Richmond Hill proposed 40 km/h speed limit

This project involves a proposal to reduce the 50 km/h speed limit in Richmond Hill to 40 km/h

Decision has been made

That the Council:

1.  Approve that pursuant to Part 4 of the Christchurch City Council Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2017, speed limits be revoked and set as listed below in clauses 1.a to 1.b and include the resulting  changes in the Christchurch City Register of Speed Limits & Speed Limit Maps:

a) Revoke the 50 kilometres per hour speed limit of Richmond Hill Road, Sanscrit Place, Teviotdale Way, Sowerby Place, Ridgeway Place and Oxenhope Road.Approve that the speed limit of: Richmond

b) Hill Road, Sanscrit Place, Teviotdale Way, Sowerby Place, Ridgeway Place and Oxenhope Road be set to 40 kilometres per hour.

2.  Approve that the speed limit changes listed above in clauses 1a and 1b come into force following date of council approval and installation of the revised speed limit signs. (approximately June 2018).

3.  Request that staff investigate the pedestrian safety concerns on Richmond Hill Road outlined in the submissions and report to the board with potential solutions by the end of 2018.

Consultation has now closed

Consultation on the the proposed 40 km/h speed zone in Richmond Hill has now closed. People were able to provide feedback from 26 February to 26 March 2018.

During this time we heard from 68 individuals and groups.  Consultation feedback is now available.

The staff report(external link) was presented to the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board at their meeting on 28 May 2018, the staff recommendation was approved.  The final decision will be made at the 5 July Council meeting, anyone is able to view this meeting online via live streaming(external link).

Why?

Richmond Hill

We have received requests from the local community in relation to safety concerns in Richmond Hill. The existing carriageway in this area is generally narrow, with minimal footpaths and cars are often parked on the side of the road. Drivers generally drive to these conditions.  The existing 50km/h is the default urban speed limit and does not reflect the nature of this road.

To allow drivers to navigate safely in the area and in order to be sympathetic to pedestrians walking on the road, we are proposing to reduce the speed limit from 50km/h to 40 km/h. This new limit is more appropriate for a hill suburb and corresponds with the NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) recommendations for speed limits in the area.

Other works

There will also be a separate assessment of the hairpin corners in Richmond Hill.   Bend warning signage, combined with advisory speed limits will be installed where appropriate.  We expect the bend advisory speed limits to be 15 km/h or 25 km/h.

Footpaths

Example of portion of the road with a footpath on one side

Due to the lack of space and funding this proposal excludes new footpaths.

Changing speed limits

The new Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2017 (effective from March 2018) allows the Council to set and change speed limits on roads within Christchurch in accordance with the Land Transport Rule Setting of Speed Limits 2017.

Where?

Richmond Hill is a hillside suburb above Sumner in Christchurch.  Please refer to the plans for the roads that are included in this proposed 40 km/h speed limit.  The area starts at the bottom of Richmond Hill Road, where it meets Nayland Street up to the summit.

What happens next?

Once the consultation period has closed, the project team will analyse the feedback and produce a staff report which will go to the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board for a recommendation to Council who will then make the final decision.

Hairpin bend in Richmond Hill

At this stage we are anticipating that a recommendation will be made by the Community Board at their April 2018 meeting.  With the final decision being made at the following Council meeting in May 2018.  If the proposal is approved the change is expected to take place from June 2018.

All submitters will receive written updates on the project, including details of the staff recommendations and meetings, and how to request to speak at the meeting if they wish to do so.

Timeline

• Monday 26 March 2018 consultation closes 
• April 2018 submitters notified of consultation outcome
• April 2018 Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board recommendation meeting
• May 2018 Council decision meeting expected
• June 2018 new speed limit anticipated to be in place from this date (when the appropriate signage and road marking is installed).  Subject to Council approval.

You can view the consultation leaflet which was distributed to residents in Richmond Hill and other key stakeholders on Monday 26 February 2018.