Recommendations - City of West Torrens - SA.Gov.au

1.0
Introduction
‘ As traffic flows increase
on the road network in
the inner suburbs close
to the City of Adelaide,
congestion delays result in
more drivers using the local
roads to bypass congested
intersections.’
Traffic management may be
defined as the application of specific
traffic control practices to achieve
specified objectives.
Local Area Traffic Management (LATM)
is concerned with the planning and
management of the usage of road
space within a local traffic area. LATM
involves the use of physical devices,
streetscaping treatments and other
measures (including regulations and
other non-physical measures) to
influence vehicle operation, in order to
create safer and more pleasant streets
in local areas.
Source: Austroads
Traffic calming is another term
that is commonly used. Traffic
calming generally embraces physical,
educational and management
approaches to reducing the impacts
of vehicles on urban areas. LATM is
therefore only one of the possible
applications of traffic calming.
Traffic that does not have an origin or
destination within a local area should,
ideally, use the main road network, not
local roads.
However, as the traffic flows increase on
the road network in the inner suburbs
close to the City of Adelaide, congestion
delays result in more drivers using
the local roads to bypass congested
intersections. As mid-block road capacities
reach saturation levels, local roads provide
more convenient alternatives to the main
road network. The issue of through traffic
is more evident in suburbs closer to the
City of Adelaide.
Other critical intersections in the
outer areas also experience through
traffic diversion, due to “localised”
congestion.
These are two of the main sources of
residents’ concerns regarding traffic
flows raised in the City.
Another common concern of residents
is excessive speed and poor driver
behaviour (burn-outs etc). In less
frequent instances, resident concerns
about the high level of commercial
traffic have also been raised in the past.
These issues are commonly addressed
on a reactive basis, based on
complaints received. However, in
recent years, a pro-active approach to
traffic management has increasingly
been used.
Where single issues are concerned,
these complaints are investigated,
assessed and recommendations
developed for implementation.
Where area-wide issues are identified,
it is commonly addressed via a LATM
study involving a precinct-based
approach. Issues are then investigated,
assessed and recommendations
developed for implementation on an
area-wide basis.
Being located in an area which
includes the inner suburbs of Adelaide,
the City of West Torrens has had to
deal with a variety of these traffic
issues for many years.
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Part 2 - Traffic Management | Introduction