We're proposing to extend the southern central city's slow speed zone. We'd like to hear your views.
Christchurch City Council has voted to accept the recommendations of a Hearings Panel that was convened last year to consider public feedback on the proposed speed limit changes in the southern central city.
The Hearings Panel recommended the Council:
The Council also considered lowering the speed limit on Riccarton Avenue, outside the hospital, but on the recommendation of the Hearings Panel it has decided not to proceed with that speed limit change.
For more details read the Newsline story(external link).
Hearings Panel recommends speed limit changes in the southern central city - 7 December 2018
The Hearings Panel finished its deliberations today and will recommend that Christchurch City Council introduce a 30 km/h speed limit on St Asaph Street and on sections of Hagley Avenue.
After considering submissions from the public and hearing from the authors of an independent safety and functionality review of St Asaph Street, the Hearings Panel believes a lower speed limit would better support road safety than the existing 50 km/h speed limit.
The Panel also took into account the expected increase in people walking and cycling on these streets following the opening of the new Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School in early 2019. Further developments in the South Frame, the planned opening of the Metro Sports Facility and other new developments in the streets south of St Asaph Street in the next few years will see even more people and activity in this area -and concluded a slower speed will mean a safer and more attractive street environment for everyone.
The recommendation also includes introducing a 10 km/h speed limit on Oxford Terrace and Antigua Street alongside the new Outpatients building.
The Panel did not support a speed limit change on Riccarton Avenue westwards beyond Hospital Corner and the associated speed limit threshold proposed there.
The Hearing Panel’s recommendation will go to the Council in January 2019 for its decision.
Post consultation update - 8 November 2018
Summary of responses to the southern central city speed review
The Council received 737 responses during consultation on the speed limit review which opened on 14 August and closed on 4 September 2018.
We asked for feedback on three different elements of the linked proposals:
Table of submissions [PDF, 428 KB]
Consultation summary [PDF, 72 KB]
The Council will now hold a hearing on Wednesday 21 November, 8.30am - 12.00pm. A Hearings Panel of elected members will consider a staff report on the feedback received, together with officer responses to concerns raised, suggestions for changes to the proposals and key themes featuring in that feedback.
The Hearings Panel will also hear from submitters who requested to speak to elected members about their feedback, together with the authors of an independent safety and functionality review of St Asaph Street separately commissioned by the Council.
The Hearings Panel agenda will be available online at christchurch.infocouncil.biz(external link) at least two clear working days before the meeting.
The Panel will make recommendations to the Council, which will make the final decision on these matters. Submitters will receive details of that Council meeting.
Project background - 14 August 2018
We’re proposing to extend the central city’s slow speed zones one block to the south and one to the west. These changes are intended to make a safer street environment for everyone – to help improve the safety of the main Hospital access points, and to support the Christchurch Outpatients building, new South Frame developments, including a new school, and the planned Metro Sports Facility.
We’d like to hear your views on two proposed changes to central city speed limits. These are:
The Council’s new Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2017 (effective from March 2018) allows the Council to set and change speed limits on roads in Christchurch in accordance with the Land Transport Rule Setting Speed Limits 2017. Consultation is required as part of this process.
Example of a 30km/h gateway (Park Terrace)
We’re seeking your feedback on adding the following sections of street to the central city’s existing low speed 30 km/h zone:
In November 2017, the Council determined that staff should consult on a proposed reduction in the speed limit on St Asaph Street. This was part of wider consideration of the street’s safety and design after construction works were undertaken there in late 2016 and early 2017.
The proposed speed limit change would extend the southern boundary of the 30km/h slow speed central city zone by one block southwards – and also help slow the speed environment around the busy Hospital Corner area to the west. It supports street changes which have been implemented as part of the ongoing programme of works outlined in the transport chapter of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan. It provides a safer street environment along the southern boundary of the South Frame development, where Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School is under construction.
Further west, it would include the planned northern entrance to the future Metro Sports Facility development, just west of Antigua Street. At the same time, the proposed western extension would help slow traffic around the busy Hospital Corner streets, where roadworks are currently underway. It also extends the zone around 250 metres westwards on Riccarton Avenue, to include the Hospital’s proposed western emergency vehicle access.
Two of the new 30 km/h gateways will require some alterations to existing on-street car parks – at the Montreal Street and Manchester Street entry points. The details of these proposed changes are explained on the plans below.
Artist's impression of the Christchurch Hospital Outpatients building on Oxford Terrace, viewed from Riccarton Ave
We also want your feedback on adding short sections of Oxford Terrace (between Riccarton Avenue and Antigua Street) and Antigua Street (north of Tuam Street) to complement the 10km/h slow speed zone that applies to the remainder of the Te Papa Ōtākaro / Avon River Precinct. Both of these streets are adjacent to the new Christchurch Hospital Outpatients building, due to open later this year.
Road works underway on these streets are designed to create a safer, slow environment for hospital and outpatients visitors to share the space with pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the Hospital Corner area, mainly using a network of new shared paths. A 10km/h speed environment is more appropriate for how these streets are being re-constructed – and will also be more consistent with similar central city shared spaces, zones and laneways along the Te Papa Ōtākaro / Avon River Precinct and through the new East and South Frames. These two slow streets will provide the new western entry to the Te Papa Ōtākaro / Avon River Precinct.
The new 30km/h entry threshold on Montreal Street is located south of the intersection with St Asaph Street.
The gateway includes two build-outs to narrow the road and make the speed limit change more visible, as well as road markings and new signs.
The proposal includes the removal of four car parks – two on either side of the street, as shown on the plan below.
The new 30km/h entry threshold on Manchester Street is located between Welles Street and St Asaph Street.
The gateway includes two build-outs to narrow the road and make the speed limit change more visible, as well as road markings and new signs.
The proposal includes the removal of one car park on the eastern side of the street to help form the new threshold.
We are proposing to extend the slow speed 30km/h zone about 250 metres further west along Riccarton Avenue, to just past the proposed new access for Hospital emergency vehicles, which will be relocated to the western boundary of the hospital site.
Some local streetworks changes will be required along this section of road in order to provide safe access for ambulances to the new Acute Services Building. Those changes will be subject to a separate consultation.
The proposed 30km/h speed limit on Hagley Avenue extends from Riccarton Avenue past Hagley Community Collage to the intersection with Waller Terrace and Selwyn Street.
Painted road markings and signs form the gateway and no on-street parking is affected.
The remaining thresholds or gateways on Stewart Street, Antigua Street, Durham Street and St Asaph Street are created by adding signs and markings on the road.
No on-street parking spaces are removed.
Stewart Street
Antigua Street
Durham Street
St Asaph Street
Speed limit changes in southern central city
Christchurch City Council has voted to accept the recommendations of a Hearings Panel that was convened last year to consider public feedback on the proposed speed limit changes in the southern central city.
The Hearings Panel recommended the Council:
- Introduce a 30km/h speed limit on St Asaph Street and on section of Hagley Avenue.
- Introduce a 10km/h speed limit on Oxford Terrace and Antigua Street alongside Christchurch Hospital’s new Outpatients building.
The Council also considered lowering the speed limit on Riccarton Avenue, outside the hospital, but on the recommendation of the Hearings Panel it has decided not to proceed with that speed limit change.
For more details read the Newsline story.
