Agenda Item 9.6

Report No: 119/17ts

TO: TECHNICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE - MONDAY 17 JULY 2017

SUBJECT: REPLACE THE EXISTING GIVE WAY SIGN WITH A STOP SIGN AT THE T INTERSECTION OF GREGORY TERRACE AND TODD STREET

AUTHOR: MANAGER INFRASTRUCTURE - STEPHEN BALOBAN

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report is in regards to replacing the existing Give Way sign and line markings at the T intersection of Gregory Terrace and Todd Street with a Stop sign and line marking to improve pedestrian safety.

RECOMMENDATIONThat it be a recommendation to Council:

That a stop sign be installed on the corner of Todd Street and Gregory Terrace

REPORT

1. BACKGROUND

Council Officers received an email form Councillor Melky on Wednesday 21 June 2017. Below are the contents of the email:

Hi Scott

Thank you for taking the time to come out and look at the comer of Todd Street and Gregory Terrace.

This is a very busy intersection with heavy vehicle and pedestrians use who attempt to cross the intersection. I have identified a risk to pedestrians from vehicles turning left into Gregory terrace from Todd Street.

Currently there is a give way sign on the corner of Todd and Gregory, during the past few months I have witnessed on many occasions close calls where a pedestrian begins to cross Gregory terrace and has been placed at a high risk from turning vehicles off Todd Street left into Gregory.

I believe the give way sign is not sufficient and is causing the issue as cars are not required to come to a full stop and roll right on and towards unsuspecting pedestrians.

The pedestrians most affected are the elderly, the very young, families and mothers with prams. This type of demographic is a huge user of that intersection in terms of pedestrian.

I believe a stop sign in place of a give way sign at the intersection of Todd Street and Gregory is needed urgently to help reduce the risk of pedestrians being hit by vehicles.

I understand that there is a liability on the pedestrian also; however it is the nature of the corner itself due to obstructions of light polls and electrical storage box located on Todd street side of the intersection. In addition Cars turning left are always looking right as they turn to avoid their oncoming vehicles. So they are looking away and not at pedestrians

Report No. 119/17ts Agenda Item No: 9.6

when turning. This happens very quickly as the car is rolling through the intersection at a min speed. By the time they look strait they are only 4 or 5 meters away from people and have to come to an abrupt stop to avoid a family that began crossing seconds earlier when the car was not even in the intersection.

For your information, due to the location of my office, I have placed an order for a major first aid kit complete with blankets and orange safety witches hats in expectations that I will need to manage a major incident involving a collision between pedestrian and car, truck or Coach in the near future.

Please consider a review of the give way sign at that intersection.

Thank you.

Eli MelkyDirector/PrincipalA 2/70 Toddst, Alice Springs 0870 E eli(a)realestateco. net, auM042 7 012 699

Currently, there is a Give Way sign on the corner of Todd Street and Gregory Terrace,

At the T Intersection Gregory Terrace and Todd Street, vehicles that are turning into Gregory Terrace from Todd Street have to Give Way. Pedestrians crossing Gregory Terrace using the existing informal crossing have issues with Vehicles turning left into Gregory Terrace from Todd Street.

The Northern Territory Road user handbook states,

If turning left or right at the intersection, you must also give way to any pedestrian crossing the road you are entering.

Report No. 119/17ts Agenda Item No: 9.6

2. DISCUSSION

At the T Intersection Gregory Terrace and Todd Street vehicles turning left into Gregory Terrace from Todd Street face a Give Way sign and must give way to any pedestrians crossing Gregory Terrace near the intersection.

T-intersections

At T-intersections, the vehicle travelling on the road that ends (the terminating road) must give way to any pedestrians crossing or vehicles travelling on the road that continues, unless otherwise signposted. T-intersection

sign

At the T Intersection Gregory Terrace and Todd Street pedestrians crossing Gregory Terrace using the existing informal crossing have issues with Vehicles turning left into Gregory Terrace from Todd Street.

Currently the vehicles turning left into Gregory Terrace from Todd Street face a Give Way sign (refer below Give Way at intersections) which only requires them to slow down and stop if necessary as a result they look to their right and if there are no vehicles traveling along Gregory Terrace they turn left into Gregory Terrace at speed not looking for pedestrians crossing the road, even though they must give way to pedestrians they don’t.

Report No. 119/17ts Agenda Item No: 9.6

According to the Northern Territory Road user handbook’

Give wav signs and give wav lines (broken line) are used at intersections to control traffic. When you come to a give way sign, you must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary. You must give way to any pedestrians crossing the road into which you are turning

The Technical Service Department proposes to change the Give Way to a Stop signed T intersection (refer below for Stop Intersections) forcing cars traveling along Todd Street to stop look both ways before entering Gregory Terrace. This will reduce the risk of vehicles hitting pedestrians crossing Gregory Terrace.

According to the Northern Territory Road user handbook’

A stop sign or a stop line means you must Stop and give way to all vehicles travelling in, entering or approaching the intersection, whether vehicles are turning left or right, or going straight ahead. You must give way to any pedestrians crossing the road into which you are turning. Giving way at a stop sign means the driver must remain stopped until it is safe to proceed.

3. POLICY IMPACTS

Council’s responsibility is to provide safe roads for all users

4. FINANCIAL IMPACTS

The change of traffic conditions to the corner needs to be advertised in the paper.

Estimated Costs:

Advertising $500.00

Line Marking $200.00

Signs $150.00

Installation Costs $150.00

TOTAL $1,000.00

Report No. 119/17ts Agenda Item No: 9.6

5. SOCIAL IMPACTS

The introduction of the Stop sign will see improvements is pedestrian and vehicular safety on this corner

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Nil

7. PUBLIC RELATIONS

Pedestrians will feel safer whilst using this informal pedestrian crossing

Stephen BalobanMANAGER INFRASTRUCTURE

Scott AllenDIRECTOR TECHNICAL SERVICES