Millennium Town Park Pedestrian Strategy: Installation of 2 Zebra Crossings

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made on 25 October 2011:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2011-0109
Decision Summary Title :	Zebra crossings in support of the Millennium Town Park pedestrian strategy.		Date of Decision Summary:	24/10/2011
Decision Summary Author:	Acting Senior Engineer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Zebra crossings in support of the Millennium Town Park pedestrian strategy		Date of Written Report:	24/10/2011
Written Report Author:	Acting Senior Engineer		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: To approve the installation of two zebra crossings in support of the Millennium Town Park pedestrian strategy.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the installation of a zebra crossing on Bath Street and a zebra crossing on L’Avenue du Prés des Lumières at the north east and south west corner of the Millennium Town Park respectively and removal of the existing pelican crossing in Bath Street.
Reason(s) for Decision: To provide suitable pedestrian crossing facilities on Bath Street and a zebra crossing on L’Avenue du Prés des Lumières to tie in with pedestrian desire lines in the area.
Resource Implications: Resource has been allocated from the Millennium Town Park budgets and resources.
Action required: Principal Engineer to procure and install the equipment required to install the two crossings as part of the Millennium Town Park funding and Contract.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Millennium Town Park Pedestrian Strategy: Installation of 2 Zebra Crossings

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

Zebra crossings in support of the Millennium Town Park pedestrian strategy.

Purpose of the Report

To approve the installation of two zebra crossings in support of the Millennium Town Park pedestrian strategy.

Background

The traffic impact assessment developed in support of the design and construction of the town park demonstrated that there will be a strong pedestrian desire line in both directions from the north east to the south west corner of the Millennium Town Park. The Millennium Town Park has been designed to take account of this strong pedestrian desire line. There is currently no pedestrian crossing on L’Avenue et Dolmen du Prés de la Lumières, and the operation of the crossing on Bath Street could be improved. The plans for the Millennium Town Park and surroundings have been developed in consultation with the Parish of St Helier Roads Committee.

Discussion

There is an existing pelican crossing on Bath Street which is located to the south of the Millennium Town Park. Surveys of this crossing have revealed that pedestrians frequently cross without benefit of the green man, and also cross in the vicinity of, but not on the crossing. It would appear this crossing is not on any particular pedestrian desire line, and there are sufficient gaps in traffic to allow pedestrians to cross without the crossing. Such patterns of usage can lead to pedestrian injury collisions.

Zebra crossings are generally used in town centre locations where combined vehicle and pedestrian numbers do not result in unacceptable delays to traffic flows, as zebra crossings give a better service to pedestrians.

Various surveys and studies culminating in a Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) were carried out in support of the Millennium Town Park planning application. The TIA identified very strong pedestrian flows between the north east and south west corners of the Millennium Town Park. The Town Park has been designed with footpaths running diagonally across the park to accommodate these pedestrian desire lines.

L’Avenue et Dolmen du Prés de la Lumières currently has no controlled pedestrian crossing. This road is a slow speed road and vehicle and pedestrians are sufficiently low such that vehicle flows will not be unduly affected. It is therefore appropriate to install a zebra crossing on L’Avenue et Dolmen du Prés de la Lumières in the immediate vicinity of the north east entrance of the Town Park.

Bath Street has higher traffic flows a Vissim micro simulation traffic model of Bath Street was therefore prepared to test whether a zebra crossing could operate on Bath Street without causing undue delay to vehicles. The predicted pedestrian and traffic flows indicate a zebra crossing will operate satisfactorily on Bath Street immediately south of the Millennium Town Park. The zebra crossing can be “lined up” with the Town Park footpaths which should maximise the number of pedestrians crossing exactly on the line of the crossing.

Under article 69 of the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956, the Minister for Transport and Technical Services may, after consultation with the Connétable of the Parish in which the road is situated, establish on any road such crossings for pedestrians as the Minister considers necessary.

Conclusion

Zebra crossings can be safely installed on Bath Street and on L’Avenue du Prés des Lumières at the north east and south west corner of the Millennium Town Park respectively, without undue delay to traffic flows.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the installation of a zebra crossing on Bath Street and a zebra crossing on L’Avenue du Prés des Lumières at the north east and south west corner of the Millennium Town Park respectively and to remove the existing pelican crossing in Bath Street.

Reason(s) for Decision

To provide suitable pedestrian crossing facilities on Bath Street and a zebra crossing on L’Avenue du Prés des Lumières to tie in with pedestrian desire lines in the area.

Resource Implications

Resource has been allocated from the Millennium Town Park budgets and resources.

Action Required

Principal Engineer to procure and install the equipment required to install the two crossings as part of the Millennium Town Park funding and Contract.

Written by:	Acting Senior Engineer

Approved by:	Director of Transport

Endorsed by:	Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services

Document1