FAQ
- Move the school crossing 50 metres south of its current location.
- Reinstate access for vehicles turning right into Scott Street from Hampton Road by taking out the median installed in March 2017 on a trial basis.
- Relocate the bus stop further north and provide a safer sight line for people crossing Hampton Road.
- Keep the existing median closure and location of the school crossing, effectively formalising the current trial, but add access for cyclists.
- Add another pedestrian crossing, opposite South Fremantle IGA.
- Relocate the bus stop as described for Option 1.
- 65% preferred Option 1. The most common reasons given for preferring Option 1 were: it would ease congestion at the intersection of Lloyd Street and Hampton Road, allow vehicles to move more easily through the area, and reduce the amount of traffic using neighbouring streets since access to Scott Street was restricted.
- 15% preferred Option 2. Most people who preferred Option 2 felt the introduction of the temporary median island had made crossing Hampton Road safer because it prevented cars using the bus lane.
- 20% didn't support either Option 1 or 2, some of which suggested a signalised pedestrian crossing would be the preferred solution.
What was the outcome of the consultation completed in November 2017?
Two options were presented for community feedback:
Option 1
Option 2
Of the 147 submissions we received:
Why did council defer a decision on a traffic treatment?
A report was presented to Council
on 13 December 2017, recommending that
Option 1 be endorsed and implemented. After careful
review, Council decided to put a decision on hold, and asked City officers to investigate
the possibility of a signalised pedestrian crossing and meet with the Minister
for Transport to discuss further.
Has the City of Fremantle investigated a signalised ('green-man') pedestrian crossing?
Yes, the City investigated two signalised options in consultation with Main Roads WA. This included a signalised (traffic light controlled) intersection with pedestrian facilities at the corner of Hampton Road and Scott Street and a signalised mid-block crossing, opposite the shopping centre on Hampton Road.
A preliminary cost estimate found a signalised intersection would exceed the $200 000 budget considerably, as underground services on Scott Street would need to be relocated. In addition, Scott Street is a minor road with relatively low use that does not warrant traffic signals, which would add to congestion, impacting the service level of Hampton Road .
A signalised mid-block pedestrian crossing didn't meet Main Roads WA criteria, as the pedestrian numbers are significantly lower than the requirements. A survey carried out by the City during the school term in June 2017 and May 2018 found the number of pedestrians using the crossing at peak hours was significantly less than MRWA’s criteria of 350 pedestrians in an hour, or more than 175 per hour crossing over 8 hours on an average day (Figure 1). The number of pedestrians crossing the intersection outside of peak hours was substantially less (Figure 2).
Findings from pedestrian surveys in 2017 and 2018
Figure 1
Figure 2
What was the outcome of the City's meeting with the Transport Minister's office about this issue?
City officers met with the Transport Minister's office and Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA) in May 2018 to review the design options presented for community consultation and the criteria used by MRWA for installing traffic lights with pedestrian signals.
As an outcome of the meeting, the City learned this would result in the loss of the school crossing guard to assist school children cross safely, as WA Police do not provide the service at signalised crossing locations.
The City was also advised a signalised pedestrian
crossing did not satisfy MRWA criteria because the pedestrian numbers are significantly lower
than the requirements.
What information has Main Roads WA provided on the safety benefits of a guarded crossing?
The following information was provided to the City of Fremantle by the Safety Branch at Main Roads WA:
Guard control crossings are generally the preferred form of crossings for roads near schools where the predominant users are children under 12 years of age for a number of reasons.
A large body of literature covering children’s cognitive ability shows that they display inadequate search patterns at intersections and have difficulty in estimating speed, direction and distance of oncoming vehicles. In addition, their smaller stature prevents them from seeing the complete traffic situation and makes them less visible to drivers. Furthermore, adults have a tendency to overestimate kids’ pedestrian skills and make inadequate adjustments to speed.
These problems may be aggravated at signalised intersections, as young pedestrians are less likely to search for traffic than at non-signalised crossings. Some children trust that it is safe to cross against the red light and that adults will protect them and stop instantly. For similar reasons, zebra crossings are less advisable. Younger students may step out onto the crossing when a vehicle cannot stop before them.
Schoolchildren consider uniformed crossing guards safer than other types of crossings. They are attracted to guard control crossings and not to the adjacent, unsupervised road sections. Moreover, speed compliance increases in the presence of crossing guards.
References:
https://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/pdf/10.3141/1674-05
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/pedbike/03042/03042.pdf
What's this project about?
This project is about improving pedestrian safety at the intersection of Hampton Road and Scott Street, which has a history of vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
Why did the City restrict cars turning right in and out of Scott Street?
In the last five years, there have been eight traffic accidents at the intersection of Scott Street and Hampton Road. Two of the accidents involved people attempting to cross Hampton Road being hit by a car, compelling the City of Fremantle to examine ways to improve pedestrian safety. In March 2017, the City of Fremantle installed a temporary median on Hampton Road, allowing only left in/left out traffic movement from Scott Street. We did this to address safety issues caused by drivers using the bus lane to overtake cars waiting to turn right into Scott Street.
Who is the responsible authority for Hampton Road and Scott Street?
Who is funding these works?