Agenda of City Infrastructure Committee Meeting

Agenda (Open Portion)

City Infrastructure Committee Meeting

Page 5

29/6/2022

City Infrastructure Committee Meeting (Open Portion) held Wednesday, 29 June 2022 at 5:15 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

This meeting of the City Infrastructure Committee is held in accordance with a Notice issued by the Premier on 3 April 2020 under section 18 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.

The title Chief Executive Officer is a term of reference for the General Manager as appointed by Council pursuant s.61 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Tas).

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Councillor W F Harvey (Chairman)

Lord Mayor A M Reynolds

Deputy Lord Mayor H Burnet

Alderman S Behrakis

Councillor J Fox

NON-MEMBERS

Alderman M Zucco

Alderman J R Briscoe

Alderman Dr P T Sexton

Alderman D T Thomas

Councillor M S C Dutta

Councillor Dr Z E Sherlock

Councillor W N S Coats

Apologies:

Leave of Absence: Nil.

1. Co-Option of a Committee Member in the event of a vacancy

2. Confirmation of Minutes

The minutes of the Open Portion of the City Infrastructure Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 1 June 2022, are submitted for confirming as an accurate record.

3. Consideration of Supplementary Items

Ref: Part 2, Regulation 8(6) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.

Recommendation

That the Committee resolve to deal with any supplementary items not appearing on the agenda, as reported by the Chief Executive Officer.

4. Indications of Pecuniary and Conflicts of Interest

Ref: Part 2, Regulation 8(7) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.

Members of the Committee are requested to indicate where they may have any pecuniary or conflict of interest in respect to any matter appearing on the agenda, or any supplementary item to the agenda, which the Committee has resolved to deal with.

5. Transfer of Agenda Items

Regulation 15 of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.

A Committee may close a part of a meeting to the public where a matter to be discussed falls within 15(2) of the above regulations.

In the event that the Committee transfer an item to the closed portion, the reasons for doing so should be stated.

Are there any items which should be transferred from this agenda to the closed portion of the agenda, or from the closed to the open portion of the agenda?

Item No. 6.1

Agenda (Open Portion)

City Infrastructure Committee Meeting

Page 15

29/6/2022

REPORT TITLE: Response to Petition - Pedestrian Crossing - McRobies Road, South Hobart

REPORT PROVIDED BY: Senior Engineer - Roads and Traffic

Director City Futures

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. This report has been written to assist the Committee in considering a petition that was received at the Council meeting of 28 March 2022 and referred to the City Infrastructure Committee.

1.2. There is no specific community benefit aim to this report. At this stage the report is an administrative response to provide information to Committee.

2. Report Summary

2.1. At Council’s meeting held on Monday 28 March 2022, a petition containing 232 signatures was tabled. The petition raised concerns about the safety of the pedestrian and cyclist crossing of McRobies Road between Degraves Street and Cascade Road (where the Hobart Rivulet pedestrian and cycling route crosses McRobies Road), and called for Council to:

2.1.1. “Keep kids safe crossing McRobies Road in South Hobart”.

2.1.2. Implement a reduced speed limit, signage and traffic slowing measures.

2.2. To reflect the concerns raised by the community, it is the opinion of officers that an application should be prepared to extend this 40 km/h area zone to include:

2.2.1. McRobies Road between Cascade Road and Syme Street;

2.2.2. Syme Street between Cascade Road and Degraves Street;

2.2.3. Nevin Street.

3. Recommendation

That:

1. An application be made to the Transport Commission requesting a change to the speed limit on McRobies Road between Cascade Road and Syme Street, Syme Street between Cascade Road and Degraves Street, and Nevin Street in South Hobart from the current default urban speed limit of 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

2. The petitioners be so advised.

4. Background

4.1. At Council’s meeting held on Monday 28 March 2022, a petition containing 232 signatures was tabled. The petition raised concerns about the safety of the pedestrian and cyclist crossing of McRobies Road between Degraves Street and Cascade Road (where the Hobart Rivulet pedestrian and cycling route crosses McRobies Road). The petition called for Council to:

4.1.1. “Keep kids safe crossing McRobies Road in South Hobart”.

