Workshop on Accessible Outdoor Spaces Sydney, Thursday 29 August 2019In 2018, The IPWEA (NSW) Roads & Transport Directorate published a Guide for the Design of Accessible Outdoor Spaces to support professionals who are responsible for providing and maintaining appropriate access to various areas of the built external environment. The Guide has been developed to identify the key elements that must be considered in the design, development and maintenance of the built external environment, to meet the needs of all people, with emphasis on the needs of people with disabilities and other access challenges.

To familiarize council staff tasked with the responsibility for providing accessible outdoor spaces, IPWEA (NSW) is offering training on how to use the Guide. Learn about the key considerations and detailed information in relation to access to a range of fundamental elements in the external environment including:

• Parking and Drop Off Zones • External Paths of Travel • Stairs• Ramps and Walkways• Wayfinding and Signage• Street Furniture• Road Crossing• Public Event and Temporary Installations• Beaches, Rivers and Jetties• Parks and Camping Areas

• Traffic Lights• Bus Stops• Lighting• Playgrounds• Swimming

Pools• Shading

Full information is available at: https://www.ipweansw.org/events/guide-design-accessible-outdoor-space-sydney-29-august-2019 or contact Ms. Elsie Pathmanathan at elsie.p@ipweansw.org or at 02 8267 3008.

June 2019 Issue #173

IPWEA (NSW) ROADS & TRANSPORT

DIRECTORATE

Rail Interface AgreementsThe Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator has written to councils outlining changes to the Rail Safety National Law which will come into effect on 1 July 2019.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator says it is expanding to road managers new penalties for not complying with requirements for interface agreements at level crossings or road/rail interfaces.

While the penalties apply for managers of rail infrastructure and private roads, from next month individuals who manage public roads can be fined a maximum $50,000, and $500,000 for a body corporate.

The Regulator says in the six months to 30 March, there were 16 collisions between a train and road vehicle and three between a train and a person at a level crossing. Four people were killed and five seriously injured.

The Regulator says it has worked with rail companies and state Local Government Associations for many years to support rail and road managers to enter interface agreements.

However, progress has been slow and there are nearly 50 percent of identified agreements still outstanding, the Regulator’s Chief Executive, Sue McCarrey, says.

Interface agreements are used by the Regulator to define the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in managing risks.

Under the Rail Safety National Law, road managers have a shared responsibility with rail infrastructure managers to identify and assess risks, and enter into agreements with infrastructure managers to manage those risks at level crossings, the Regulator says.

Roads & Transport Directorate launches new websiteThe Roads & Transport Directorate has launched a new website that is much easier to navigate and to find information in. Have a look at: www.roadsdirectorate.org.au

June 2019 Issue #173

Level 12, 447 Kent StreetSYDNEY NSW 2000

IPWEA (NSW) ROADS & TRANSPORT DIRECTORATE

Ph: (02) 8267 3000Fax: (02) 8267 3070

ACN: 093 562 602 ABN: 35 093 562 602

www.roadsdirectorate.org.au Please email: mick.savage@ipwea.org for queries and comments Printed on Monza Satin, 99% Recycled Paper

Joint NHVR, ARTSA report highlights success of Australia’s PBS scheme A joint report released by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association shows that one in five new heavy vehicles manufactured in Australia are now Performance Based Standards (PBS) approved thus highlighting the success of Australia’s world-leading PBS Scheme.

The report shows:

• One in five relevant new heavy vehicles manufactured in 2018 were PBS approved, up from one in six in 2017

• 1,900 new approvals for new PBS combinations in 2018, an increase from around 1,400 in 2017

• In the last five years total new PBS combination approvals have doubled, while the heavy vehicle market has only grown by 20 per cent over the same period

• More than 55 per cent of PBS approvals are for truck and dog combinations

• PBS approved prime mover and trailer combinations have doubled in the last five years.

According to Sal Petroccitto, NHVR CEO, PBS vehicles deliver significant benefits to productivity and have been shown to be involved in 46 per cent fewer crashes than conventional vehicles.

The report is available for download at https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/201905-1047-nhvr-artsa-pbs-report-may-2019.pdf

Austroads Polymer modified binders test method updatedAustroads has published an updated specification for polymer modified binders (PMBs) and crumb rubber modified binders for use in sprayed seal and asphalt applications.

PMBs consist of bitumen blended with a synthetic polymer or crumb rubber and are used to enhance the performance of binders on heavily trafficked or distressed pavement surfaces.

The test method has been revised following a review of current PMB manufacturing, testing and application experience.

The updated test method includes an alternative Standards Australia method to determine viscosity at 165 °C, a stress ratio binder property and a definition for field-produced crumb rubber modified binders. The consistency and elastic recovery binder properties have been removed, and the rubber content by analysis binder property for the class S45R binder has been replaced with a stipulation that this binder class be manufactured from crumb rubber derived from used vehicle tyres.

The framework has been produced by an Austroads working group and is based on test procedures that have been in use throughout Australia for several years.

The specification aims to achieve satisfactory design performance in the field for both sprayed seal surfacing and asphalt pavement applications. Specification limits are framed around the results of nationally coordinated field trials and laboratory studies, supplemented by Austroads jurisdiction experience.

To download a free copy, please go to: https://austroads.com.au/publications/pavement/agpt-t190-19

Pavement AssessmentCouncil staff from three regional councils, in conjunction with Grace Coring, have implemented an innovative intact sampling methodology that was sparked by a clearly identified need for swift, accurate and cost-effective investigation of the existing sub-surface profiles of council roads.

The overall goals were to reduce costs and waste, reduce risks, increase the quality and

quantity of the information available to council staff and therefore improve confidence and outcomes.

The Coring system that was developed and adapted for the purpose takes undisturbed samples in 1m depth segments and provides base layer thicknesses and basic material assessments, subgrade strength, as well as material for further geo-technical laboratory testing if required.

Confidence in fit for purpose designs and the values used in road asset management plans were able to be improved with the application of good data associated with individual road assets. This data provided an evidence-based position in relation to life cycle assessment forecasts and depreciation numbers.

Detailed information is available at: https://www.gracecoring.com.au/Home/Feedback