Council is continuing looking at ways to improve pedestrian safety on streets within the CBD. However, a number of proposals being considered will have significant detrimental effect on residents surrounding the CBD.
The highest ranking proposal (Option 3 – rank 1) is to convert the eastbound traffic lane on Victoria Avenue to a bus lane (buses, taxis, motorcycles, bicycles allowed) between Anderson St and Archer St.
Such a proposal ha significant implication for West Ward drivers. This route is used by drivers exiting Fullers Rd and heading Chatswood Chase or Penshurst St (to reach the city) and the East Chatswood Industrial Area including access to Bunnings, Pet Barn, the Good Guys, Repco and North Shore Timber. If Victoria Ave east is closed to general traffic it is likely that drivers will create an 'informal Northern Bypass Rd' using the 'flower' streets, predominantly Daisy Street, trying to make both left and right turns. It should also be noted that the Council Officer's report recommends against progressing consideration of a Northern ByPass Road around the CBD.
Option 12 – rank 23 also specifically impacts on Fullers Rd drivers. The proposal is to close eastbound movements from the Pacific Highway and Fullers Rd into Help Street. This means that only left or right turns onto the Highway would be allowed from Fullers Rd. This option is ranked toward the end of the list of options being considered.
1. Make Oliver Rd two-way and provide a full movements intersection at the Highway and Oliver Rd. This option would mean that to make a right onto the Highway you would need first to make a right from Centennial Ave into Whitton Rd across traffic turning left from the Highway into Centennial Rd.
2. Create a one way loop: this would allow right turns from the Highway into Centennial Ave. Cars seeking to get onto the Highway would use Oliver and Whitton as above.
Option 13 ranks last in the Officer's Report.
Options 14 & 15 rank 18 consider the creation of a CBD Northern Bypass Road. However these options are ranked quite low by the Council Officers.
Option 2 rank 9: Reallocate turn lanes and provide a right turn lane in Endeavour St on the approach to Anderson St.
Option 4 – rank 7: Convert kerbside parking on the northern side of Victoria Avenue to a taxi zone.
Option 5 – rank 3: Ban the right turn from Endeavour St to Anderson Street (except for bus and taxi).
Option 6 – rank 9: Provide non-invasive fencing on the southern side of Victoria Avenue between Anderson St and Archer St.
Option 8 rank 7: Increase the length of the right turn lane from Albert Ave into Archer St.
Option 9 – rank 15: Change lane allocation and add right turning land from Albert Ave to Archer St (north).
Option 11 – rank 18: Widen the Archer St approach to Boundary St.
Option 16 – rank 2: Review and revise Transport Interchange Infrastructure.
There has been considerable community comments about the operation of the Transport Interchange. A review of operations as outlined is long overdue and supported. Our Local State Member who is also the Minister of Transport should be continually lobbied on this matter.
Option 17 – rank 17: Increase the length of the right turn lane from Albert Ave to Victor St (southbound).
This option is wholeheartedly supported. RMS needs to be continually lobbied for funding.
Option 20 – 12: Close Orchard Rd south of Albert Avenue.
This option would have significant impact on drivers heading for Centennial Avenue and Fullers Rd from Orchard Rd. Orchard Rs provides a key link from traffic progressing north from Artarmon or Willoughby Rd. If Orchard Rd was closed as proposed, traffic wanting to turn left onto Albert Avenue would need to turn right into Johnson, left into Victor than left into Albert. This would have the flow on impact of restricting traffic proceeding north in Victor St wishing to cross Albert.
Below are my comments on Item 9.3 The Officers are recommending progressing in the short term with items 2, 3, 4, 11, 13(I) 14(I), 15, 17, 18 and 20.
At the outset can I say that the current report provides sufficient information for the public to offer comments. There is no need to spend more time on proposals that are fanciable.
Option 3 is highly controversial. The majority of feedback I have had about Victoria Avenue is that people want it reconverted to four lanes – one lane in each direction plus parking on either side of the road including indented bus bays. It is debatable that excluding cars from the eastbound lane will improve bus flow. The main 'chokes' are The Concourse Bus Stop and the Archer St lights. Whilst the ambition to take cars off Victoria Avenue this should not be considered other than in conjunction with a Northern Bypass Road.
Option 4 could be implemented indepently of any other option. The space is currently allocated to goods vehicles. However, I would question the need for a second taxi rank in Victoria Ave. My observation is that the rank in front of the Chase is used mostly for drop-off – taxis don't 'rank' there. Drivers seem to prefer to join the long rank tail in Victoria Avenue west of the station.
Option 14: The use of Malvern Avenue and Havilah Street can hardly be considered to constitute a northern bypass of the CBD. Such a suggestion is fanciable.
Option 15: The route proposed is inconsistent with other proposals being considered such a the 'closure' of Help Street at the Pacific Highway to traffic from Fullers Rd.
Option 18 – The proposal to widen Albert Avenue at the Pacific Highway is soundly supported.
Option 20: Closure of Orchard at Albert. All I can say is 'You've got to be jokin'. This would have the impact of forcing vehicles to use Victor street to access the Highway. Victor St is already sub-optimal with one left dedicated turn and one thru/right-turn.