Port Macquarie CBD Pedestrian Facilities

The community is invited to Have Your Say about proposed designs for pedestrian and traffic management upgrades to improve pedestrian safety at 6 key locations within Port Macquarie CBD as well as a proposal to reduce the speed limit throughout the CBD to 40 km/h.

Background

In 2015-16 Council received funding from Roads and Maritime Services to undertake a Port Macquarie CBD – Pedestrian Facility Investigations study. The purpose of the study was to review the current arrangements for pedestrians in the Port Macquarie CBD at both mid-block and intersection locations. The study was undertaken by consulatants, AECOM with a final report provided to Council on 11 August 2016 recommending development of concept designs and engagement with the wider community.

A Council resolution was passed in December 2016 to:

• Undertake a community engagement program in relation to the proposals including the wider community as well as specific stakeholders such as the Access Sub-Committee, Town Centre Master Plan Sub-Committee and Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, following the detailed investigation and development of concept plans.
• Request a report be presented to a future Council meeting detailing the outcomes of the community engagement program and any future actions.

Project Objective

Vehicles have historically been given priority at intersections within Port Macquarie CBD. Crossing of roads by pedestrians at some locations is hazardous, circuitous and inconvenient. The project objective is to restore the balance between vehicles and pedestrians by making the Port Macquarie CBD safer and more convenient for pedestrians to cross roads at a number of key locations.

Project Aim

Each individual project has been identified to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety whilst balancing various functions and needs of user groups including:

• pedestrians (including people with a disability);
• cyclists;
• buses and taxis;
• motorbikes;
• local and through vehicular traffic;
• parking;
• deliveries;
• amenity and aesthetics.

Funding and Next Steps

Council has received $75,000 in 2017-18 RMS Active Transport funding to further investigate and prepare a suite of design drawings and cost estimates. Once designs have been prepared Council will seek funding for construction from a number of sources including the State government.

Do you have any feedback or ideas for how we can build a safer, more pedestrian-friendly CBD?

We are looking for your input to help us understand how we can better accommodate the needs of pedestrians. Council staff will be hosting a pop-up information kiosk from 11:30 - 1:30pm on Friday 22 June, Hayward Street (out the front of Coles).

Once engagement with the wider community is completed the responses will be reviewed by the Project Team. Key conversations with the Access Sub-Committee, Town Centre Master Plan Sub-Committee and Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce will occur once preliminary designs have been produced.

Please view the concept drawings in the Document Library:

(1) Proposed Gordon and Hollingworth Street Improvements

The current configuration has a pedestrian refuge and associated kerb ramps on the southern Hollingworth Street approach but no similar facilities on the other approaches. The intent of the proposal is to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road. This will be achieved by constructing pedestrian refuges and associated kerb ramps on the two Gordon Street approaches and the Hollingworth Street northern approach. Pedestrians would still be required to give way to vehicular traffic but safety would be increased because the roads could be crossed in two stages.

(2) Proposed pedestrian crossing at Hayward St (in front of Coles)

A considerable number of people cross Hayward Street east of the roundabout at Short Street. The current arrangement is a pedestrian refuge where pedestrians are required to give way to vehicular traffic. The proposal is to convert the facility to a zebra crossing where pedestrians have right of way over vehicular traffic.

(3) Proposed pedestrian refuge at Hayward/Horton St

There is a significant desire line for pedestrian traffic along the western side of Horton Street across Hayward Street but unfortunately there are no pedestrian facilities to assist with the crossing of Hayward Street. The proposal is to construct a pedestrian refuge and associated kerb ramps on Hayward Street immediately west of Horton Street to assist pedestrians to safely cross the road.

(4) Proposed pedestrian refuge at Horton St South

There are a number of informal pedestrian crossing facilities in the busy block of Horton Street between Clarence Street and William Street. These facilities, however, are not very clear to users and are often hidden behind parked cars. A number of options are proposed to improve these crossing facilities by making them more obvious to all road users. The works would involve landscaped blister island, a large refuge island in the centre of the road and coloured pavement.

(5) Proposed traffic lights at William & Short St

The current roundabout arrangement is particularly hazardous for pedestrians seeking to cross either Short Street or William Street, particularly where there are two lanes of traffic in one direction. The proposal is to replace the roundabout with traffic signals which would include controlled pedestrian crossings on each approach to allow pedestrians to safely cross the road with a green walk signal. The layout would look similar to the nearby intersection of William Street and Horton Street.

(6) Concept 40 km/hr CBD zone

The current speed limit within Port Macquarie CBD is 50 km/h with the exception of Gordon Street which is 60 km/h. HPAA is an area of high pedestrian activity with a maximum speed limit of 40km/h at all times. The different road environment helps to alert drivers to the lower speed limit and makes them aware of the presence of pedestrians moving about or near the road. This creates a safer road environment for all road users, particularly for pedestrians, cyclists and children. Port Macquarie already has two similar zones along Owen Street near the bowling club and along Lake Road near the private hospital. Community feedback is required to determine the zone boundaries of a possible Port Macquarie CBD 40km/h HPAA. The current proposal has Gordon Street outside the zone so there would be no change to the existing Gordon Street speed limit.

(7) Other Gordon Street projects

Gordon Street, with four traffic lanes and high traffic volumes, is a particularly hazardous street for pedestrians to cross. Council is preparing designs for upgrading the Gordon Street and Horton Street roundabout to traffic lights. This would include controlled pedestrian crossings on each approach to allow pedestrians to safely cross the street with a green walk signal. A sketch of a possible upgrade layout is included in the document library.

Council is also investigating the feasibility of a pedestrian underpass of Gordon Street at the Kooloonbung Creek bridge which would further assist pedestrians to safely cross the street.

Have Your Say

To share your feedback click on the 'Submissions' tab below before 1 July 2018.

Any further enquiries, please contact John Hanlon on telephone (02) 6581 8111 or email john.hanlon@pmhc.nsw.gov.au

A copy of these documents is available for viewing at the Wauchope, Laurieton and Port Macquarie Libraries and Customer Service Centres.