arterial traffic onto bikedirect streets

Dear Braund Road and Myrtle Street Residents,

Your rates and taxes will pay for Prospect Road changes – again.

Council knows that the plan will move arterial traffic into residential streets.

I last wrote to Braund Road residents in September 2002. This may be flyer number 50.

Some background to refresh your memory and explain to more recent neighbours.

Multiple council reports, dating from as early as 1974, had identified excess traffic volumes, speed and collisions on Braund Road. Prospect Council did nothing to
remedy this, but instead lobbied Transport to ‘traffic calm’ the
arterial Prospect Road. Transport reports indicated that calming
Prospect Road would direct more arterial traffic into residential
streets. So we lobbied and wrote to politicians. The then
transport minister agreed to Prospect Road changes, if Braund Road
was calmed first and measures to discourage through traffic were
considered. A council study, in March 2002 after the 40 km/h zone
was introduced, showed that one-quarter of drivers exceeded the speed
limit. A current council document accepts an 85^th
percentile speed of 55 km/h on Braund Road.

The council recognises now that previous ‘traffic calming’ of Prospect Road did redirect traffic into residential streets. This was
the fifth policy that directed more traffic onto Braund Road and/or
Myrtle Street. Council has labelled the intersection of these two
streets as a ‘minor black spot’.
Again council concentrates on seeking ‘traffic calming’ of
Transport’s arterial Prospect Road, to the detriment of council’s
own streets and its residents. A decade ago residents of Braund Road
suffered 26 vehicle movements per day per household, well above the
guidelines. The current figures will be higher. I have waited three
weeks without council providing requested traffic counts.

The Prospect Road Masterplan of November 2009 suggests either reducing the capacity and traffic speed to 50 km/h from Fitzroy Terrace to Regency Road. Or reducing
the traffic speed to 40 km/h through the “Village Heart” area.
This is in conjunction with narrowing Prospect Road. The report
recognises that further ‘traffic calming’ of Prospect Road
will redirect more arterial traffic onto residential streets.
Residents were not informed before closure of public comment in
September 2009.

You may not cycle, but you will have noticed the bikedirect sign, a small white and blue sign. Previously ten per cent of Braund Road residents cycled. The cyclists
and residents that I speak to did not know that Prospect Council
wants to remove bicycle lanes in the proposed “Village Heart”. In
January the local newspaper quoted Member for Adelaide, Hon Jane
Lomax-Smith, as supporting the changes. I contacted her office
while Jane, as Minister for Tourism, was promoting international
professional cyclists during Tour Down Under. I wondered if she
backed removing bicycle lanes from the Adelaidians who cycle past her
office. Jane was aware of pending extra traffic in local streets,
but unaware that council plans include removing a section of bicycle
lanes. She has promised to discuss cycling with the mayor and the
Minister for Transport.

I am not convinced when the Prospect Road Masterplan states that “transparent and inclusive consultation and community engagement approach was taken with
people”.

There is another reason why I mention cycling. If you want to slow Climate Change, support sustainable transport of the bicycle. Include cycling in your letter
when protesting about council’s intention to redirect more traffic
into residential and bikedirect Braund Road and Myrtle Street.
Go to www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/bugprospect
for file Pertinent_References with quotes from the Prospect Road
Masterplan. The file Contact_Politicians lists appropriate
politicians and their email addresses. Please compose a letter and
send to multiple ministers. Your letters before the State Elections
on 20 March 2010 may be our only hope for reprieve from more traffic.

You can contact me at localstreets@adam.com.au – I would appreciate your feedback.

If you send an email, I will try to keep you up-to-date.