Beyond the low-hanging fruit: How can busier, more complex streets be better shared? How can modelling help?

2. Beyond the low hanging fruit !
Chris Oakley
www.crowddynamics.com

3. Wide Spectrum of streets and junctions
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4. Whats the problem ?
• Many streets will remain heavily trafficked
• Can these be enhanced to
- Reduce emissions
- Improve priority for pedestrians, cycles and buses
- Improve safety
- Improve their attractiveness/vitality
• Whilst maintaining traffic capacity

5. Evolution of design process
• Shared Space - lightly trafficked streets
- moderately trafficked streets
- Schwarzenburgstrasse Berne
- Ashford
- Poynton Phase 1

6. Evolution of design process

7. Poynton Phase 2 –
Shared Space Heavily trafficked
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8. Poynton Phase 2 –
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9. Evolution of design proces

10. Alternatives to Traffic Signals
- Switch Off
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11. Traffic Signal Switch Off
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12. Analysis – Fountains Place Junction
Traffic Signal Switch off – Queue lengths

13. Traffic Signal Switch Off- Analysis
UAF Simulation
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14. Example junction5 : Ruthin road/ Bradley Road
Wrexham
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15. Alternative junction configurations
Comparison of alternatives
• Pedestrian Amenity
• Pedestrian Delay
• Traffic Delay and junction Capacity
• Emissions
• Impact on bus operations
• Impact on Cyclists
• Safety.
• Cost

16. Alternative junction configurations
•Option 1 - Traffic signals with pedestrian stage
•Option 2 - Mini Roundabout with puffin crossings on all arms
•Option 3 - Traffic signals with pedestrian stage + scatter crossings
•Option 4 – Mini Roundabout with zebra crossings on all arms
(a) At 5m distance from roundabout
(b) At 10m
(c) At 20m
•Option 5 – Shared Space concept

17. Alternative junction configurations
Shared space Roundabout with zebras 5m back from stop lines Roundabout with zebras /puffins 20m back from
stop lines
Signals option with no Signals option with conventional Signals option with ‘all ways’
pedestrian crossings pedestrian crossings pedestrian crossings

18. Alternative junction configurations
Comparison of alternatives- Quantification
• Pedestrian Amenity
• Pedestrian Delay
• Traffic Delay and junction Capacity
• Emissions
• Impact on bus operations
• Impact on Cyclists
• Safety.
• Cost

19. Pedestrian and traffic simulation
UAF

20. Pedestrian/Traffic Interaction at Junction
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UAF

21. Alternative junction configurations
Pedestrian Travel time Analysis

22. Alternative junction configurations
Emissions Analysis

23. Comparison of Options
Ranking of Options in terms of Pedestrian priority Ranking of Options in terms of Traffic
Efficiency
Amenity Delay Overall
Overall
Option 4 Option 5
Option 4/5 Existing
Option 5 Option 4
Existing Option 4
Option 3 Option2 Option 2
Option 1 Option 3 Option 2
Option 1 Option 5
Existing
Existing
Option 2 Option 1/3 Option 1
Option 3
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24. Comparison of options - Safety
Ranking of options in terms of safety
Pedestrian
Site Review Research Overall
& Statistics
Traffic signals
Mini Roundabout with
Traffic Signals Traffic Signals
puffins
Mini Roundabout with
zebras
Signals with scatter Mini roundabout with
crossings zebra or puffins
Mini Roundabout with Signals with scatter Traffic Signals with
zebras crossings Scatter crossings
Existing Existing Existing
Mini Roundabout with
Shared Space Shared Space
Puffins
Option 5

25. Ruthin Road – Bradley Road
Recent Junction Improvement
Photios
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26. Alternative Junction Configurations-
Initial findings
• Shared Space – Heavily trafficked
– Await opening at Poynton with considerable interest

27. Alternative Junction Configurations-
Initial findings
• Shared Space - Heavily trafficked
- Await opening with considerable interest
• Traffic signal switch offs
- Can significantly reduce delay.
- Issue of pedestrian amenity , but not delay

28. Alternative Junction Configurations-
Initial findings
• Shared Space - Heavily trafficked
- Await opening with considerable interest
• Traffic signal switch offs
- Can significantly reduce delay.
- Issue of pedestrian amenity , but not delay
• Alternatives to signals –
-Typically more efficient in terms of traffic movement
-Reduce emissions.
-Pedestrian delay typically reduced.
-Safety ?

29. Conclusions
• Innovative and efficient design solutions are deliverable
•Doesn’t have to be shared space, Cheaper more conventional solutions
possible.
• Emissions can be reduced
• Comparative analysis of wide range options now possible
• Modelling has vital role in refining/optimising schemes
• Need further study and demonstration projects

30. Finally
• Reappraise our approach to street and junction design
• Never a perfect design
• Always requires compromise from the different users of the street