DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
ZEBRA CROSSING, WELLINGTON ROAD, ST SAVIOUR
Purpose of the Report
To request the Minister to approve the installation of a zebra crossing on Wellington Road adjacent to the junction with Bagatelle Lane and associated footway adjustments.
Background
The St Saviour’s Schools Action Plan, (SSSAP), highlighted the issue of a large number of students needing to cross Wellington Road at the junction with Bagatelle Lane at the Oakfield Sports Complex exit that leads from Hautlieu School. It is on the walking desire line from the schools’ bus park at Jersey College for Girls to Hautlieu and also onto Highlands. Students alight a school bus to the west of Bagatelle Lane, and the students cross the road either in front of or behind the bus as there are no formal crossing points nearby.
Part of the Safer Routes to School initiative is to encourage walking, cycling and bus use in line with the Sustainable Transport Policy to use more sustainable modes of transport, to reduce congestion. Walking and cycling have health benefits.
The School have raised the issue of safety following near-misses, especially with pupils trying to cross the road from the bus stop.
There have been two personal injury collisions at the junction, all involving vulnerable road users.
Discussion
Various options were examined during the feasibility stage of the project:
- A zebra crossing to the west of Bagatelle Lane
- Pelican crossing to the west of Bagatelle Lane
- Two zebra crossings, one to the east and one to the west of Bagatelle Lane
Following discussions with the Parish of St Saviour and Hautlieu School, the conclusion reached was that the two zebra crossings would not be beneficial due to the east zebra being away from the main pedestrian desire line and so would be little used. It also was compromised as an option as the pedestrian visibility both to see and be seen by drivers was poor due to the large oak trees which are along the roadside verge. It was felt that one zebra crossing, near to the junction, as close as possible to the pedestrian desire line would be of most benefit to pedestrians, giving them priority over vehicles.
In order for the crossing to be in the optimum position, it would need to be positioned in front of the garage doors to the old caretaker’s cottage. This garage access would have to be closed off and a new vehicular entrance installed at the rear of the garage. This has been agreed in principal with Jersey Property Holdings who manage that property on behalf of the Public.
The footway to the south-west will need widening to provide an adequate waiting space for crossing. The footway on the south-east is also to be widened to help with the visibility when exiting Bagatelle Lane in a vehicle.
The area of overgrown vegetation on the north-east side of Oakfield Sports Complex is to be removed and surfaced in a hard bound material to improve the visibility on exiting the road
A public consultation was held on 25 October 2018. Nineteen people completed a questionnaire on the evening and a further 21 responded via the website. Of these, only 13% felt safe crossing Wellington Road in this area and 79% said that the zebra crossing would be either very beneficial (65%) or fairly beneficial.
The students at Hautlieu School also completed a questionnaire. 260 of the students completing the form rated the crossing as fairly beneficial or above compared to 61 who said it would be of no benefit or unbeneficial.
Conclusion
The consultation and student responses show a clear indication that a zebra crossing is needed in this location.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the installation of the proposed zebra crossing.
Reason(s) for Decision
To provide a safer crossing facility for students walking to and from Hautlieu School to the bus park at Jersey College for Girls as part of Safer Routes to Schools and to benefit other pedestrians in the area.
Resource Implications
The project is estimated at £124,000 and is to be funded from the 2019 Capital Programme.
Action Required
Officers to prepare detailed design work to be finalised and implemented.
Written by: | Assistant Engineer |
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Approved by: | Director of Transport |
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Attachments: | Wellington Road and Oaklands Lane – Visibility and Footway Improvements WER-100-003 Wellington Road Proposed Footway Improvements and Single Zebra Crossing WTR-100-002 |