Pearl Bay Avenue Trial Closure

Background • In 1972 a “Temporary” Right Hand Turn was

introduced from Spit Road into Pearl Bay Avenue.

• Pearl Bay quickly became a Rat Run for city bound traffic avoiding Spit/Military.

• Since 1972 Council has been campaigning to have this turn removed while traffic has increased exponentially.

• However the Minister for Main Roads determines all turns on and off Main Roads. (Council has no formal power in this)

Background• Various long-term

initiatives turned down • In 2008, RMS released

“Traffic Flow Initiative Report”

• This included a package of works along Spit/Military Road corridor to improve traffic flow

Agreed Package of RMS Improvements

• Works involved – Upgrade of Parriwi Road and Spit West/East carpark

intersection– Tidal Flow from Spit into Ourimbah Road– Removal of parking on Spit and Military Road– Introduction of northbound bus lane on Spit from

Medusa to Spit Bridge and – Closure of Pearl Bay right hand turn

All works were considered a package to improve traffic flow

Works Completed

• 2011- RTA announced that they were abandoning the southbound bus lane and also the right hand closure

• 2011 - Tidal flow into Ourimbah was completed, Spit/Parriwi intersection was completed and some parking on Spit and Military Roads removed

Right Hand Turn• 2011 to 2012 - Council met with Ministers and RMS

and were advised that to progress the closure a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) would be required which would need to assess impact of closure

• 2012 - Council appointed Traffic Consultant SMEC and TMP lodged

• After two false starts, RMS and Minister approved trial for 6 months subject to concurrence with SHOROC

Right Hand Turn• Trial supported by Manly, Mosman, Pittwater and

Warringah

• 6 month trial began 29 January 2013

• Condition of trial: it would be cancelled by RMS if network was considered to be adversely affected

• Two weeks after the trial started, Manly and Warringah withdrew support

• Final decision on trial to be made by RMS.

Reasons for Closure• Safety • Increased amenity for local

streets • Adopted policy of

preventing ‘rat running’ in local streets. Policy currently supported by Warringah and Manly – e.g. many morning peak

turning restrictions in Balgowlah and Frenchs Forest

Manly• Audrey Street Balgowlah• Violet Street Balgowlah• Coral Street Balgowlah• Maretimo Street Balgowlah• Victor Street BalgowlahWarringah• Currie Road Forestville• Grace Avenue Forestville/Frenchs Forest• Kanya Street Forestville/Frenchs Forest• Fitzpatrick Avenue Forestville/Frenchs Forest• Russell Avenue Forestville/Frenchs Forest

Examples in Warringah and Manly of restriction to local roads in AM Peak

Trial Program• Data Collection Pre-closure, Sep-Dec 2012, 5

time trips (average 6 per am peak per day) from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay

• Trial Closure, Jan 2013

• Data Collection Trial Closure, Jan-April 2013, timed trips from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay

• Evaluation meeting with SHOROC and RMS, late April 2013

• Data Collection May-July 2013, more timed trips from Manly Vale to Neutral Bay

• Meeting RMS July 2013

Travel Time Survey• South-bound vehicle timed on trip from Manly Vale to

Neutral Bay

• Average 1 survey/week with a minimum 3 round trips/day

• Times recorded at a number of stations including – North of Spit Bridge– Parriwi Road / Spit Road intersection– Medusa Street / Spit Road intersection– Awaba Street / Spit Road intersection– Ourimbah Road / Spit Road intersection

Travel Time Survey• Data to be analysed by consultant SMEC and

compared with pre-trial data

• Data to also take into account factors such as – School/University breaks – Police monitoring transit lanes– Accidents on route – Weather conditions– RMS Improvements as part of package

Pre-Trial Data• Pre-trial average travel time in survey

route was 13 minutes 20 seconds and 18 km/hr

• RMS works in 2011 saved an estimated 41 seconds

• Corrected travel time pre-RMS Package work was 14 minutes

Available Raw Trial Data• Eight days of surveys completed in the trial, average

of six round trips per day = 48 pieces of trip data • Average travel time 15 minutes 15 seconds, 14.4

km/hr• Average increase of 2 minutes with tidal flow and

1 minute 15 seconds compared with pre-tidal flow• Additional 6 minutes for southbound access to

Beauty Point destination• Raw data has not factored accidents on the

corridor, transit lane monitoring or weather conditions

Data Analysis• Only 8 days of survey data collected. Not yet sufficient to make a

definitive analysis / comparison• Historically, traffic volumes along the Spit Road corridor are

higher in February and March than in rest of the school year• On days sampled so far, the impact on travel times along the

corridor varied from 20 seconds to 3.5 minutes (pre package). • Add 41 seconds for comparison post tidal flow improvements

(with average impact of 2 minutes) • Differences small compared with media anecdotes.• Other factors contribute to driver perceptions of delay, such as

accidents, students returning to school, etc

Data Analysis• Report from RMS for corridor

performance indicates deterioration of travel times for not only Spit/Military

• RMS data 2011-2012 shows deterioration of network speed of 4km/hr before trial even commenced

What Next?• Further surveying • Meetings in April and July with SHOROC

and RMS• Other initiatives

– SHOROC regional strategy – (E-W priority) – Bus rapid transport

– Possible road tunnel from Spit (or Burnt Bridge Deviation) to CBD Warringah Freeway

What Else Can We Do? • Stress best practice traffic management

– major traffic on arterial roads. Document double standards of Manly and Warringah

• Document any safety issues• Set up representative community group

to run communications with key decision makers and media relations