Archived decisions

Decision Maker:

Executive Member - Environment

Date of Decision:

28 July 2009

Decision Title:

Project Appraisal: A326 Twiggs Lane, Marchwood - Pedestrian Crossing

Decision Reference:

818

Report From:

Director of Environment

Contact name:

Barry Armstrong

Tel:

023 8042 7600

Email:

[email protected]

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A326 TWIGGS LANE, MARCHWOOD - PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

DECEMBER 2009

COMPLETION DATE:

FEBRUARY 2010

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2009/10

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2009

(at 2009

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

479

479

Fees

50

50

529

529

Less developers/

79

79

other contributions

450

450

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Capital Programme

(a) Capital programme (as above)

450

(b) Other

2.

From other resources

(a) External Funding

79

TOTAL

529

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

4.1

0.004

Capital charges

21.2

0.016

TOTAL net expenditure

25.3

0.020

2.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2.1

The purpose of this project appraisal is to increase public safety and access for local residents living in the areas to the north-west and south-east of the A326 junctions with Twiggs Lane and Staplewood Lane, Marchwood by providing a controlled pedestrian crossing. It will also respond to the two Personal Injury Accidents that have occurred involving pedestrians.

3.

3.1

Contextual Information

The A326 is a very busy road connecting the Waterside with other main routes. Safety issues have recently identified the need for improvements at the Twiggs Lane junction and this report makes the following proposal.

4.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

4.10

4.11

4.12

4.13

The A326 is a very busy commuter route with an average am peak hour flow of 3,123 vehicles per hour and a pm peak hour flow of 2,764 vehicles. The speed limit along this section of the A326 and the Twiggs Lane junction was until recently 60 miles per hour (mph), making crossing the road difficult. New temporary speed limits of 50 and 40 mph sections were introduced in March 2009 whilst the necessary emergency safety improvements are being introduced on this road.

Meetings organised by MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) at Marchwood in November 2008 set out concerns about road safety in the vicinity of Twiggs Lane. Regular monitoring of the route led to investigations and feasibility work to identify what improvements could be introduced to improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians on this busy section of road.

A package of safety measures was identified, some of which were urgently introduced in March 2009 including new signs and lines, coloured road surfaces and temporary speed limits of 40 mph and 50 mph respectively and the closure of informal lay-bys. A programme to introduce further safety improvements within this financial year has been identified which includes the proposed works in this paper.

The A326 runs from north to south and is the main arterial road serving the residential and business areas of the Waterside with links to Southampton and junction 2 of the M27/M3 motorway and beyond. Large volumes of traffic form a major barrier to pedestrian movement between the areas to the north-east and south-west of the A326 junction with Twiggs Lane, Marchwood. As a result of the severance caused, local residents have difficulty accessing local schools and facilities; this proposed crossing and street lighting is a feature prioritised as one of the urgent safety measures recently identified.

Marchwood village lies in close proximity to the proposed crossing site. The village attracts a good deal of activity supporting a parade of shops, including a post office and a number of other retail establishments, local businesses and a church, all of which are close to Marchwood Church of England Infant School which is adjacent to the northern side of A326 at its junction with Twiggs Lane.

Parents with children cross the road to travel between the residential areas to the south of the school. The large volume of pedestrians generated by the school currently conflicts with traffic, creating safety issues, particularly when crossing the road between the school and homes to the south-west of the A326. Marchwood Infant School accommodates 209 pupils within an age range of four to seven years, has completed a School Travel Plan to level 3 and actively seeks to encourage walking to school. The school, along with Marchwood Parish Council, has identified crossing the A326 as an issue for parents and children.

The proposed crossing will also improve the ease and safety of pedestrian movements across the village. The area to the south-west of the A326 is primarily residential with a relatively limited range of services and amenities; the proposed crossing would improve accessibility from this area to the industrial and business parks nearby to the north-east as well as to the village centre and its amenities.

The scheme proposal will make provision of indirect traffic management benefits due to the existing problems at the junction of the A326 and Twiggs Lane (which lies close to the proposed crossing point). Currently northbound traffic turning right from the A326 onto Twiggs Lane north has to wait to cross the stream of oncoming traffic, which obstructs traffic turning left out of Twiggs Lane north onto the A326 creating a hazard for pedestrians and other traffic. Similarly, traffic turning right out of Twiggs Lane south onto the A326 southbound stream has to cross the northbound traffic. Due to the volumes of traffic these are all difficult manoeuvres and can lead to long queues forming on both sides of Twiggs Lane. The pedestrian activated red phases on the proposed crossing will create breaks in the traffic on the A326 at the Twiggs Lane junction and improve right turns both in and out of Twiggs Lane, thereby reducing this problem and improving road safety.

The new proposed street lighting will commence 60 metres north of the Staplewood Lane/A326 junction to 60 metres south of the Twiggs Lane/A326 junction. The new lighting will improve night- time driving safety on this busy main road through this particular dark section. The introduction of a controlled crossing requires street lighting to be installed. As both the Twiggs Lane and Staplewood Lane junctions have been identified as areas of the road that could be improved by the provision of street lighting, this proposal sets out to provide a continuous section of lighting between these two junction on the A326 as they are relatively close together.

Targets and Outcomes

The scheme will help realise the following LTP2 objectives:

(i) to increase accessibility to services

(ii) to promote safety

(iii) to widen travel choice.

The scheme will help realise the following LTP2 targets:

Road Casualties:

(i) Total killed and seriously injured BVPII99

(ii) Total child killed and seriously injured BVPII99

(iii) Total slight casualties BVPI

(iv) LTP1 Accessibility: Percentage of people who consider accessibility is good.

The numerical criteria PV² has been established to assess the need for a formal crossing, and is calculated using the number of pedestrians per hour (P) and the number of vehicles per hour (V). It is County Council policy to introduce controlled pedestrian crossings where the PV² result exceeds 1.0, where funding is available and a crossing can safely be installed; furthermore PV² results over 0.5 will be considered for a crossing where there is additional justification such as presence of schools nearby. In this case the PV² value of the proposed crossing point is 0.85 and is considered a justified case.

Pedestrian flows will be monitored following the proposed implementation of the crossing facility and compared with current data held to measure any differences in pedestrian movements as a result of provision. The number of pedestrians using the facility will be taken as an indicator of the success of the scheme.

5.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

5.1

5.2

The proposed signalised crossing will contribute to the following objectives of the Local Transport Plan:

(i) increase accessibility;

(ii) promote safety;

(iii) smarter choices and travel planning; and

(iv) support the wider quality of life objectives.

Increase pedestrian accessibility for the residents residing in the areas to the north and south of the A326/Twiggs Lane junction, Marchwood. Encourage parents, children and the wider community to walk to and from schools, shops and local facilities and improve the quality of life for local residents.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

5.3

5.4

5.5

The scheme will consist of a Pedestrian User-friendly Intelligent crossing (Puffin) located close to the A326/Twiggs Lane junction and street lighting on the A326 from the junction with Staplewood Lane and Twiggs Lane.

A Puffin uses pedestrian detectors both for the crossing zone and for the waiting area on the footway. Signals are controlled by pedestrians pressing a button. On receiving a pedestrian demand from a push-button the controller also checks the output of the kerbside presence detector. If pedestrian presence is detected, the pedestrian stage is requested and the 'call confirmation' light illuminated. In the absence of a pedestrian pushing a button, vehicles will normally be shown a green signal.

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

Environmental Impact

5.6

5.7

5.8

5.9

The proposed scheme will greatly improve the accessibility, safety and security for pedestrians and motorists.

A desk-based study has been undertaken to identify the key environmental issues likely to require additional assessment, mitigation or consideration within the development of the design, construction and ongoing management of the scheme.

The key environmental consideration for the proposals at Twiggs Lane and Staplewood Lane is the management of the scheme with respect to ecology and local biodiversity. Ecological surveys are being undertaken to provide advice and recommendations for minimising negative impacts on any bat species that may be roosting or foraging within the vicinity of the two junctions, the key issue is the impact of street lighting on bats. Additional surveys are being undertaken to determine the presence of reptile species, as well as locally important nature conservation habitats and designations.

