Council Action In 2002, Council engages Sinclair Knight
Mertz to conduct a Road Safety Audit and an Accident Investigation & Prevention Report, both of which were submitted to Council in January 2003
The Audit highlighted issues such as possible loss of vehicle traction at certain locations, sight distance problems, line marking, guard-fences, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety and street lighting.
Petition from Residents
24 January 2003 - A petition lodged with Council from local residents initiated further investigations into the safety issues on the River Road West, Penrose Street and Bridge Street route
There were a total of 540
signatures from 107 households
Petition from Residents The signatories had agreed that the
problems were as follows:
The roads are not designed to cope with the volume and type of vehicles that use them
The speeds that vehicles travel along the route are a danger to pedestrians and other motorists
Motor vehicle crashes are common along the route, due to the excessive speeds, not only putting others at risk, but damaging property
Petition from Residents
The solutions agreed to by the signatories were to: Reduce the speed limit Reduce the route from two lanes to one in each
direction Increase safety of pedestrians through road
design and improved crossings Construct bus bays at all bus stops along the
route Improve road signage Create dedicated right hand turn lanes into
selected streets Prohibit heavy vehicles
Results The petition went to Council on 3 February
2003. Council resolved for the issue to be referred to the Lane Cove Traffic Committee for consideration
Council, through the Traffic Committee Liaised with the RTA over the need for
additional traffic management measures Ordered remediation work for pavement
markers and line markings Requested the matter to be referred to the
Central Ward Traffic Management Working Party (CWTMWP) for further investigation
Requested the Police to conduct speed surveillance/radar checks
Results
The Council’s Services & Resources Committee, on 22 April 2003, resolved to request the RTA for the speed limit to be reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h
Council Meeting of 2 June 2003 requested further police patrols along route
February 2003 – February 2004 development of road safety plan in conjunction with CWTMWP
Results
Council at its Ordinary Meeting of 16 Feb 2004 resolved that: Urban Services division liaise with the RTA with
respect to the road safety proposal developed for the route by the CWTMWP
Subject to the concurrence of the RTA, Council seek input from the local Central Ward community and others with respect to the proposal developed, in accordance with Council’s works notification policy for matters of a regional nature
Results
RTA requested traffic counts and traffic modelling to be undertaken – Council undertook the necessary studies and provided the results to the RTA
RTA’s response was to agree to one traffic lane Westbound but to maintain two lanes Eastbound along the route
December 2004 – Council resolved to place the road safety plan on public exhibition
Recent History (2007-2008)Date Action
June 2008: Taylor Thomson Whitting (TTW) prepare preliminary designs of intersection schemes
July 2008: Community Public Exhibition commences.
60 out of 82 respondents fully support scheme; 13 partially support; 9 object.
October 2008: Report to Council recommending implementation of scheme.
Council resolved to approve the scheme in principle (Minute 349 October 2008)
October 2008: RMS give approval in principle of schemes on the condition that RMS comments are incorporated in schemes
Recent History (2009-2010)Date Action
January 2009: TTW revised designs to incorporate RMS comments where practicable
January – October 2009:
Design negotiations between Council and RMS
October 2009: RMS commission independent Road Safety Audit of Best Street / Penrose Street proposal
Audit identifies hazards associated with proposed right-turn bay arrangement for intersection.
March 2010: RMS advises that funding from them of the River Road West Safety Scheme cannot be supported
June – July 2010:
Council commissions further revisions to designs to gain RMS-approval
Recent History (2011-2014)Date Action
August 2011: Mayor Gaffney requests support of scheme from the Hon Anthony Roberts MP
February 2014: Council proposes to install, and fully fund, intersection schemes that RMS supported.
Schemes are approved by the Local Traffic Committee.
May 2014: Pedestrian refuge installed on River Road West, opposite Tennyson Park
May 2014: Council consults local community on proposed Penrose Street / Best Street roundabout design scheme
Recent Accident History 2007-2012
65 accidents in 5 year period on River Road West between Austin Street and Burns Bay Road
Concept Plans Developed to Date Cope St / Penrose St – left-in, left out treatment
at Cope St North and No Right Turn from Cope St South (approved by Traffic Committee, subject to consultation)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Wangalla Road/Morrice Street – No Right Turn from Wangalla Road and left-in, left-out at Morrice Street (approved by Traffic Committee)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Barina Road – left-in, left-out at Barina Road + Chevron Painted Median Strip (approved by Traffic Committee)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Penrose Street – additional left-turn bay (concept plan not yet approved)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Bridge Street - deceleration lane and parking lane (concept plan not yet approved)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
College Road North – pedestrian refuge (concept plan not yet approved)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Bridge Street - parking lane and raised threshold (concept plan not yet approved)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Warraroon Road – “seagull” treatment to provide right turn in and out (concept plan not yet approved)
Concept Plans Developed to Date
Austin Street – left-in, left-out treatment (concept plan not yet approved)