HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: SOUTH HAMPSHIRE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

ITEM 3

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A27 SOUTHAMPTON ROAD/LOWER CHURCH ROAD, LOCKS HEATH - TOUCAN CROSSING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2006

COMPLETION DATE:

MAY 2006

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2005/06

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Sept 05

(at Sept 05

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

138

138

Fees

62

62

200

200

Less developers/

other contributions

200

200

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme 2005/06 (Pedestrian Crossing Programme)

200

200

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

200

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Capital charges

5.3

0.006

20.4

0.017

TOTAL net expenditure

25.7

0.023

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

The A27 Southampton Road at Locks Heath is the former south coast trunk road prior to construction of the M27. The section of road between Segensworth and Fareham, including Locks Heath, is a mixture of single two-way and dual carriageway layouts, and serves both a local and inter-urban route function.

The nature of the A27 with its layout and traffic flows through Locks Heath forms a barrier to cross route movement, between the mixed residential and business developments at Segensworth East, located on the north-east side of the road, and the predominantly residential and retail areas located south-west of the A27. Work to encourage local businesses to develop sustainable workplace travel plans has identified that this section of the A27 forms a barrier to non-motorised travel modes, principally between the business and residential areas located on either side of the road. The existing nature of the road is seen by local businesses as a barrier to the development of workplace travel plans, that seek to encourage more sustainable travel modes by staff.

Traffic flows are significant with 24,000 vehicles recorded in a 24-hour period in January 2005. The route is generally busy throughout the working day and peak hour flows are typically 1,000 vehicles per hour in each direction during both the morning (0700-0900) and evening peak (1500-1800). The route also serves as an alternative for motorway traffic when problems occur on the M27.

Despite the heavy traffic flows, pedestrians and cyclists cross the road at the location of the proposed Toucan crossing, which is at the south-eastern end of a section of dual carriageway, near the junction with Titchfield Park Road. A 12 hour PV² survey was undertaken in September 2004 which rated with a value of 1.42, substantially above the threshold for justification. The high value is in part attributable to the heavy vehicle flows, however during the survey 123 pedestrians crossed the road, along with 51 cyclists. Given the layout and flow characteristics of the road, and its close proximity to significant areas of residential and business development, it is understood that there is a significant suppressed demand.

The proposal to provide a Toucan crossing at this location, together with local connecting cycle infrastructure, aims to overcome the barrier effect of the road, and encourage increased use of sustainable transport modes such as walking and cycling between the developments located on either side of it. Provision of the crossing may also improve the quality and number of workplace travel plans entered into by local businesses.

To ensure safe operation of the Toucan crossing, the proposals include the introduction of a 40 miles per hour (mph) speed limit over a two kilometre length of the A27 route between the existing 50 mph speed limit near Segensworth roundabout and the existing 40 mph speed limit on the Fareham side of the St Margaret's Lane roundabout. This length of the route is currently derestricted, however existing 85%ile speeds range between 46 and 50 mph and, together with the associated traffic management measures, it is appropriate to set a new speed limit at 40 mph.

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

Targets and Outcomes

The proposal aims to overcome the barrier effect of the A27 Southampton Road to walking and cycling modes. Given the extent of residential and business development on either side of the road it is expected that use of these modes will increase once the Toucan crossing has been constructed. The existing PV² survey identifies that a Toucan crossing is justified with 123 pedestrians and 51 cyclists crossing the road in a 12-hour period.

One business that the County Council has been working with is The Office of National Statistics (ONS) which employs 1,500 personnel at its site on the Segensworth East Industrial Estate. Data available from a survey of ONS personnel undertaken in 2003 identified that 117 staff live within one mile, 330 within two miles and 519 within three miles of the ONS establishment. Of these approximately 70 live within one mile of the office, in the Locks Heath area, located on the other side of the road to the ONS establishment. A further 75 live within Locks Heath but up to three miles from the establishment. If 30% of those living within one mile walked to work and 20% of those living within three miles cycled to work then the existing suppressed demand for the crossing could equal 40 users, or 80 uses of the crossing each working day.

The accident record for the A27, within 500 metres either side of the proposed site of the Toucan crossing, over the three year period 1 April 2002 to 30 March 2005 showed seven personal injury accidents of slight severity. Of these one involved a cyclist crossing the road, however this was at the southern end of the search area. Two of the accidents involved loss of control and the remainder were minor junction collisions and shunts. It is expected that the combination of speed limit and traffic management measures will contain the accident record close to or below current levels.

The provision of a Toucan crossing on the A27 will aid pedestrian and cycle movements across the A27 Southampton Road. The provision of the crossing will have a minor effect on traffic flows, given the need for traffic to stop at a red signal. Although traffic flows are high the crossing will operate independently on each carriageway, thus reducing the time required for pedestrians to cross the road, and the duration of the red signal. The crossing will operate on a 25 second maximum wait time for pedestrians at both stages of the crossing, but this will be reduced if there are gaps in traffic flows. The number of interruptions will depend on the number of, and intervals between, pedestrians arriving at the crossing. Given the nature of the traffic and pedestrian flows it is expected that pedestrians will cross in groups. Estimates of the potential delay to traffic flows, based on current peak pedestrian and cycle crossing activity, suggest that queues of approximately six vehicles may develop. When the estimated suppressed demand is taken into consideration then the number of interruptions to traffic flow may increase marginally, but it is expected that the increase in pedestrian and cycle flows will be accommodated by larger groups of pedestrians and cyclists crossing together.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

The proposals are consistent with current policies by helping to overcome the severance effect of the route on cross route movements, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. Provision of the facility will therefore help to improve accessibility for these user groups between existing areas of residential, retail and business developments.

