In our part of the world, we are living with changes to the roading system. I received an email from my local MP asking for me to get involved in making a submission to the City Council. It was good to see an MP and the local Councillor seeking feedback from the community.
So, I read the CCC document and realised why there was that block at the end of Francis Ave. It is an experiment on whether or not the end of the road should be blocked off. Permanently.
I congratulate the engineers at CCC for undertaking this level of excellent consultation. Trying an idea out temporarily is wonderful as normally what would happen would be the road structure change proposal would come into our letter boxes and we would just have to live with what has been decided.
I have always balked against the “hierarchy of roads” model which is close to the hearts of all engineers. It’s one of the 10 Commandments which are beaten into all aspiring engineers as they are trained. I have always found it offensive that an engineer in a back room somewhere will decide that a road is an “arterial” or a “local” road. That means they then put blocks in to stop traffic going down a road to stop what they refer to as “rat running”.
I object to being called a “rat” when all I am doing as an accountant is maximising the yield on all of our investments in roads. If I chose to go down a road then don’t block me.
So, back to Francis Ave. This is a road along from our house. Our street now has three sets of traffic lights where there was originally one. The new traffic lights have improved the road immensely. However, the engineers should stop trying to make people only go down the roads individuals choose. All roads are part of a network. People should be free to use whatever roads in the network they choose. Concentrating road movements to just some roads is unfair on the households which have to bear the brunt of this transport.
I applaud the CCC engineers (who still have no professional colleague on the executive team at CCC) for this consultation. I recommend that they have done enough in this area and I have attached the submission I made to CCC.
Francis Ave Trials
Kia ora Garry,
Thanks for taking the time to share your views with us.
When consultation closes, named submissions and a staff report will be considered by elected members before they make their decision. We will let you know when the report and details of the decision meeting are available.
Please contact us if you would like any further information. Your reference number is 39072.
Submitted Date: 18/03/2021 17:22:29
Attachments: No
Trial 1 – Left in, left out comments – please be as specific as possible to help us understand your views.: There is absolutely no need to change this street. I have no problem with traffic being slowed down on this street, but surely the engineers dying-at-the-stake commitment to the hierarchy of roads model has its limitations? Every person pays rates. Every person has the chance to drive or ride of vehicle over any road. Just because somebody lives down a supposedly “quiet” street does not mean they can also have the pleasure of us not travelling down it because it inconveniences them. I live on a busy road. I’m happy to share the road with whoever wishes to travel down it. Stop closing off roads. Your proposals are short sighted. I am impressed with the changes to our street (Warrington). The traffic lights (which I normally detest) have enhanced the traffic flow. Well done.
Garry Moore Phone: 021 427 796 Email: garry@garrymoore.nz
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