Tate Papworth
The Melton council is still investigating whether traffic calming measures will be required along a busy Burnside street.
Cr Steven Abboushi tabled a motion at the council’s February meeting requesting that council officers investigate options and associated costs to install traffic calming devices along Earlington Boulevard and report to council by the March meeting.
But officers didn’t meet the deadline and are still investigating the request.
Officers are currently awaiting current traffic count data to complete an analysis, to inform options and associated costings.
A further report will be presented at the next meeting when it is anticipated investigations will have concluded.
The boulevard in question stretches about 200 metres and comprises of two five metre wide lanes in each direction and a centre median that separates the traffic lanes.
It has no recorded vehicle crash statistics from the past five years.
According to the council, traffic calming aims to slow motorists who are inadvertently travelling above the speed limit in residential areas by building road humps or other obstructions.
While the methods have benefits, the council’s own website says they also have numerous limitations.
The council says that calming measures don’t remove all through traffic, won’t eliminate hoon-like behaviour and won’t prevent traffic accidents.
It also says calming measures won’t prevent drivers from speeding and are not likely to solve parking problems.
In fact, it says there’s a number of limitations imposed on the community by introducing such measures, including the potential loss of street parking, an increase in noise and fumes next to the traffic calming structures due to slowing down and then gathering speed and an increased glare at night from car lights and additional street lighting.
Increased maintenance costs to council, an increase in traffic volume in neighbouring streets and slower access for emergency vehicles are also listed as limitations stemming from calming measures.
