Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

TEMPLARS WAY/CASTLE LANE, CHANDLERS FORD, TRAFFIC SIGNAL PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE FACILTIES

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2005

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2005

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2004/05

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2004

at 2004

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

77.5

77.5

Fees

22.5

22.5

100

100

Less developers/

other contributions

100

100

0

0

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme: 2004/05

-

0

(b) Other: External funding from developer contributions

m

100

100

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

100

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

3.0

0.003

Capital charges

10.5

0.009

TOTAL net expenditure

13.5

0.012

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The proposal meets the aspirations for cycle provision in this location, as published in the Cycle Strategy and Network produced by Test Valley Borough Council in July 2003, and will connect the existing, off-road cycle route on Castle Lane with cycle routes in Knightwood and beyond into Chandlers Ford and Eastleigh (as illustrated on the attached location plan). This route has been identified as part of the National Cycle Network (Route 24), providing a link between Eastleigh and Romsey.

The scheme provides controlled pedestrian and cycle crossings and utilises on-crossing detection to minimise delay for other road users. Both of these facilities help meet the County Council's objective of promoting travel choice.

The scheme emerged from the Knightwood development, and completes the cycle route on Castle Lane. The project is included in the 2004/05 Capital Programme as an externally funded scheme.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The scheme makes walking and cycling more attractive, helping to meet the County Council's objectives of promoting travel choice.

This route has been identified as part of the National Cycle Network and supports the Government's recently published Walking and Cycling Action Plan.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

It is proposed to provide pedestrian and cycle facilities within the operation of the existing traffic signals at the junction of Castle Lane with Templars Way and Raglan Close in Chandlers Ford. New Puffin pedestrian crossings would be provided across Castle Lane and the eastern side of Templars Way. New Toucan, shared pedestrian/cycle crossings would be provided across Raglan Close and the western side of Templars Way. The crossings will operate concurrently in a single, vehicle all-red stage.

The Puffin and Toucan crossings will use near side pedestrian indicators, rather than the more familiar far side signals, and will use on-crossing detection to vary the duration of the crossing period appropriately to reflect the different requirements of cyclists and elderly or infirm pedestrians. On-crossing detection makes the crossing as efficient as possible, and ensures other road users are not delayed unnecessarily.

The existing pedestrian refuge on the western side of Templars Way will be removed and replaced with a single, smaller traffic island. The pedestrian refuges on Castle Lane and the eastern side of Templars Way will be altered to provide a wider crossing between the two traffic islands. The existing, buff coloured blister tactile paving in the refuge will be removed. Puffin crossing, and Toucan crossings are designed to be crossed in a single movement, with the duration of the crossing period extended by on-crossing detection. Removing the tactile paving in the refuge will discourage pedestrians crossing in two stages.

The use of cycle routes depends not only on the construction of infrastructure, but also on behavioural change, and the relative attractiveness compared to other modes of transport. National evidence suggests that increases in cycling activity have been stronger on well designed sections of the National Cycle Network with traffic-free sections in appropriate locations, such as the off-road cycle route on Castle Lane. Providing a controlled crossing at the end of this cycle route may encourage cycle use between Eastleigh and Romsey, and reduce the likelihood of those cyclists currently using this route from abandoning it as traffic levels increase.

Environmental Impact

The proposal has negligible negative consequences for the environment as a whole but will improve the local environment for pedestrians and is likely to encourage walking, thereby reducing the noise and other intrusion caused by motorised transport.

The introduction of a controlled crossing, which will operate during a vehicle all-red period, will add further delay for other road users at this busy junction. The latest technology would be utilised to minimise this delay, but longer queues will exist as a consequence of providing pedestrian crossings facilities here.

If the crossing is activated by just a single cyclist/pedestrian at any one time, then traffic will be stopped (including leaving and starting ambers) for 19 seconds. This period may increase to 25 seconds if a pedestrian does not complete the crossing in the anticipated time, or starts to cross after the crossing period starts. With the anticipated usage, then the crossing will not operate every cycle, and the additional delay would not occur every cycle. To maximise the benefit of the crossing, it would be made to appear as quickly as possible once it has been demanded, ie at the next stage change. This will not affect traffic delay as the duration of the crossing would not alter, but it may help the credibility of the crossing.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

Following approval of this project appraisal, the sections of footway identified on Castle Lane (north side), Knightwood Road (both sides) and Raglan Close (west side) as being for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists will be converted, using powers provided under Section 65 of the Highways Act 1980.

Public Consultation

No specific public consultation has been undertaken for this scheme, which alters an existing junction with only minor civil engineering works.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Dowden, supports the proposals.

Equalities

The measures proposed in this report will improve the junction for disabled users. Red, blister tactile paving will be provided to guide visually impaired pedestrians to the crossing points. Rotating tactile cones and an audible signal will advise visually and hearing impaired pedestrians of the operation of the pedestrian crossing.

Maintenance Implications

The revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

Sustainability

The proposals will make the walking and cycling environment better, and in so doing, may result in increasing the numbers of people walking and cycling rather than using less sustainable forms of transport.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

It would be possible to leave the junction as it currently is, requiring pedestrians and cyclists to continue to cross through gaps in the traffic as they presently do. This option is not recommended as it would not meet the aspirations for cycle facilities in the area, would make no provision for pedestrians.

Another option considered providing only new Toucan crossings across Raglan Close and the western side of Templars Way to connect the cycle route, and not providing new Puffin crossings across Castle Lane and the eastern side of Templars Way. While this option would meet the aspirations for cycle provision in this location, it would provide only limited pedestrian facilities. This option would not reduce the additional delay for other road users caused by the operation of the crossing as the Toucan and Puffin crossings would appear concurrently in a vehicle all-red stage.

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

Project File

Environment Department

Monument House