Pearl Bay Avenue Trial Closure
Background • In 1972 a “Temporary” Right Hand Turn was introduced from Spit Road into Pearl Bay Avenue. • Pearl Bay quickly became a Rat Run for city bound traffic avoiding Spit/Military. • Since 1972 Council has been campaigning to have this turn removed while traffic has increased exponentially. • However the Minister for Main Roads determines all turns on and off Main Roads. (Council has no formal power in this)
Background • Various long-term initiatives turned down • In 2008, RMS released “Traffic Flow Initiative Report” • This included a package of works along Spit/Military Road corridor to improve traffic flow
Agreed Package of RMS Improvements • Works involved – Upgrade of Parriwi Road and Spit West/East carpark intersection – Tidal Flow from Spit into Ourimbah Road – Removal of parking on Spit and Military Road – Introduction of northbound bus lane on Spit from Medusa to Spit Bridge and – Closure of Pearl Bay right hand turn
All works were considered a package to improve traffic flow
Works Completed • 2011 - Tidal flow into Ourimbah was completed, Spit/Parriwi intersection was completed and some parking on Spit and Military Roads removed • 2011- RTA announced that they were abandoning the southbound bus lane and also the right hand closure
Right Hand Turn • 2011 to 2012 - Council met with Ministers and RMS and were advised that to progress the closure a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) would be required which would need to assess impact of closure • 2012 - Council appointed Traffic Consultant SMEC and TMP lodged • After two false starts, RMS and Minister approved trial for 6 months subject to concurrence with SHOROC
Right Hand Turn • Trial supported by Manly, Mosman, Pittwater and Warringah • 6 month trial began 29 January 2013 • Condition of trial: it would be cancelled by RMS if network was considered to be adversely affected • Two weeks after the trial started, Manly and Warringah withdrew support • Final decision on trial to be made by RMS.
Reasons for Closure • Safety • Increased amenity for local streets • Adopted policy of preventing ‘rat running’ in local streets. Policy currently supported by Warringah and Manly – e.g. many morning peak turning restrictions in Balgowlah and Frenchs Forest
Examples in Warringah and Manly of restriction to local roads in AM Peak Manly • Audrey Street Balgowlah • Violet Street Balgowlah • Coral Street Balgowlah • Maretimo Street Balgowlah • Victor Street Balgowlah Warringah • Currie Road Forestville • Grace Avenue Forestville/Frenchs Forest • Kanya Street Forestville/Frenchs Forest • Fitzpatrick Avenue Forestville/Frenchs Forest • Russell Avenue Forestville/Frenchs Forest
Trial Program • Data Collection Pre-closure, Sep-Dec 2012, 5 time trips (average 6 per am peak per day) from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay • Trial Closure, Jan 2013 • Data Collection Trial Closure, Jan-April 2013, timed trips from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay • Evaluation meeting with SHOROC and RMS, late April 2013 • Data Collection May-July 2013, more timed trips from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay • Meeting RMS July 2013
Travel Time Survey • South-bound vehicle timed on trip from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay • Average 1 survey/week with a minimum 3 round trips/day • Times recorded at a number of stations including – – – – –
North of Spit Bridge Parriwi Road / Spit Road intersection Medusa Street / Spit Road intersection Awaba Street / Spit Road intersection Ourimbah Road / Spit Road intersection
Travel Time Survey • Data to be analysed by consultant SMEC and compared with pre-trial data • Data to also take into account factors such as – – – – –
School/University breaks Police monitoring transit lanes Accidents on route Weather conditions RMS Improvements as part of package
Pre-Trial Data • Pre-trial average travel time in survey route was 13 minutes 20 seconds and 18 km/hr • RMS works in 2011 saved an estimated 41 seconds • Corrected travel time pre-RMS Package work was 14 minutes
Available Raw Trial Data • Eight days of surveys completed in the trial, average of six round trips per day = 48 pieces of trip data • Average travel time 15 minutes 15 seconds, 14.4 km/hr • Average increase of 2 minutes with tidal flow and 1 minute 15 seconds compared with pre-tidal flow • Additional 6 minutes for southbound access to Beauty Point destination • Raw data has not factored accidents on the corridor, transit lane monitoring or weather conditions
Data Analysis • Only 8 days of survey data collected. Not yet sufficient to make a definitive analysis / comparison • Historically, traffic volumes along the Spit Road corridor are higher in February and March than in rest of the school year • On days sampled so far, the impact on travel times along the corridor varied from 20 seconds to 3.5 minutes (pre package). • Add 41 seconds for comparison post tidal flow improvements (with average impact of 2 minutes) • Differences small compared with media anecdotes. • Other factors contribute to driver perceptions of delay, such as accidents, students returning to school, etc
Data Analysis • Report from RMS for corridor performance indicates deterioration of travel times for not only Spit/Military • RMS data 2011-2012 shows deterioration of network speed of 4km/hr before trial even commenced
What Next? • Further surveying • Meetings in April and July with SHOROC and RMS • Other initiatives – SHOROC regional strategy – (E-W priority) – Bus rapid transport – Possible road tunnel from Spit (or Burnt Bridge Deviation) to CBD Warringah Freeway
What Else Can We Do? • Stress best practice traffic management – major traffic on arterial roads. Document double standards of Manly and Warringah • Document any safety issues • Set up representative community group to run communications with key decision makers and media relations