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Division(s):
North Oxford and Summertown
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ITEM CMDT4
CABINET
MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT – 4 JANUARY 2007
OXFORD,
A40 ELSFIELD WAY TO JACKSON ROAD EXPERIMENTAL LEFT TURN BAN
Report by
Head of Transport
(Statement
of Decision)
Introduction
- This report details
the responses received during the first twelve months of the experimental
left turn ban from the A40 Elsfield Way into Jackson Road, Oxford.
- Local residents
identified by that there was a "rat running" problem in the area of
Jackson Road. Their main concern was that traffic using the A40 heading
westwards from the Headington direction was using the road as a short
cut to Summertown and Oxford. They also highlighted that by deterring
"rat runners" it would provide a safer route for children traveling
by foot and bicycle to and from Cutteslowe First School, Cherwell Upper
School and the Oxford High School.
(Annex 1 - download as .pdf file)
(Annex 2 - download as .pdf file)
(Annex 3 - download as .doc file)
(Annex 4 - download as .doc file)
(Annex 5 - download as .doc file)
(Annex 6a - download
as .pdf file)
(Annex 6b-f - download as
.pdf file)
(Annex 7a - download as .pdf
file)
(Annex 7b - download as .pdf file)
Consultation Process
- An Experimental
Traffic Regulation Order (Ex TRO) is used when the effect of a proposal
is uncertain and it may be necessary to change or revert back to the
status quo quickly. The Ex TRO process requires a notice to be published
prior to the commencement of the experimental period, which may run
for up to 18 months before being made permanent or removed. Unlike a
permanent TRO no formal process for terminating the Ex TRO is required,
thus enabling quick removal of any measures if required. Within the
first 6 months of the experimental period the Ex TRO cannot be made
permanent as this is in effect the consultation period.
Initial Consultation
- The Ex TRO was
introduced on 22 December 2005. Prior to this, on 11 November, residents
living in the area bounded by the River Cherwell, A40 and Banbury Road,
who would potentially be affected by the Ex TRO were notified by letter
of the proposal. Annex 1 shows the residential area affected which consists
of 1689 properties.
- As a result of
that initial letter 8 letters of support for the proposal were received
with 31 letters objecting to it and requesting the ban be removed. A
petition was organised by one of the local residents who felt that the
ban would block vital access to the area for residents. The petition
contained 50 signatures all opposed to the ban being made permanent.
(Anyone who signed the petition and then wrote to state their objection
were only counted as objecting once).
- In February 2006
the Local County Councillors for the area (Jean Fooks and Dermot Roaf)
sent a questionnaire to residents seeking their views on the experiment.
The results of this are set out in Table 1 below, together with those
from the initial letter response and petition.
Table
1
|
FOR
|
AGAINST
|
MONITOR
|
UNDECIDED
|
TOTALS
|
Initial
Letter/email
|
8
|
31
|
N/A
|
2
|
41
|
Petition
|
0
|
50
|
N/A
|
0
|
50
|
Local
Councillor survey
|
49
|
59
|
26
|
0
|
134
|
TOTALS
|
57
|
140
|
26
|
2
|
225
|
- From the responses
received to the Local Councillor questionnaire it was noted that 8 respondents
had changed their opinion between the time of the initial consultation
letter going out and responding to the questionnaire. Two changed their
objection to agreement for the ban to be made permanent; one changed
their approval to an objection whilst the other five changed their initial
objection to wanting the monitoring to continue.
- A majority of
the responses received in the first six months expressed concern that
the ban would have a detrimental effect on access for the emergency
services getting into the area and also that it would cause an increase
in response times.
- The Oxfordshire
Ambulance Trust has a stand-by point at Oxford North by the Peartree
Park & Ride. This is the preferred point of access to the Cutteslowe
area. They have confirmed in writing that the "blockade of Jackson
Road from Elsfield Way has no impact on our response when coming from
these points. It may even improve in busy periods without rat-running
traffic blocking the area."
- Oxfordshire Fire
& Rescue also had no concerns regarding the restriction. They stated
that if there was a "property fire or emergency incident on Jackson
Road, the first appliance attending would be from the city centre and/or
Kidlington. The route they would take would not be via the A40".
- Thames Valley
Police also confirmed that they had had "no adverse comments from
any organisation or staff within Thames Valley Police to indicate that
it has affected response times". They did state however that the
layout of the barriers used to affect the left-turn ban did not fully
prevent vehicles from making the turn from the A40.
Further Consultation
- To gain a more
recent and wider representation of residents views on how the ban was
viewed, it was decided to distribute further questionnaires to all residents
within the catchment area. These were sent out on 22 September 2006
(10 months after the introduction of Ex TRO) with pre-paid envelopes
provided to encourage residents to respond so that their views could
be taken fully into account. The return date for all questionnaires
was set at 22 October 2006. Both the covering letter and the questionnaire
clearly stated that a non-response would be taken as agreement to the
left-turn ban remaining in place.
- Out of the 1689
questionnaires that were sent out to residents, 429 replied (25.4% response
rate). Of the responses 179 (41.7%) residents wanted the ban to be made
permanent, 189 (44.1%) wanted the ban to be removed with another 43
(10.1%) wanting the ban to stay experimental and continue to be monitored.
Another 18 (4.1%) did not give a preference.
- Of the 30 roads
in the catchment area, there were 17 where the majority wanted the ban
removed, 10 where the majority wanted the ban to be made permanent and
3 where there was a split decision. Annex 2 shows all results by road
and their preference. Annex 3 details the comments received from residents
in each street.
