Traffic lights at school unlikely before 2020

Funding for permanent improvements for pedestrian safety, including traffic lights on the Melbourne and Hobart Ave intersection, near Umina Public School is unlikely to be available before 2020.

Central Coast Council has been told staff are responding to requests from the school to improve pedestrian safety.

"As part of the 2017/18 Roads, Transport and Drainage funded capital works program, Council is preparing a design for the upgrade of the Hobart-Melbourne Ave intersection to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow," the staff report said.

"Following this, a design for Melbourne Ave between Hobart Ave and Adelaide Ave will be commissioned to provide street drainage, kerb and gutter, footpath and new pavement," it said.

"It is anticipated the proposed design of the road will allow for two travel lanes with formalised on-street parking on both sides.

"As part of the design process an independent traffic study was undertaken to examine current and future traffic volumes to identify the appropriate solution for improvements at the intersections of Hobart and Melbourne Ave and Hobart and Sydney Ave.

"The study identified installing traffic lights at the Hobart-Melbourne Ave intersection as providing 'significant improvement in traffic efficiency and safety for all users'.

"It is anticipated that a pedestrian phase will be available on all approaches to the intersection.

"Following completion of the designs, it is anticipated that the upgrading works will be staged over the subsequent years' Capital Works Program, which will be subject to Council funding approval.

"At this stage, funding for commencement of construction works has been identified in year three of the capital works program commencing 2018-2019, and will be subject to Council adoption and other competing priorities.

"In the interim, measures have been put in place to assist in the management of traffic and parking in the vicinity of the school including the installation of guide posts in a section of Melbourne Ave to delineate the road verge and discourage illegal parking impacting on pedestrian movements.

"The Local Traffic Committee, at its meeting held on July 12 last year, also recommended that the existing No Stopping restriction in Melbourne Ave at its intersection with Hobart Ave be extended to 20 metres to improve sight distance for both motorists and pedestrians including those using the nearby marked pedestrian crossing in Hobart Ave.

"The recommendation of the Local Traffic Committee was subsequently endorsed and the signage was implemented.

"Council's Road Safety Education Officer has also been liaising with the school principal and School Council on these matters."

SOURCE:

Central Coast Council agenda

Item 6.1, 26 Mar 2018