Update November
Thank you for your feedback and patience while we have trialled these temporary interventions in the Papatoetoe West area. Your feedback helped the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board and Auckland Transport make changes that balance safety and listening to the community.
In mid-July, we had planned to make select changes to the temporary installations, however surface testing of the roadway art showed that removal of this surface was required. Removal of the roadway art was then planned in August, however those works had to be postponed until construction could be undertaken safely in Alert Level 3.
Changes to the Park Ave/Claude Rd and Hillside Rd/Sumner St intersections
The roadway art has now been removed, as well as the modal filters at these intersections. We have narrowed the intersection at the Park Ave/Claude Rd intersection and installed speed cushions on Park Ave. At the intersection of Hillside Rd and Sumner St, we have installed a temporary roundabout.
The other temporary measures within the area, i.e. speed cushions, flexi posts, raised zebra crossings and ‘SLOW’ markings, will be retained and replaced until the form of the permanent improvements is investigated and consulted within the next 12 – 18 months.
Monitoring results
Our monitoring of the trial has been a key part of the Innovating Streets for People programme and this monitoring is now complete. We monitored several factors within the project zone such as speeds, traffic volumes, pedestrian movements, travel time, and road safety perceptions through the survey.
Thank you to the community who attended the activation events at the two modal filters, and especially the respondents to the road safety perception survey. Your responses and feedback are greatly appreciated by the project team.
A report summarizing the results of this monitoring is available at the top of this webpage, under 'Monitoring Report'.
Next steps
This area of Papatoetoe has been prioritised for area wide speed calming under the Residential Speed Management programme and the design of these treatments is currently underway. Further information on this programme can be found on this webpage: Residential Speed Management Programme.
Background on the trial
In the past five years, there have been 140 crashes in this part of Papatoetoe alone, with 5 serious injuries, 35 minor injuries and 100 non-injuries. For years, locals – especially those on bikes or walking – have told us about numerous issues with speeding vehicles making them feel unsafe, causing damage to property, near misses and injuries.
Prior to making permanent safety improvements, the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board wanted to work together with the community to trial people friendly spaces and safer ways to travel in West Papatoetoe.
The Papatoetoe West Low Traffic Neighbourhood trial is led by the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, has been awarded funding through the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Innovating Streets Programme and was delivered by Auckland Transport.
What is a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) trial?
An LTN is typically low-speed area that provides access to vehicles but prevents rat-running or short cuts through residential roads and allocates more road space to walking and cycling. This is typically achieved through the use of ‘modal filters’, turning restrictions, ‘parklets’ or strategically placed planters and other placemaking measures. A ‘modal filter’ is a road closure for vehicular traffic which still allows those walking, riding a bike or mobility scooter to filter or travel through.
What will the trial lead to?
Papatoetoe West has been identified as a priority area for safety improvements by Auckland Transport. Ultimately, our goal will be to:
- Make Papatoetoe West a low-speed area
- Make it safer and easier travel on bike or foot
- Prevent the area from being used a rat-run or short cuts
Please check our FAQ section to see how we will monitor the outcomes of the trial, and how decisions will be made.
What changes were trialled?
In May, trial interventions were installed to reduce speeds for vehicles, provide safer crossing opportunities, and prevent traffic from using a residential road as a through road. These included:
- Modal filters at two locations: Park Ave near Claude Ave intersection, and the Hillside Rd / Sumner St intersection
- Speed-calming near crossings and key intersections: Claude Ave zebra crossing and pedestrian refuge, Ferndown Ave zebra crossing, Hillcrest Rd zebra crossing, Pah Rd / Ferndown Ave intersection. Temporary street furniture such as yellow flexi-posts and concrete blocks
- Gateway threshold treatments with ‘SLOW’ road markings and ‘SLOW TRAFFIC AREA’ signage
Update September
While the changes for the Park Ave /Claude Rd and Hillside Rd/ Sumner St intersections had been proposed for mid-July, testing of the roadway art surface was needed first before allowing cars to travel over the roadway art.
In August, testing of the roadway art surface showed that this surface is inadequate for vehicles to travel over. Removal of the roadway art is now essential at both sites, before the modal filters/ road closures are opened to traffic.
These changes are proposed when the current Alert Levels reach an appropriate level.
Keep an eye on this webpage for further updates.
Or if you have any queries related to the project, please write to the project team here:
