5 July 2021
Media Enquiries
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Traffic calming measures in Rotorua
Enquiry
- On which roads are the council planning to implement traffic calming measures (including but not limited to speed bumps and pedestrian refuge islands) in the next six months?
- For which roads in Rotorua has the council received numerous requests for speed bumps?
- What are the council's criteria for implementing, or not implementing, traffic calming measures?
- When were speed bumps installed on Kawaha Pt Road?
- What feedback has the council received on the installation of speed bumps on Kawaha Pt Rd?
- How many requests for speed bumps has the council received for Clinkard Avenue in the past three years?
- Does Stavros have any further comments to add to the statement he made in the link below?
- When were speed bumps installed on Ford Road?
- How long will it take contractors to fix the speed bumps on Ford Road and Kawaha Point Road?
- What reasons prompted the council to install traffic control measures on these roads?
- Are the standards for speed bump measurements set by the council, or do these standards come from central government?
Response
- Based on our current assessment of risk, the roads identified for traffic calming in 2021/22 as a priority are Otonga Road and Edmund Road. We need to complete further assessments of each location’s characteristics before we move to final design.
- Wrigley Road, Turner Drive, Pohutukawa Drive, Frank Street, Cochrane Street, Westlock Road, Otonga Road, Edmund Road
- When considering traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, the road is given a priority score which is calculated through traffic volumes and types of user percentages, recorded vehicle speeds, speed related crashes/injuries, and proximity to community facilities (schools/early childhood education centres, rest homes, marae, parks, halls) that generate pedestrian traffic. This formula ensures that all roads are evaluated objectively and consistently.
- The work was carried out during May/June 2021
- Council has received little direct feedback regarding the traffic calming measures. Some feedback has been in support of the measures and some feedback has been about concerns about the height of the speed bumps (the height has now been assessed and the contractors are rectifying their error). It has been positive to see quite a lot of commentary on social media from members of the public who are pleased with the traffic calming measures and would like to see more installed in various locations across the city.
- Our records show there have been two requests.
- See below
- The work was carried out during May/June 2021
- We expect the work to be completed within two weeks (weather dependent).
- Installation of speed bumps on both roads was at the request of residents and local police, as well as on the basis of a risk assessment that council undertakes for minor safety improvements. In general, council installs traffic calming measures in response to vehicle speed evidence, vehicle crash records, presence of vulnerable road users and amenity values as well as to requests from the community.
- These are national standards and guidelines developed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Depending on location, Road Controlling Authorities such as Rotorua Lakes Council can exercise discretion to suit specific objectives.Further comment from Stavros Michael, Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions - Deputy Chief Executive: At the base of any decision to install traffic calming measures in Rotorua is the need to reduce the risk to our community, and enable neighbourhoods to be safe, enjoyable places for the people who live in them. As the Road Controlling Authority for Rotorua, council is responsible for monitoring and responding to emerging road safety issues. In Rotorua, the social costs that come from road crashes, deaths and injuries is in the order of $116 million per year. (Deaths count for $4.7 million each, serious injury $0.5 million each and minor injuries $30,000 each.) As noted above we respond to requests from the community and we take a range of factors into consideration when we introduce traffic calming measures. For example, the risk assessment for Kawaha Point Road was elevated due to at least 6 reported crashes and the proximity of a primary school and recreational areas. For both roads, the average speed of vehicles was recorded at 60km/hr with 15% of traffic travelling above the speed of 66km/hr. To put that into context, Kawaha Point Road carries more than 5000 vehicles a day. That means each day 750 vehicles were travelling at speeds in excess of 67km/hr. We are disappointed that the execution of the installation was not in full compliance with the works specifications. However, the identified variances in height of the speed humps will be corrected by the contractor because it is important to achieve compliance with what has been specified.