Rue de Haut, St. Lawrence: Footpath Improvements

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A decision made 16 January 2015:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2015-0005
Decision Summary Title :	Improved Pedestrian footpath in Rue de Haut, St Lawrence, between Kincaid Gardens and Little Grove		Date of Decision Summary:	15 January 2015
Decision Summary Author:	Senior Engineer		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Improved Pedestrian footpath in Rue de Haut, St Lawrence, between Kincaid Gardens and Little Grove		Date of Written Report:	15 January 2015
Written Report Author:	Senior Engineer		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: To provide a wider footpath and a narrower carriageway to improve pedestrian facilities on Rue de Haut, St Lawrence.
Decision(s): The Assistant Minister approved the construction of a wider footpath in Rue de Haut with timber bollards placed at intervals to discourage vehicles from driving on the pavement area.
Reason(s) for Decision: To improve pedestrian facilities in Rue de Haut, between Kincaid Gardens and Little Grove, to encourage walking as a mode of transport, especially walking to Bel Royal School in accordance with the States of Jersey Sustainable Transport Plan.
Resource Implications: A budget of £130,000, including design and supervision fees, has been allocated from that part of the Infrastructure Capital Budget set aside for improvements to the Island’s Infrastructure that encourage sustainable transport modes.
Action required: Senior Engineer to arrange for the works to be carried out.
Signature:		Position: Assistant Minister for Transport and Technical Services
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Rue de Haut, St. Lawrence: Footpath Improvements

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN FOOTPATH IN RUE DE HAUT, ST LAWRENCE,

BETWEEN KINCAID GARDENS AND LITTEGROVE

Purpose of the Report

To provide a wider footpath and a narrower carriageway to improve pedestrian facilities on Rue de Haut, St Lawrence.

Background

The Pupils of Bel Royal School helped with the preparation of a Travel Plan for the school in 2012. As part of the Travel Plan the pupils identified that the existing footpath in Rue de Haut was very narrow in places. This means any one in a wheel chair or a parent pushing a pram currently cannot walk along Rue de Haut between Kincaid Gardens and Little Grove, without mixing with vehicles driving in the road.

Discussion

Rue de Haut, between Kincaid Gardens and Little Grove is a very narrow road in places with a pavement which is generally only wide enough for a single pedestrian to walk along. This means that it is not possible for wheel chair users, parents with prams, or parents walking with children to walk along without having to walk in the road. There are also places along this section of road where two vehicles cannot pass. When vehicles meet at these locations one vehicle has to give way to the other.

One of the principle aims of the States of Jersey Sustainable Transport Policy is to improve such road side pavements as in Rue de Haut to encourage walking as a mode of transport. This is particularly relevant on a road that is on the direct walking route to a school.

Various options to improve the pavement width have been explored by the Department. It was determined that, due to width of the road the best solution was to create a footpath of sufficient width along the whole length of this section of Rue de Haut, but to have the pavement at the same level as the road and place timber bollards at intervals along the road side edge of the pavement. This will provide a protected area for pedestrians but should two cars meet, the west bound car will be able to pull onto the pavement between the bollards. This should generally slow vehicles down and make the road less attractive to through vehicles.

A three week consultation of the proposal has been undertaken. Details of the plans were placed on the consultation portal of www.govje/consut, a letter drop was carried out in the immediate area which included residents who might be affected by the proposal. Following this consultation some minor amendments were made to the design and agreed with the residents.

The Connétable and two Deputies of St Lawrence support the proposal.

A plan of the project is attached at appendix A.

Recommendation

The Assistant Minister is recommended to approve the construction of a wider footpath in Rue de Haut with timber bollards placed at intervals to discourage vehicles from driving on the pavement area.

Reason(s) for Decision

To improve pedestrian facilities in Rue de Haut, between Kincaid Gardens and Little Grove, to encourage walking as a mode of transport, especially walking to Bel Royal School in accordance with the States of Jersey Sustainable Transport Plan.

Resource Implications

A budget of £130,000 has been allocated from that part of the Infrastructure Capital Budget set aside for improvements to the Island’s Infrastructure that encourage Sustainable Transport modes.

Action Required

Senior Engineer to arrange for the works to be carried out.

Written by:	Senior Engineer

Approved by:	Director of Transport

Endorsed by:	Director of Engineering and Infrastructure

Attachments:	Appendix A and drawings