Beyond the low hanging fruit !

Chris Oakley

www.crowddynamics.com

Wide Spectrum of streets and junctions

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Whats the problem ?

• Many streets will remain heavily trafficked

• Can these be enhanced to

- Reduce emissions

- Improve priority for pedestrians, cycles and buses

- Improve safety

- Improve their attractiveness/vitality

• Whilst maintaining traffic capacity

Evolution of design process

• Shared Space - lightly trafficked streets

- moderately trafficked streets

- Schwarzenburgstrasse Berne

- Ashford

- Poynton Phase 1

Evolution of design process

Poynton Phase 2 –

Shared Space Heavily trafficked

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Poynton Phase 2 –

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Evolution of design proces

Alternatives to Traffic Signals

- Switch Off

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Traffic Signal Switch Off

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Analysis – Fountains Place Junction

Traffic Signal Switch off – Queue lengths

Traffic Signal Switch Off- Analysis

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UAF Simulation

Example junction5 : Ruthin road/ Bradley Road

Wrexham

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Alternative junction configurations

Comparison of alternatives

• Pedestrian Amenity

• Pedestrian Delay

• Traffic Delay and junction Capacity

• Emissions

• Impact on bus operations

• Impact on Cyclists

• Safety.

• Cost

Alternative junction configurations

•Option 1 - Traffic signals with pedestrian stage

•Option 2 - Mini Roundabout with puffin crossings on all arms

•Option 3 - Traffic signals with pedestrian stage + scatter crossings

•Option 4 – Mini Roundabout with zebra crossings on all arms (a) At 5m distance from roundabout(b) At 10m (c) At 20m

•Option 5 – Shared Space concept

Alternative junction configurations

Roundabout with zebras 5m back from stop lines Roundabout with zebras /puffins 20m back from

stop lines

Signals option with conventional

pedestrian crossings

Shared space

Signals option with no

pedestrian crossings

Signals option with ‘all ways’

pedestrian crossings

Alternative junction configurations

Comparison of alternatives- Quantification

• Pedestrian Amenity

• Pedestrian Delay

• Traffic Delay and junction Capacity

• Emissions

• Impact on bus operations

• Impact on Cyclists

• Safety.

• Cost

Pedestrian and traffic simulation

UAF

Pedestrian/Traffic Interaction at Junction

19 UAF

Alternative junction configurations

Pedestrian Travel time Analysis

Alternative junction configurations

Emissions Analysis

Comparison of Options

Amenity Delay Overall

Option 4 Option 5Option 4/5

Option 5 Option 4Existing

Option 3 Option2 Option 2

Option 1 Option 3Option 1 Existing

ExistingOption 2 Option 1/3

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Ranking of Options in terms of Pedestrian priority

Overall

Existing

Option 4

Option 2

Option 5

Option 1

Option 3

Ranking of Options in terms of Traffic Efficiency

Comparison of options - Safety

Site Review

Pedestrian

Research

& Statistics

Overall

Traffic signals

Traffic SignalsMini Roundabout with

puffinsTraffic Signals

Mini Roundabout with zebras

Signals with scatter crossings

Mini roundabout with zebra or puffins

Mini Roundabout with zebras

Signals with scatter crossings

Traffic Signals with Scatter crossings

Existing Existing Existing

Mini Roundabout with Puffins

Shared Space Shared Space

Option 5

Ranking of options in terms of safety

Ruthin Road – Bradley Road

Recent Junction Improvement

� Photios

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Alternative Junction Configurations-

Initial findings

• Shared Space – Heavily trafficked

– Await opening at Poynton with considerable interest

Alternative Junction Configurations-

Initial findings

• Shared Space - Heavily trafficked

- Await opening with considerable interest

• Traffic signal switch offs

- Can significantly reduce delay.

- Issue of pedestrian amenity , but not delay

Alternative Junction Configurations-

Initial findings

• Shared Space - Heavily trafficked

- Await opening with considerable interest

• Traffic signal switch offs

- Can significantly reduce delay.

- Issue of pedestrian amenity , but not delay

• Alternatives to signals –

-Typically more efficient in terms of traffic movement

-Reduce emissions.

-Pedestrian delay typically reduced.

-Safety ?

Conclusions

• Innovative and efficient design solutions are deliverable

•Doesn’t have to be shared space, Cheaper more conventional solutions

possible.

• Emissions can be reduced

• Comparative analysis of wide range options now possible

• Modelling has vital role in refining/optimising schemes

• Need further study and demonstration projects

Finally

• Reappraise our approach to street and junction design

• Never a perfect design

• Always requires compromise from the different users of the street