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A decision made (15.08.07) to change the pedestrian crossing at Snow Hill from a pelican type to a zebra type.

Subject:	Pedestrian Crossing at Snow Hill- Change from Pelican type to zebra type
Decision Reference:	MD-T-2007-0073	Exempt clause(s):		Public
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a	Report File ref:		I:Minister:2007:Ministerial Decision:MD 00 Snow Hill crossing
Written Report Title:	Pedestrian Crossing at Snow Hill	Written report – Author:		R Cabot – Assistant Traffic Engineer
Decision(s): The Minister approved the change of the pelican type pedestrian crossing located at Snow Hill, to a zebra type pedestrian crossing at the same location.
Reason(s) for decision: To allow the installation of a crossing type more suited to the site conditions at Snow Hill and to ensure a timely replacement of aging equipment.
Action required: The Manager, Traffic and Street Works to make the necessary arrangements to carry out the work on site to install a zebra crossing in accordance with the appropriate legislation, and with belisha beacons.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

Snow Hill pedestrian crossing - change from pelican type to zebra type

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT SNOW HILL

Purpose of the Report

To seek the Minister’s approval to convert the existing pelican crossing located on Hill Street, at Snow Hill, to a zebra crossing in the same location.

Background

The condition of the controller which controls the traffic signal for the pelican crossing needs to be replaced with a new unit in the near future. The lanterns have considerably deteriorated in condition and the brightness of the lamps has reduced due to ageing of the lenses.

The evaluation on what would be an appropriate type of crossing to install at this location has changed since the crossing was last updated.

Discussion

Colomberie has been subject to significant change since the Snow Hill pelican crossing equipment was last subject to significant maintenance. The nature and ambience of Colomberie has been changed with the widening of the footpaths, installation of surface dressing, and the addition of traffic calming measures. Traffic speeds in Colomberie are now slower and the whole “feel” of the area is one of being more pedestrian friendly. Vehicle speed measurements have been carried out over a 5 day period, and 85th percentile speeds are now in the order of 19 miles per hour, and traffic flows are moderate. See Table 1.

Pelican type crossings are suitable where vehicular traffic speeds and flows are high and are at their most efficient where crossing distances are fairly long. There are very few gaps in traffic which pedestrians are comfortable to use and vehicle speeds are high. Pelican crossings also require a steady and frequent pedestrian demand to ensure they are used and function regularly so that drivers maintain an awareness of their presence. Pelican crossings are therefore appropriate on roads such as Route du Fort, the ring road and Route de la Haule at locations of high pedestrian demand.

Zebra crossings are appropriate at locations which might be described as more “town centre” in nature, such as Snow Hill. Pedestrian demand is high at this location; therefore drivers are aware of the crossing. Traffic speeds are slow and with regular gaps, which pedestrians perceive as easy to cross.

A survey of pedestrian behaviour has also been carried out at the existing crossing, the results of which are summarised at Table 2. This shows that the majority of pedestrians are crossing at this location without using the traffic signals, so traffic flows are such that a zebra crossing will function efficiently at this location.

Conclusion

A zebra type crossing with belisha beacons is now a more appropriate type of crossing to be installed at the location of the current Snow Hill pelican crossing.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the change of the pelican type pedestrian crossing located at Snow Hill, to a zebra type pedestrian crossing.

Reason(s) for Decisions

To allow the installation of a crossing type more suited to the site conditions at Snow Hill and to ensure a timely replacement of aging equipment.

Action Required

The Manager, Traffic and Street Works is to make the necessary arrangements to carry out the work on site to install a zebra crossing, in accordance with the appropriate legislation, and with belisha beacons.

Written by:	R J R Cabot Assistant Traffic Engineer
Approved by:	Caroline Anderson Director of Transport

Attachments: Table 1, Table 2

Date: Wednesday 1st August 2007

Table 1

Date	Total Vehicles	Mean Speed	50th Percentile	85th Percentile
16/07/2007	2261	13.66 MPH	13.45 MPH	18.19 MPH	Counter deployed early am
17/07/2007	3317	14.02 MPH	13.90 MPH	18.52 MPH
18/07/2007	3597	13.98 MPH	13.73 MPH	18.46 MPH
19/07/2007	3619	13.67 MPH	13.54 MPH	18.34 MPH
20/07/2007	442	15.63 MPH	15.90 MPH	19.77 MPH	counter recovered early am

Table 2

Summary of Data Collected at Crossings

Crossing
Snow Hill Pelican		Vehicles	Pedestrians
Date	Time	Direction 1	On Crossing	Off Crossing	Crossing without using lights	Crossing Activation
17.07.07	0800-0815	78	10	43	14	6
	0815-0830	56	3	60	19	3
	0830-0845	68	4	68	35	3
	0845-0900	62	8	81	42	5
		264	25	252	110	17

18.07.07	1030-1045	75	13	52	57	3
	1045-1100	54	21	44	39	10
	1100-1115	55	7	53	32	4
	1115-1130	74	23	51	27	7
	Hours Total	258	64	200	155	24

17.07.07	1430-1445	41	18	70	36	7
	1445-1500	55	7	54	49	4
	1500-1515	62	27	53	44	9
	1515-1530	51	14	61	56	7
	Hours Total	209	66	238	185	27

17.07.07	1700-1715	62	20	77	83	8
	1715-1730	59	37	54	61	10
	1730-1745	66	5	56	61	3
	1745-1800	58	0	58	45	0
	Hours Total	245	62	245	250	21

	Daily Average	244	54	234	175	22
				On Crossing	Combined
	PV²			1.39E+07	2.43E+07