4.1.2. Implement a reduced speed limit, signage and traffic slowing measures.

4.2. The documentation submitted with the petition (a copy of the petition and supporting documentation forms Attachment A to this report) also makes reference to the existing crossing facility (kerb bulbing and pram ramps) not providing adequate sight distance for pedestrians and cyclists or for vehicles approaching the crossing.

4.3. This report has been prepared to assist the City Infrastructure Committee in considering what action it wishes to take in response the petition.

4.4. Figure 1, below, shows the general locality of McRobies Road in South Hobart, with the approximate path of pedestrian demand shown in green, and the location of the subject crossing point highlighted.

Figure 1 – Locality Plan of McRobies Road Petition

5. Discussion

5.1. The petition called for the Council to:

5.1.1. “Keep kids safe crossing McRobies Road in South Hobart”.

5.1.2. Implement a reduced speed limit, signage and traffic slowing measures.

5.2. The documentation submitted with the petition also makes reference to:

5.2.1. McRobies Road carrying a significant amount of heavy vehicle traffic (accessing the City of Hobart Waste Management Centre) and that these vehicles approach the crossing on a ‘blind corner’, often travelling too fast, and are endangering people trying to cross the road.

5.2.2. A 40 km/h speed limit being implemented in Degraves Street in 2019, but not extended to cover McRobies Road.

5.2.3. That the Hobart Rivulet pedestrian and cycling link is increasing in popularity, and that while the City of Hobart did upgrade the crossing of McRobies Road in 2012, that these facilities are no longer sufficient.

5.3. In relation to road safety on this section of McRobies Road, in the 22 years (January 2000 to present) to which access is available to crash data recorded by Tasmania Police, there has been only one recorded crash on McRobies Road between Cascade Road and Syme Street. The crash, which occurred in 2011, involved a vehicle travelling the wrong way up McRobies Road from Degraves Street after failing to observe a ‘No Entry’ sign and crashing head on with a vehicle travelling in the correct direction. The result was property damage only.

5.4. A vehicle speed and volume survey was undertaken on McRobies Road at the crossing point in March and April 2022. At that time, McRobies Road (on the approach to the crossing facility) carried an average of 1,168 vehicle movements per weekday, and the 85^th percentile vehicle speed (the speed that 85 out of every 100 vehicles was travelling slower than) of 39 km/h.

5.5. The national guidance on the provision and design of pedestrian crossing facilities (AustRoads Guide Part 4A - Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections) details what sight distance should be provided at a pedestrian crossing to allow a pedestrian (or cyclist) waiting to cross a road, and a driver approaching a crossing to be able to see each other.

5.6. Using that guidance, a driver approaching the pedestrian crossing would need to be able to see the pedestrian crossing point while their vehicle is at least 40 metres away from the crossing. 40 metres is enough distance for a driver travelling at 40 km/h to take 2 seconds to react to the presence of a pedestrian on the crossing, then start to brake, and come to a halt before the crossing.

5.7. Measuring the sight distance that is available at the site, about 60 metres of sight distance is available for a driver to see a pedestrian on the crossing.

5.8. The second type of sight distance is called crossing sight distance, and is the distance that a pedestrian (or cyclist) who is at the crossing can see an approaching vehicle at the time that they are deciding whether to start crossing. At this site, using the methodology described in the AustRoads guidance, 44 metres of sight distance is required.

5.9. Again, measuring on site, the sight distance available for a pedestrian making a decision about whether to start crossing to observe approaching vehicles is about 60 metres.

5.10. From this review, the current crossing has sufficient sight distance available to be considered safe and appropriate.

