CL23.201   Pedestrian Facility Improvements – Queen Street, Berry

Recommendation

That

1.    After extensive consultation on the proposed Pedestrian Facility Improvements at Queen Street, Berry as per Plan No D21/420628 (Option 2), Council adopts the following amended position and presents this to TfNSW for approval and funding.

a.    The amended Pedestrian Facility Improvements at Queen Street, Berry as per Plan No D23/245106 (Option 3, “the community option”) has the following characteristics:

i.     Focuses on the block with highest levels of pedestrian activity, between Prince Alfred Street and Alexandra Street

ii.     Involves a raised threshold before Prince Alfred Street (approaching from the East).

iii.    A raised threshold before Alexandra Street (approaching from the West, and subject to onsite consideration like driveways/drainage etc).

iv.   An at grade pedestrian crossing at the “mid-block” crossing point.

v.    Speed cushioning on either side of the proposed crossing (subject to onsite consideration like driveways/drainage etc).

vi.   Appropriate signage and lighting improvements for the above.

vii.    No work to be carried out on the block between Alexandra Street and Albany Street until traffic and pedestrian data (collected by Council as part of its ongoing data collection program) makes a compelling case to be put to the Berry community.

2.    Council notes that the above seeks to create an environment in Queen Street that is friendlier to pedestrians than the current arrangement by slowing cars down without creating “rat runs” in adjacent streets.

3.    If the proposal does not meet the TfNSW warrants/requirements for approval and/or funding, the proposal be abandoned until traffic and pedestrian data (collected by Council as part of its ongoing data collection program) makes a compelling case to be put to the Berry community.

 

Background
At the Ordinary Meeting on the 26 October 2021, Council adopted the following recommendation from the Traffic Committee

That the: 

  1. Chief Executive Officer (Director City Services) be advised that the Shoalhaven Traffic Committee has no objection to the proposed Pedestrian Facility Improvements at Queen Street, Berry as per Plan No D21/420628 (Option 2); subject to the following:
  2. W8-2 signage be reduced from 25km/h to 20km/h;
  3. Provide W5-10 & W8-3(R) on the intersection with Prince Alfred Street heading north bound;
  4. Provide W5-10 & W8-3(R) on the intersection with Edward Street heading north bound and W5-10 & W8-3(L) heading south bound;
  5. Rectify line marking to the refuge island immediately east of the intersection of Queen Street and Edward Street by the addition of chevron line marking to assist with adequate delineation between LATM devices; 
  6. Council does not proceed with the proposed second “at grade” crossing in front of 81 Queen Street at this point in time and undertakes regular demand analysis to assess the need for the second crossing for future installation;
  7. W3-4 advanced warning signage be provided on the approach to the eastern threshold heading west bound;
  8. Speed Zone Reduction variation to the original proposal being approved by Transport for NSW – noting that TfNSW would like to see a firm commitment to install both pedestrian crossings.
  9. Traffic Committee note that the funding required to implement this project is subject to the proposed variations to the original agreement being approved by Transport for NSW’s Funding Assessment Committee. 

The report that contained the recommendation from the Traffic Committee noted that this work  was to be funded under the Blackspot Program and that TfNSW had not endorsed the funding for this work at the time of adoption.

When TfNSW staff were approached recently about a revised shortened stretch (500m) of Queen Street from Albany Street to Prince Alfred Steet they advised the grant would require the second ‘at grade’ crossing in front of 81 Queen Street and the addition of four lots of speed cushions to reinforce the proposed 40km zone; a total of eight speed reduction measures.

This revised proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by 93% of the 340 residents who responded to a Berry Forum CCB newsletter email voting request (opened by around 1200 residents). The main concern being that too many speed reduction measures would create “rat runs” and a significant risk of serious accidents in the streets adjacent and parallel to Queen Street i.e., Victoria St (School), Albert St, Princess St and North St (Boongaree).

Consideration
Representations to Council’s senior staff from the Berry Forum CCB (via the Secretary) identified that an arrangement as per Attachment 3 was supported by 98% of the 340 residents who responded. This arrangement has the following characteristics:

  1. Focuses on the block with highest levels of pedestrian activity, between Prince Alfred Street and Alexandra Street.
  2. Involves a raised threshold before Prince Alfred Street (approaching from the East)
  3. A raised threshold before Alexandra Street (approaching from the West, and subject to onsite consideration like driveways/drainage etc)
  4. An at grade pedestrian crossing at the “mid-block” crossing point
  5. Speed cushioning on either side of the proposed crossing (subject to onsite consideration like driveways/drainage etc)
  6. Appropriate signage and lighting improvements for the above
  7. No work to be carried out on the block between Alexandra Street and Albany Street until traffic and pedestrian data (collected by Council as part of its ongoing data collection program) makes a compelling case to be put to the Berry community.

The above seeks to create an environment in Queen Street that is friendlier to pedestrians than the current arrangement by slowing cars down without creating dangerous “rat runs” in adjacent streets.

It is proposed to put this proposal to TfNSW via the Traffic Committee process and, if that is successful, to seek funding from TfNSW for its implementation.

If the proposal does not meet TfNSW warrants/requirements for approval and/or funding, the proposal be abandoned until traffic and pedestrian data (collected by Council as part of its ongoing data collection program) makes a compelling case to be put to the Berry community.

An option to simply abandon the proposal altogether has not been considered in detail as the amended plan will either be approved or not approved (funded or not funded) on its merits.

Community Engagement
No further specific community consultation on this amendment is proposed, given it has been proposed by the community as a ‘balanced risk’ solution, however, the Berry Forum CCB will be kept informed on developments as they unfold, and be involved in any “suggested improvements” to the proposal as it progresses along the approval/funding path.