Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

15 April 2002

Project Appraisal: Ashley Road/Spencer Road, New Milton - Traffic Signals

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

ASHLEY ROAD/SPENCER ROAD, NEW MILTON - TRAFFIC SIGNALS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

MAY 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

AUGUST 2002

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Sep 01

(at Sep 01

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

0

0

Construction

75

75

Fees

24

24

99

99

Less developers/

other contributions

99

99

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

99

(b) Other

TOTAL

99

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

99

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

2.50

0.003

Capital charges

15.84

0.017

TOTAL net expenditure

18.34

0.020

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The County Council intends to improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users with the aim of providing more travel choice. The Hampshire Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 clarifies this objective and sets it within a balanced strategy for improving the county's transport systems. The need to provide safe and convenient walking routes is particularly important in urban situations where a range of local facilities can be easily reached on foot. In addition, where pedestrian improvements are needed to help children and parents to walk to school, additional priority is afforded to them. The proposed new traffic signals at the junction of Ashley Road/ Spencer Road include controlled pedestrian crossings and will provide safe crossing points (see attached location plan). The proposals were identified in the New Milton Town Centre Traffic Study published in July 1994. The introduction of traffic signals will reduce the number of conflict points on east-west routes, in particular the Ashley Road/Old Milton Road corridor, which are heavily used by cyclists and pedestrians and connect schools, leisure, employment and residential areas.

The measures proposed are included in the Capital Programme for the Coastal Towns Transport Strategy (CTTS) area. The programme, including this scheme, was agreed by the New Forest Transportation Strategy Members' Panel, which also deals with the coastal towns area, on 15 February 2001.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The proposals are consistent with the Hampshire Local Transport Plan objectives and the County Council's transportation strategy. They will provide greater travel choice and improved safety by removing a current barrier for pedestrians. The County Council aims to encourage modal shift from private car to other, more sustainable forms of transport, especially for short journeys and for school trips. The scheme will help to achieve this.

Details of scheme and design standards

New traffic signals will be installed at the junction of Ashley Road with Spencer Road to improve access to and from Spencer Road and to provide pedestrian facilities at the junction. Advisory cycle lanes will be provided on Ashley Road eastbound and westbound. A yellow box junction will be provided on Ashley Road, on the westbound exit from the junction, to help reduce blocking through the junction caused by queues from the adjacent, existing traffic signal junction at Ashley Road/Station Road.

Nearside pedestrian signals incorporated into the wait indicators will be used in place of the more common pedestrian signals that are located on the far side at other similar crossings. Providing nearside signals enables the use of pedestrian presence detection to cancel a demand for the crossing stage should a pedestrian choose not to wait to cross the road. On-crossing pedestrian detection will extend the vehicle all-red period while pedestrians are in the carriageway.

Environmental impact

The installation of new traffic signal poles and the control cabinet will add to the amount of street furniture in the vicinity of the junctions. Traffic signals consume electricity, and the light emitted from the lanterns may be considered a nuisance during the night in residential locations like Ashley Road/Spencer Road. The operation of the audible pedestrian signal may also be a source of annoyance for residents. The signals will be configured to dim overnight and the audible signal inhibited to reduce this impact.

The junction is already busy, and the installation of traffic signals is not expected to significantly increase traffic noise or car-generated air pollution. Some additional queueing may occur outside of the peak periods.

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Accommodation works are also required to relocate the access to the dental surgery on Spencer Road at the junction of Spencer Road with Ashley Road. The current access would be ahead of the stop line, and vehicles using the surgery would overrun the pedestrian marshalling area for the crossing. The owners of the dental surgery have indicated that they have no objection to this action.

Statutory procedures

There are no statutory requirements.

Public consultation

New Forest District Council, New Milton Town Council and local interest groups have been consulted over the design of the new traffic signal junctions, and their comments have been considered. The design has been amended to take account of specific concerns and no objections have been received regarding the proposal.

Facilities for the disabled

The proposed traffic signal junction will include controlled pedestrian crossing facilities with an audible crossing signal. Tactile paving will be provided at the crossing points, with flush kerbs for wheelchair users.

Maintenance implications

Traffic signal equipment is costly to repair and has a limited operational life. Installations require periodic preventative maintenance, and need to be fully refurbished every 15 years. In addition they consume electricity and require connection to an appropriate telecommunication system, incurring call charges and rental. The annual average cost of maintaining and operating traffic signal installations is £2,500.

It is proposed to provide skid-resistant surfacing on all approaches to the new traffic signals. This material is expensive to repair at £0.76 per square metre, and will need to be replaced on average once every 10 years.

Local Members' Views

The local Members, Councillors Rice and Mrs Banks, support the proposal.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The proposal has no impact on this Act.

Sustainability

The pedestrian and cycle facilities support sustainable modes of transport.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No alternative schemes have been considered.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

SIG/1305

County Surveyor's Department

ITS Group, Monument House