County Council officers are currently working with local businesses, through a group known as The Segensworth Business Forum, in the development of area-wide workplace travel plans, with a particular emphasis on improved pedestrian, cycle and public transport access. Provision of the Toucan crossing will contribute to this process, and by improving accessibility for these user groups it is expected that local employers will be able to encourage more use of these sustainable transport modes through their workplace travel plans.

The proposal is consistent with the Fareham Borough Council Cycling Strategy for the Locks Heath area, which aims to improve cycling provision along this section of the A27 Southampton Road.

The proposal will also improve accessibility for local schoolchildren who live in the Segensworth and Titchfield Park areas located on the north-east side of the A27, who attend schools in the Locks Heath area. Although the A27 Southampton Road is not specifically mentioned in the School Travel Plans of local schools who have completed them, it is mentioned in general terms as a barrier to movement and a factor in helping parents to decide to drive their children to school.

3.5

3.6

3.7

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The proposals include:

(i) installing a traffic signal controlled staggered Toucan crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, located on the A27 Southampton Road immediately north-west of the junction with Titchfield Park Road;

(ii) providing a short section of off road two-way shared use cycle route across the highway verge to Titchfield Park Road on the north-east side of the A27;

(iii) widening and converting the existing footway on the south-west side of the A27 between the proposed crossing and Lower Church Road to form an off-road two-way shared use cycle facility to access existing links to the residential area of Locks Heath;

(iv) formalising the existing pedestrian route between the A27 Southampton Road and Primate Road, which is currently used by both cyclists and pedestrians, including the improvement of the existing crossing point on Primate Road by the addition of coloured surfacing, traffic signing and bollards;

(v) providing local on- and off-road cycle facilities to form a connection for cyclists along Lower Church Road to Primate Road;

(vi) modifying the existing road marking layout on the A27 Southampton Road approaches to the proposed Toucan crossing, including the reduction of a 450 metre length of two lane carriageway on the south-east bound approach to the crossing to one lane, to achieve forward visibility standards to the traffic signals, to aid access and egress from adjacent property frontages, and to help contain vehicle speeds;

(vii) providing traffic management measures to support the lowering of the speed limit, including traffic islands to deter overtaking, improved traffic signing and gateway treatments; and

(viii) extending the existing 50 mph speed limit at Segensworth roundabout along the A27 towards Fareham by approximately 250 metres, and implementation of a new 40 mph speed limit from that point for approximately two kilometres, to the existing 40 mph speed limit located on the Fareham side of the A27/St Margaret's Lane roundabout.

The scheme has been designed in accordance with Department for Transport and County Council Design Standards, and has been subjected to a detailed design stage safety audit.

A location plan is attached and detailed drawings will be displayed at the meeting.

3.8

Environmental Impact

An environmental impact study has not been undertaken as there is no direct environmental impact from the proposal as it is to be constructed on areas of existing public highway.

3.9

Land Requirements

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

3.10

3.11

3.12

Statutory Procedures

Formal advertising of the statutory notices for the intention to implement Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for the new 40 and 50 mph speed limits, by the posting of site notices and advertising in the local papers, was undertaken on 18 August 2005 for a period of 28 days. No formal objections were received, however Fareham Borough Council did raise concerns about the potential that the measures proposed to reduce vehicle speeds may reduce the traffic capacity of the road.

Public notices informing the public of the intention to install the Toucan crossing were displayed at the site and posted to nearby residents on 16 August 2005 for a period of 21 days. No formal objections were received.

It is intended that approval of this project appraisal will enable cyclists to use the newly constructed and modified existing footways as shared use cycle facilities, under Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980. If this project appraisal is approved then advertising of the intention to make the TROs will be undertaken prior to completion of the works.

3.13

3.14

Public Consultation

No formal public consultation exercise has been undertaken other than through the provision of the public notices, supported by plans displayed in the foyer of the offices of Fareham Borough Council.

Stakeholder consultation, including Fareham Borough Council, Hampshire Police, Hampshire Cycling and The Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind, has been undertaken and no objections have been raised.

3.15

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Hockley, supports this proposal.

3.16

Impact Assessments

This scheme is intended to improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists across the busy A27. Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of this scheme, which is not expected to compromise equalities in terms of race and gender but to improve accessibility for all.

3.17

3.18

Maintenance Implications

The maintenance implications of this proposal have been considered to enable the revenue implications to be taken into account in the setting of the County Council's highway maintenance budget. The traffic signals equipment is anticipated to operate satisfactorily for between 10 and 15 years, after this time it will need to be replaced. The anti-skid surfacing may need to be renewed at more regular intervals to ensure adequate performance.

If the maintenance costs of new ITS installations and equipment are not taken into account at the setting of the annual base budget, and the budget does not match the rate of growth of equipment, then there will be an increasing pressure to reduce maintenance standards and on the ability to replace ageing and obsolescent equipment.

3.19

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

3.20

Sustainability

The scheme aims to improve accessibility for sustainable transport modes, such as walking and cycling, and accordingly provision of this facility will encourage these sustainable transport modes.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

Other locations along the A27 Southampton Road between Segensworth roundabout and Titchfield have been investigated for a controlled crossing, however other locations either do not have sufficient existing use by pedestrians or cyclists or are unsuitable for traffic signal control. Pedestrian bridges have also been considered but these are prohibitively expensive and often not used by the general public, and accordingly have been rejected in favour of the current proposal.

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

Scheme File

Scheme File

Environment Department

Transport Implementation Room 415

Engineering Consultancy Room 311