5.11. As part of the sight distance assessment, the conditions of existing signage, road surface, road markings and delineation were investigated. No issues of note were observed on-site.

5.12. Photos of the site are shown in Figure 2 to Figure 5 below.

Figure 2 – McRobies Road – Approach from Cascade Road

Figure 3 – McRobies Road - Approach to Existing Crossing Facility

Figure 4 – Existing Crossing Facility

Figure 5 – View up McRobies Road – From Crossing Facility

5.13. Overall, based on current vehicle speeds, sight distance and crash history, it is the opinion of officers that the current treatment for pedestrians and cyclists to cross McRobies Road is safe and appropriate.

5.14. At this site, both large trucks and tourist buses use this route, making it difficult to narrow the road further and reduce the distance that pedestrians need to cross.

5.15. The measured speed of vehicles is low, and implementing physical treatments (like road humps or similar) would be unlikely to further reduce speeds significantly, and would be very problematic for residents in the nearby houses due to the significant additional noise they would cause when trucks and trailers moved across them.

5.16. Currently, McRobies Road has a 50 km/h speed limit.

5.17. On 24 July 2019, the City Infrastructure Committee considered a report on reducing the speed limit on Degraves Street. Subsequently at its meeting of 5 August 2019, the Council resolved inter alia:

That: 1. The Council write to the Transport Commissioner requesting a change to the speed limit on Degraves Street and Apsley Street, South Hobart from the current default urban speed limit of 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

(i) The submission to include a report detailing the characteristics of the road (as per the requirements of the Transport Commissioner).

2. Consideration of wider area speed limit reductions in residential areas be included as an action in the City of Hobart Transport Strategy Action Plan.

5.18. A 40 km/h area zone was subsequently applied for, approved and installed covering Degraves Street, Tara Street and Apsley Street.

5.19. To reflect the concerns raised by the community, it is the opinion of officers that an application should be prepared to extend this 40 km/h area zone to include:

5.19.1. McRobies Road between Cascade Road and Syme Street;

5.19.2. Syme Street between Cascade Road and Degraves Street;

5.19.3. Nevin Street.

6. Proposal and Implementation

6.1. It is proposed that an application be prepared and submitted for approval to the Transport Commission, for the existing 40 km/h area speed limit that covers Degraves Street, Apsley Street and Tara Street, to be extended to include:

6.1.1. McRobies Road between Cascade Road and Syme Street;

6.1.2. Syme Street between Cascade Road and Degraves Street;

6.1.3. Nevin Street.

6.2. The existing streets covered by the 40 km/h area zone, and the additional streets recommended for inclusion are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 – Existing and Recommended Extended 40 km/h Area Zone

6.3. If the application is successful, the necessary changes to speed limit signage would be implemented.

7. Strategic Planning and Policy Considerations

7.1. Pillar five of the ‘Capital City Strategic Plan 2019-29’ focuses on Movement and connectivity. The following strategies, contained in Outcome 5.1 “An accessible and connected city environment helps maintain Hobart’s pace of life”, and Outcome 5.2 “Hobart has effective and environmentally sustainable transport systems” are considered relevant to this matter:

5.1.1 - Improve connectivity throughout Hobart’s inner city and suburbs.

5.1.2 - Consider social, environmental and economic elements in transport and technology decision-making.

5.1.3 - Investigate transport and technology possibilities that reinforce values of efficiency, sustainability, connection and helping people to meet the needs of daily life.

5.1.4 - Ensure equal access is factored into transport and technology decision-making.

5.1.5 - Increase the climate resilience of transport and connectivity networks.

5.1.6 - Work with stakeholders to prioritise low emission, energy efficient, renewable transport and technology initiatives, including trialling emerging solutions.

5.1.7 - Collaborate with stakeholders and business on the efficient, sustainable and innovative movement of people, information and goods.

5.2.3 - Develop, upgrade and maintain the City’s network of roads, bridges, cycleways, footpaths and walkways.

