2013-05-28-council-agenda - Taupo District Council

[Lake Terrace Traffic Calming], [28 May 2013] Page 2
REASON FOR REPORT
The purpose of this report is to determine whether to proceed with the Lake Terrace TrafHc
Calming in the vicinity of Two Mile Bay, Hawai Street to Rainbow Drive and confirm the scope of
that traffic calming.
BACKGROUND
The section of Lake Terrace from Hawai Street to Rainbow Drive has a posted speed of 70kph
except for the holiday period over Christmas/New Year through to Easter during which time it is
reduced to SOkph. Lake Terrace as SH1 is currently controlled by NZTA. However this control will
be transferred to TDC when the transfer of the ETA is complete.
Over the last 10 years Council has received requests/petitions and submissions to various plans
for the reduction of the speed environment in Two Mile Bay from Hawai Street to Rainbow Drive
and improve pedestrian access across Lake Terrace. Council has actively lobbied NZTA during
this time for the permanent reduction in the speed limit to 50kph.
DISCUSSION
The appropriateness of a speed limit is determined by the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed
Limits. This is significantly influenced by the physical environment, such as frontage access, sideroad
development and vehicle operating speeds. In the case of this section of Lake Terrace based
on these influences it is difficult to justify a reduced speed limit. Although frontage and
development cannot be readily changed, nor may that be even desirable. Vehicle operating speeds
can however be influenced by the implementation of appropriate engineering treatments for speed
management. Such measures include gateway/threshold treatments, raised medians, pedestrian
refuges and mini roundabouts.
Opus Consultants were engaged to develop a scheme for this area. Plans detailing the scheme
were produced and have been the subject of favo Council workshops in October 2012 and April
2013.
The scheme was broken into a number of options for presentation at the April workshop as
summarised below;
Install pedestrian refuges and retain existing speed limits - $50k
. Install gateway/threshold treatments, central raised medians, pedestrian refuges and
reduce speed limit to SOkph -$175k
Install all of the above and mini roundabouts at Hawai and Matuku Streets and reduce
speed limit to 50kph - $466k
An option was also provided to include an unsealed cycle path from Rainbow Point to the
airport roundabout linking into the ETA shared path - $65k (this was discounted as an
option)
DESIRED OUTCOME
To reduce vehicle speeds between Hawai Street and Rainbow Drive and to enhance pedestrian
access across Lake Terrace.
CONSIDERATIONS
. Financial Considerations
Funding for Lake Terrace Traffic Calming has been allocated in the 2012 LTP
2012/13 - $50k detailed design
2013/14 - $150k construction
2014/15 - $200k construction
. Legal Considerations
Complies with section 10 of the Local Government Act with regard to the provision of
good quality local infrastructure to meet the future needs of the Taupo community.