Midvale Road one way traffic studies (FOI)

Request

A

What traffic studies were carried out on the impact of making Midvale Road one-way and what were the conclusions?

B

As part of those studies, was the carbon impact assessed, and if so what were the conclusions?

Response

A

The following proposition was approved by the States of Jersey as an amendment to the Sustainable Transport Policy in 2009.

'To implement a scheme to enhance pedestrian safety in Midvale Road by the end of 2012 subject to appropriate consultation.'

The Public Consultation Report regarding the Midvale Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements contains various items in relation to the one-way system, which include the following:

• road safety context of the scheme
• traffic modelling undertaken and its conclusions

Midvale Road Pedestrian Improvements (gov.je)

The linked Ministerial Decision was approved on 26 April 2021 and the report summarises the benefits of the scheme in the context of States of Jersey's policies at that time, traffic implications and the recommendations for a decision by the Minister for Infrastructure.

Ministerial Decision - Midvale Road: Pedestrian Improvements (gov.je) 

The information requested is exempt under Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 as it is publicly available as detailed above.

B

The Government of Jersey did not have a formally adopted methodology for quantifying carbon emissions for transport projects at the time the scheme underwent its design and development stages between 2009 and 2020.

However, the impact of changes to carbon were considered, by virtue of the scheme creating conditions that are favourable to walking and cycling which is likely to discourage motor vehicle use.  These are requirements under the Government of Jersey's 2020 Sustainable Transport Policy, A Framework for a Sustainable Transport System 2020-2030 and the St Helier Public Realm and Movement Strategy.  Links to these are provided below.

Sustainable transport (gov.je)

Public Realm and Movement Strategy (gov.je)

Article applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.