Advice and legal requirements for mitigation measures will be followed to minimise any impacts on protected species or habitats during the advanced clearance, construction activities and ongoing management of the scheme. Best practice for construction will be followed to reduce any potential issues for the local community and school activities with respect to air, water quality including drainage, noise and vibration.

Land Requirements

5.10

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

Statutory Procedures

5.11

Planning permission is not required to complete the scheme.

Public Consultation

5.12

5.13

5.14

5.15

5.16

5.17

A public exhibition was held at Marchwood Parish from 2-4 April 2009 and plans for the proposals were on display. Letters to stakeholders, local residents and schools have been distributed to those within the vicinity of the proposed scheme including Marchwood Parish Council, Marchwood Infants School, the National Park Authority (NPA), the Forestry Commission and New Forest Verderers. Interested parties were invited to attend a site meeting in April 2009 to discuss the scheme proposals. This meeting was attended by the Parish Clerk, Councillor Shotter, one resident and two NPA representatives. No objections to the proposed scheme have been received.

A response letter from the NPA received on 1 July 2009 is attached as an appendix. The NPA is broadly in agreement with the proposals except for the extent of the proposed street lighting. Whilst acknowledging that the Highway Authority has a statutory responsibility to light the proposed signal controlled crossing to a distance of 60 metres either side, the NPA questions the need for any additional lighting above this statutory requirement on the basis of creating significant light pollution which would impact on the tranquillity of the National Park.

The NPA requests that consideration be given to restrict lighting to the Twiggs Lane area only and suggests that future monitoring of the safety improvements and speed limits recently introduced would help to assess whether there is need for further lighting.

This request to reduce the amount of street lighting proposed is not recommended as there are accident records at both Staplewood Lane and Twiggs Lane junctions, some of which occurred in the hours of darkness. The total length of lighting proposed between these two junctions is 933 metres.

Consideration has been given to provide lighting just at each junction to reduce the amount of light pollution. However this has been rejected as this would create a 721 metre gap and expose motorists travelling from the existing section of street lighting at Hounsdown Industrial Park to a dark section to Staplewood Lane and then another dark section to Twiggs Lane.

Formal 28 day notices were advertised on 3 June 2009 detailing the proposed crossing and inviting comments; no comments have been received.

Local Members' View

5.18

The local Member, Councillor Harrison, supports the scheme. The adjacent local Member, Councillor Dash, also supports the proposal.

Maintenance Implications

5.19

5.20

The installation of this proposed Puffin crossing will require new Intelligent Transport Systems equipment, new road markings and high friction surfaces. It therefore follows that additional revenue expenditure in respect of maintenance and operational costs will need to be reported. Maintenance work will include equipment faults, carrying out biannual lamp changes and undertaking an annual inspection. Operating costs are incurred in respect of electrical power and telecommunications.

The traffic signal equipment is anticipated to function satisfactorily for between 10-15 years; after this time it may need to be replaced. Any anti-skid, high friction material may need to be renewed at more regular intervals to ensure adequate performance.

Sustainability

5.21

The scheme seeks to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, the mobility impaired and motorists.

6.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

6.1

6.2

6.3

Option 1: The installation of a roundabout.

The installation of this type of traffic management has been rejected on the grounds of practicality and cost. Providing a roundabout junction would involve considerable realignment of Twiggs Lane and the A326 itself. It would require third party land and although this option has not been costed, it is likely to prove extremely expensive and therefore not considered a feasible proposition at this location.

Option 2: Do nothing.

The option to do nothing would not address the concerns of local residents as there is a history of Personal Injury Accidents that have occurred over the last three years and there is a strong desire line between the south-eastern residential areas and the local amenities situated in the north-western community which is severed by traffic travelling along the A326.

Option 3: Traffic Signal.

Investigations carried out by the Intelligent Transport Systems Group examined various options for signals at the Twiggs Lane and the A326 junction. Many of the traffic models predict substantial queues and congestion, particularly for the A326 movements.

Hampshire safer and more secure for all:

yes

Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate):

Maximising well-being:

no

Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate):

Enhancing our quality of place:

no

Corporate Business plan link number (if appropriate):

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.)

Document

Location

A326 Twiggs Lane Pedestrian Crossing

Environment - Area West Office, Totton