Speed limit on Tram Rd
Replies have been disabled on the Northern Outlook's post titled "Speed limit on Tram Rd" so I've started a new one.
Previously, I pointed out the ‘catalyst’ for the non-complying RC application for full-accesses rights off Tram Rd to the development as being the safety concerns from experts of people potentially doing U turns around the ends of the raised concrete median strip down the middle of Tram Road.
Their solution the problem is to remove the concrete median strip and replace it with a right turning lane in to the development for east bound traffic. So, instead of a concrete median strip we’ll now have other vehicles in the middle of the road waiting to turn right.
While it is true that the illegal manoeuvre the experts refer to may actually occur, by and large most drivers obey the road rules – still, the experts determine “Crashes are likely to be Common”. Another curious rationale from the experts for the illegal U turning manoeuvres is that “It appears that vehicles entering the site from the Mandeville Road cannot readily access the service station” – so, it’s the developer’s fault! Looking at the site plan I would argue the same holds true for vehicles travelling east entering via the right-hand turn off Tram Rd.
However, what the traffic safety experts do not address, in any kind of detail, is the far more likely scenario of a commuter accidentally clipping the concrete median strip as they drive past the development. To accommodate the concrete median strip the road lanes either side of the barrier are forced to diverge around the obstacle – Tram Rd is no longer straight in this section of the road.
The risk is far greater for a distracted driver to fail alter course and clip the median strip than it is for them to smash in to someone performing an illegal U turn. The argument is simply based on probabilities – there are more legal drivers than there are illegal drivers on our roads. So, instead of one vehicle being involved in crash clipping a concrete median strip we’ll have them clipping the another vehicle sitting in the middle of the road waiting to turn right to enter the development.
It’s my contention the PC33 that created the new commercial zone was deliberately designed with this flaw – i.e. left-ins and left-outs accesses off Tram Rd with concrete median strip. PC33 was designed with developer input. This theory is supported by the fact that there were actually two safety audits running concurrently – one for the lefts only plan and the other for full accesses plan. What we’re witnessing here is commonly referred to as ‘scope creep’ in the project management game. Also, a building consent was granted the developer prior to the accesses issue being resolved – contrary to the conditions of the original RC. Presumably, the accesses issue was to be deferred for as long as possible so that the PC33 and the non-complying RC decisions were less likely to be in the forefront of anyone’s minds.
So, why? Well, we only need to consider the unmanned petrol station, NPD. The lease for a petrol station is going to much higher for a site that has full access off Tram Rd as opposed to being only accessed by west bound traffic – more money for the developer. Petrol sales are also going to be higher – therefore the petrol tax take will also be higher – more money for the council. It's always about the money.
The problem is “Crashes are likely to be common”. The irony is that this whole mess was predicated on the stated desire for improved traffic safety.
Attached is a copy of the Safety Audit Report for plan A: left-in and left-out only accesses. An analysis of the Safety Audit Report for plan 2.0: full left and right accesses, will follow.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
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