Return to Agenda

ITEM EX12

KINGSTON ROAD, OXFORD – TRAFFIC CALMING

1. In 1999 the City Council introduced a traffic calming scheme in Kingston Road, which was funded by a nearby development. A post completion safety audit highlighted a number of issues that required attention for the safety of the scheme. The City Council has proposed changes which require amendments to the Traffic Regulation Order, and has advertised these under the specific agency arrangements agreed for developer-funded schemes. The report reviews the comments received during the formal consultation on the changes.

Proposed Changes

2. The changes proposed include:

• Increasing the length of the entry/exit tapers on the cycle "by-passes" where the vehicular carriageway is narrowed
• Consequential changes to adjacent parking bays (resulting in a loss of parking)
• Removal of the priority (northbound) through the carriageway narrowings
• Introduction of speed cushions in the carriageway narrowings

3. Formal consultation on the proposals took place between 6 and 27 February 2002. In total 13 letters of comment were received. Summaries of these are appended (Annex 1) and copies of the original letters placed in the Members’ Resource Centre together with a plan showing the proposals. The principal concerns/objections of those commenting were the loss of parking and the redesigned road narrowings.

Officer Comment

4. Currently, vehicles which park only partly in the parking bays encroach into the cycle by-passes. Suggested lengthening of the entry/exit tapers at these locations, while easing the path of cyclists, will exacerbate the problem and result in a loss of marked parking spaces. A site visit has shown that benefits to cyclists can be achieved by making only minor changes to the shape of the island separating the cycle-bypass from the general traffic lane, and providing a small island at the end of the parking bay will prevent the encroachment into the cycle by-pass. I therefore propose that the suggested changes to the entry/exit tapers should not be pursued.
5. Speed cushions have been proposed within the narrowings to reduce vehicle speeds. At present the narrowings are designed and laid out as pedestrian crossing points. The provision of speed cushions will make use of the crossing points difficult, particularly for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.
6. If the proposed speed cushions are retained, it will be necessary to take away the existing pedestrian facility at each of the narrowings. It is not possible to replace these facilities elsewhere in the street without loss of parking. I therefore propose to request the City Council to redesign the narrowings and associated speed reducing features so that the pedestrian facilities are retained.

  Financial and Staff Implications

7. The costs associated with the proposed changes will be met by the City Council who have set aside a budget of £47,000, which includes developer contributions. There are no County Council staffing implications.

RECOMMENDATIONS

8. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. request the City Council to submit a revised proposal that does not remove any of the existing parking and that retains the existing pedestrian facilities at the road narrowings;
2. authorise the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Transport and Local Member(s), to implement revised proposals subject to consideration of any representations or objections resulting from further consultation.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Contact Officer: John Cramer Tel: Oxford 815963

May 2002

Return to TOP