- On the questionnaires
sent out and the covering letter, it was clearly stated that "a non
reply to the questionnaire would be taken as an agreement to the ban
staying in place in a permanent capacity". With this in mind, this
would suggest that 1439 (85.2%) of residents are in favour of the ban
with 189 (11.2%) wanting the ban removed and another 43 (2.5%) wanting
the ban to be kept in place and monitoring to continue with 18 (1.1%)
not expressing a preference.
- The questionnaire
is reproduced at Annex 4. Annex 5 summarises the responses.
Speed and Volume Surveys
- Speed and volume
surveys were undertaken at three different times during the length of
the ban. A turning count was also undertaken at the A40/Jackson Road
junction in September 2006. The results of these surveys and a location
plan of where the speed and volume surveys were undertaken are set out
at Annex 6.
- Speed and volume
surveys were undertaken before and after the implementation of the Ex
TRO. There is some evidence from the data collected that the average
85th%ile speeds have reduced on all roads since the ban has
been in place. The 85th%ile speed is the upper limit of which
85% of drivers travel. Flows have also reduced on most roads. Below
is a breakdown on how speeds and flows of each road surveyed has been
affected:
Jackson
Road – no ‘speed’ data was collected before the Ex TRO was introduced
due to equipment availability. Both ‘after’ surveys showed 5 day 12-hour
averages of 223 and 249 vehicles using Jackson Road.
Carlton
Road – Vehicle flow rose with the 5 day 12-hour average up by 104
vehicles in March 2006. However by September 2006 flows were back to
the level recorded before the ban was implemented. Speeds decreased
after the ban was implemented with the 5 day 12-hour flow down by 0.5mph
during the March 2006 survey. The biggest decrease was in Sunday speeds
which saw a reduction of 3.8mph at the last survey taken.
Wolsey
Road – The first ‘after’ survey saw an increase in flows but by
September 2006 there was a decrease of 44 vehicles over a 5 day 12-hour
average. Speeds reduced throughout the ban with the 85th%ile
5 day 12-hour average decreasing from 27mph to 26.1mph. Speeds on Sundays
decreased from 27mph to 25mph.
Wentworth
Road – Flows reduced (on average) over the first survey by 103 vehicles
and this decrease continued during the second survey which showed a
decrease of 123 vehicles from the flows before the ban was in place.
Speeds reduced over the two surveys with the 5 day average 85th%ile
dropping from 30.3mph to 29.2mph.
Lonsdale
Road - The initial before survey was only able to be carried out
for one day due to equipment restraints. The survey in September was
not able to be undertaken due to the survey equipment being stolen twice.
While there is limited data at this site it does indicate a small decrease
in the 85th%ile speeds. There is however an increase in the
12 hour flow of 39 vehicles.
- The turning survey
undertaken in September 2006 showed that a number of vehicles are still
turning left into Jackson Road, the results of this survey can be found
at Annex 7. In a 12 hour period it was noted that 35 vehicles ignored
the ban. The turning survey undertaken in October 2004 noted that 839
vehicles were making the turn from the A40 onto Jackson Road in a 12
hour period. This means the ban has reduced vehicles using the left
turn in a day by 804.
- In the roads in
which it was possible to collect traffic data there has overall been
a marginal change in vehicle flow and speed. The reduction of the number
of vehicles turning left from the A40 into Jackson Road will consist
of a proportion of residents whose movements will be redistributed within
the area affected by the Ex TRO. To an extent this redistribution will
balance out the expected decrease in flow from the removal of "rat-running"
traffic.
- Annex 6(a) shows
the roads in which we wished to collect additional speed and volume
data (black triangle). However, due to parked vehicles it was not possible
to collect any data in these roads. This data would have helped to assess
better whether or not there had been a insignificant change in vehicle
flows in the area.
Officer Comment
- It is disappointing
that better traffic data could not be collected to fully assess the
effects of the Ex TRO. However the response to the questionnaire sent
out in September suggests that overall there is support for making the
Ex TRO permanent (see paragraph 15).
How the Project Supports
LTP Objectives
- Implementation
of the left turn ban on a permanent basis would provide an environmental
benefit to residents by removing extraneous traffic from the area.
Financial and Staff Implications
- Funding of £102,000
is provided in the LTP programme for signage works on the ring road.
The estimated cost of the signage works proposed is £30,000. It is proposed,
subject to the Cabinet approval, that the works required to make the
Ex TRO permanent be funded from the budget allocation for the ring road
signage. The works required to make the Ex TRO permanent is estimated
at £25,000, which includes all associated road works. The overall estimated
demand on the original budget of £102,000 is therefore £55,000. Any
further signing work on the ring road will require justification against
the LTP criteria. There are no staff implications.
RECOMMENDATION
- The Cabinet
Member for Transport is RECOMMENDED to authorise the:
- detailed
design for a permanent scheme to be introduced subject to authorising
the Head of Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member
for Transport to resolve any concerns or comments resulting
from the Road Safety Audit process should any arise, and
- works
required for the permanent scheme to be funded from the budget
allocated to ring road signage.
STEVE
HOWELL
Head of Transport
Background
papers:
Consultation Questionnaire
Questionnaire
comments and results
Location plan for
surveys undertaken
Survey Results
Turning surveys
– October 04/September 06
Drawing TPI/3/154
B – Experimental layout Drawing TPI/1/167 – Questionnaire analysis and
catchment area
Contact
Officers:
John Cramer, Tel: 1865 815936
Jeremy Dufour, Tel:
01865 815625
December
2006
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