation of traffic treatments to improve safety in outdoor dining areas identified in the audit as requiring safety upgrades. To improve outdoor dining safety in Grosvenor Street, between Young Lane and Ben Boyd

29 Parking Spaces


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Lane, Neutral Bay, it is recommended that the vehicle rated (impact resistance) stainless steel bollard (150mm dia) be installed, as per the North Sydney Public Domain Style Manual and Codes. This stainless steel bollards can be designed and installed to have sufficient energy absorbing properties for vehicular impacts and will protect outdoor dining areas and pedestrians from out-of-control vehicles. In addition, converting Grosvenor Street to a 40K HPAA with “front to kerb” angle parking is recommended.

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