We are seeking feedback on changes to parts of Main Road, Beachville Road, Celia Street and McCormacks Bay Road in Redcliffs . These changes will make it safer and easier for parents and children to access the new Redcliffs School.
Project status: Decision made
Open for feedback: 19 November 2018 to 17 December 2018
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Consultation has now closed
Consultation on the the Redcliffs Transport Project has now closed. People were able to provide feedback from 19 November 2018 to 17 December 2018.
During this time we heard from 48 individuals and groups. There were 27 in support, 17 who were not in support and 4 submitters who only made comments.
Consultation feedback is now available [PDF, 73 KB] as well as the amended transport plan [PDF, 2.2 MB] which will be included in the staff report for this project.
On 4 February 2019 the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board(external link) decided to approve the Redcliffs Transport Plan and requested staff to engage with the community on the potential for 30kph speed restrictions on Beachville Road and Celia Street.
The Community Board also recommended at this meeting that Council approve a new variable speed limit of 40km/h (school zone) as per the transport plan. However they also requested that Council advocate to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for 30kph school speed zones in line with other slow speed zones in the city. This recommendation is due to be presented to Council for a decision on 14 March 2019.
Purpose of this project
We are proposing changes to parts of Main Road, Beachville Road, Celia Street and McCormacks Bay Road in Redcliffs . We are working closely with the Ministry of Education with the aim of making it safer and easier for parents and children to access the new Redcliffs School, which is due to open in January 2020.
As part of preparing for the location of the new school we have had to consider:
- How and where children can cross Main Road safely.
- The safest locations for pick up and drop offs.
- How to make sure that drivers and crossing children can see each other.
- The best way to manage vehicle speeds.
What is included on the plan?
The plan includes these changes:
- Main Road and Beachville Road intersection - removal of the right turn into Beachville Road from Main Road. Road users will still be able to turn right out of Beachville Road onto Main Road.
- Installation of a new school speed zone with a 40 km/h speed limit - starting near the end of the causeway and covering a portion of Beachville Road, Celia Street, Main Road and a small section of McCormacks Bay Road.
- Main Road - removal of the zebra crossing opposite 45 Main Road and replacement with a pedestrian refuge.
- Main Road - installation of a new school patrol zebra crossing opposite 25 Main Road, with a street lighting upgrade.
- Main Road (near Beachville Road) - repair of the safety barrier on the Beachville Road side and extension of the pedestrian island.
- Main Road - removal of the bus stop bay opposite 5 Main Road and kerb realignment to remove the indentation.
- Beachville Road and Celia Street intersection - installation of a new pedestrian refuge.
- Beachville Road and Celia Street intersection - installation of a new footpath and street lighting upgrade from 53A Celia Street up to Beachville Road (where there is a small gap in the footpath network).
Changes to the Main Road and Beachville Road intersection
In order to improve safety and to avoid congestion at this intersection, the plan includes the removal of the right turn lane from Main Road into Beachville Road.
Safety barrier on Main Road (near Beachville Road) to be repaired and entrance widened
Pedestrian crossing on Main Road (near Beachville Road) to be extended to fit more people
This will then prevent those turning right from Main Road into Beachville Road, from blocking vehicles wanting to travel straight ahead towards the causeway, and then congesting the road. This congested traffic could then also be an issue for pedestrian visibility when waiting to cross Main Road at the pedestrian refuge island. However, road users will still be able to turn right out of Beachville Road onto Main Road towards the causeway, as this movement will not create a safety issue.
We are aware that turning right out of Beachville Road onto Main Road can be challenging. So safety designed drop off opportunities on Main Road and the continued availability of the existing car park at the old school site have been provided. This way parents won't have to undertake the right turn out of Beachville Road. The school crossing on Main Road should also help by creating gaps in the traffic on Main Road.
The pedestrian island near this intersection on Main Road will also be extended to create space for more pedestrians to wait safely before they continue to cross the road.
Plan includes no right turn into Beachville Road from Main Road
Changes to the pedestrian crossing on Main Road
With the new school coming, changes are needed on Main Road to make sure that children and their families can cross safely. A new zebra crossing (opposite 25 Main Road), operating with a school patrol (much like how Redcliffs School operated in the past) will be relocated, but closer to the school gate.
As there isn’t room to locate the crossing directly outside the school gate, we have instead located it as close as possible, and have also ensured that the location of the crossing suits all users.
Space has been left to the east of the proposed crossing for parents to drop off their children, and there is the opportunity to use the ‘old’ Redcliffs School car park, for parents to park and walk their children in. There is also plenty of parking available on Beachville Road, outside the school frontage. We’ve also listened to the Community concerns about on street parking, and the current proposal will ensure that there is no loss of on street parking.
Removal of the bus stop opposite 5 Main Road
The existing indented bus stop at this location requires removal for safety reasons. There is concern that parents will pull in here to drop off their children and then children would also cross from here, which could be dangerous. The kerb will instead be realigned and the indented bus space removed and no stopping lines will be re-marked along here instead.
The next closest bus stop would then be 225m east (towards Redcliffs Village) of this one, which is approximately a 2-3 minute walk away.
Crossing on Main Road to be removed
Changes to the Beachville Road and Celia Street Intersection
For safety reasons, we are looking at squaring up the current layout and including an improved crossing facility.
A new footpath along Celia Street will be built, where there is currently a section missing (along the new school frontage). These changes will make it easier and safer for children to cross the road and walk into the School. Parking will still be available alongside the new footpath, as there is enough space available to continue to fit the 90 degree parking along here.
The street lighting along this section will also be reviewed and upgraded as necessary.
Celia Street where the new footpath will be installed and parking will remain
Installation of a new school speed zone
A new school speed zone has been included in this plan. This zone includes a 40km/h speed restriction on school days. This zone starts near the end of the causeway and covers a portion of Beachville Road, Celia Street and a small section of McCormacks Bay Road.
Example of a school speed zone
Talk to the team
If you've got any questions or want to know more about this project, you are welcome to come along to a drop in session.
Tuesday 27 November 2018,
4 pm to 6 pm (drop in at any time),
Redcliffs Mt Pleasant Bowling Club,
9 James Street, Redcliffs.
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 approval.
At this stage we are expecting that the decision by the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board will be made in February 2019.
All submitters will receive written updates on the project, including details of the staff recommendations and decision meeting and how to request to speak at the Board meeting if they wish to do so.
Construction works relating to signage, pedestrian crossing works and street lighting upgrades are expected to commence in April 2019 and take approximately three months. This is subject to weather conditions and contractor availability.
Timeline:
19 November 2018 - consultation opened
27 November 2018 - drop in session at Redcliffs Mt Pleasant Bowling Club
17 December 2018 - consultation closes
February 2019 - decision meeting
April 2019 - project start date (subject to approval)