5.2.4 - Identify and implement infrastructure improvements to enhance access and road safety and reduce air and noise pollution.

5.2.5 - Prioritise opportunities for safe and integrated active transport.

5.2.6 - Increase the recognition of Hobart as a ‘walking city’, encouraging walking as a fundamental mode of transport.

5.2.7 - Support and encourage more people to ride bicycles through the development of safe paths and streets, separated cycleways, end-of-journey facilities and related infrastructure.

7.2. Undertaking a speed limit reduction investigation would largely be in keeping with these strategies

8. Financial Implications

8.1. Currently there are no financial impacts.

9. Legal, Risk and Legislative Considerations

9.1. None are foreseen.

10. Delegation

10.1. The approval of changes to speed limits is the responsibility of the Transport Commission.

10.2. The recommendations of this report, including to apply to the Transport Commission for a reduction in speed limit on part of McRobies Road, is delegated to the Council.

As signatory to this report, I certify that, pursuant to Section 55(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, I hold no interest, as referred to in Section 49 of the Local Government Act 1993, in matters contained in this report.

Owen Gervasoni

Senior Engineer - Roads and Traffic

Katy Cooper

Director City Futures

Date: 20 June 2022

File Reference: F22/55984; R0659

Attachment a: Petition - Pedestrian Safety - McRobies Road, South Hobart - 22 March 2022 ⇩

Item No. 8.1

Agenda (Open Portion)

City Infrastructure Committee Meeting

Page 67

29/6/2022

memorandum: Lord Mayor
Deputy lord Mayor
Elected members

Lenah Valley Local Area Mobility Plan (LAMP)

Meeting: City Infrastructure Committee

Meeting date: 1 June 2022

Raised by: Lord Mayor Reynolds

Question:

Can the Director advise if the Lenah Valley Local Area Mobility Plan (LAMP) will be able to commence prior to the further report outlining the Local Area Mobility Plan processes and timeframes being prepared? If so, when do Council staff expect to commence community engagement?

Will the Lenah Valley Local Area Mobility Plan be able to commence prior to the appointment of a permanent Manager City Mobility commencing?

Once a LAMP is created for an area, what are the next steps to begin implementing mobility improvements to an area?

Is there already funding set aside in the capital works budget to fund infrastructure projects that are identified in LAMPs?

Response:

In response to the matters raised:

Unfortunately due to significant staff constraints we cannot proceed until two key roles are filled and the planning adequately completed.

Will the Lenah Valley Local Area Mobility Plan be able to commence prior to the appointment of a permanent Manager City Mobility commencing?

It is expected that a core responsibility of the Manager City Mobility, when appointed, will be to manage the delivery of the Local Area Mobility Plan (LAMP) process. To that end, it is not considered appropriate to commence the active engagement process until such time that the positon is filled.

Once a LAMP is created for an area, what are the next steps to begin implementing mobility improvements to an area?

It is planned that one of the key outputs from a LAMP for each specific area will be a list of projects, that can be ranked and prioritised in terms of benefit to the community. This will allow the City of Hobart to plan and prioritise its infrastructure spending in a way that will deliver the greatest benefit.

It is anticipated that planning, detailed design, and construction of projects would focus on the highest ranked projects within the funding constraints available.

Is there already funding set aside in the capital works budget to fund infrastructure projects that are identified in LAMPs?

There is currently no specific funding set aside in future years for funding infrastructure projects identified in the LAMP’s. However funding is set aside in existing allocations to fund road safety projects, local area traffic management projects, and projects to upgrade infrastructure for people with disabilities.

It is anticipated that these existing funding allocations, along with the State Government managed ‘Vulnerable Road User’ and ‘Blackspot’ funding programs would form the initial basis of funding for the highest ranked projects.

Part of the overall project planning will include the making of recommendations for future capital works funding.

Katy Cooper

Director City Futures

Date: 17 June 2022

File Reference: F22/55575; 13-1-10

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