Home Zones - Measures

measures - typical measures and their cost

The information below has been kindly supplied by Hertfordshire County Council. Although the costs are indicative only, they give an excellent idea of the types of figures involved in setting up effective traffic calming measures.

For more information about these schemes and costing contact nick.gough@hertscc.gov.uk

Information about Local Hertfordshire campaigns can be found at http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/travelwise/Campaign/campaign.htm and http://www.hertsdirect.org/infoadvice/roads/greentravel.

The list below shows a number of transportation related measures that could be implemented to help solve traffic problems. Typical costs for each feature are included together with their advantages and disadvantages.

Section 1: Crossings
Zebra Crossing, Pelican Crossing, Puffin Crossing, Traffic Island & Pedestrian Refuge

Section 2: Cycle Lanes
Cycle Lanes and Tracks

Section 3: Speed Reduction
Speed Camera, Round Topped Road Humps, Flat Topped Road Humps, Speed Cushions, Mini-roundabout, Chicanes, 20mph Zone, Junction Tables, Kerb Build Outs,
White Lining, Road Surface Changes, Gateways, Road Narrowings

Section 4: Miscellaneous
Permanent Road Closure, New Bus Shelters, 'Walking Bus', Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Ban, Pavement Reconstruction


Section 1: Crossings

	Zebra Crossing		Approx cost: £10,000
	The most familiar pedestrian crossing, the 'zebra', is characterised
	by black and white stripes and flashing yellow beacons on either
	side of the road.

	Advantages:
		provides a good crossing point for pedestrians
		pedestrians do not have to wait for traffic lights to change in
		their favour

	Disadvantages:
		if a Zebra crossing is not frequently used by pedestrians,
		drivers tend to forget it is there; this can lead to accidents
		on the crossing
		can cause delays to vehicles when pedestrian flows are high
		drivers sometimes ignore pedestrians who are waiting to cross

	Pelican Crossing		Approx cost: £18,000
	A pelican crossing controls vehicle and pedestrian movements with
	traffic lights. Pedestrians must wait for the 'green man' before
	crossing the road

	Advantages:
		provides a good crossing point for pedestrians
		visually impaired people benefit from the 'beep' that sounds
		when the green man is showing
		can keep vehicle delays to a minimum by making pedestrians
		wait and cross in a group, rather than one by one

	Disadvantages:
		the traffic lights and railings may be considered visually
		intrusive
		cannot be located on very high speed roads
		difficult to locate because, generally, residents do not want a
		crossing directly outside their home

	Puffin Crossing		Approx cost: £22,000
	A puffin crossing is a new version of the pelican crossing. It has more
	in-built safety features. It looks very similar to a pelican except that
	the red and green man are on the same side of the road as the
	person waiting to cross.

	Advantages:
		provides a good crossing point for pedestrians
		improves road safety
		less unnecessary delay for traffic

	Disadvantages:
		same as the pelican - see above

	Traffic Island &		Approx cost: £3,000
	Pedestrian Refuge
	A traffic island is usually situated in the centre of a road to help
	reduce vehicle speeds and to prevent over-taking. If it includes a gap
	in the middle of the island it is called a refuge; it allows pedestrians
	to cross half the road at a time.

	Advantages:
		reduces vehicle speeds
		prevents over-taking
		can improve road safety

	Disadvantages:
		can cause problems for cyclists and wide vehicles
		can reduce on-street parking
		may be considered visually intrusive
		not suitable for large groups of pedestrians

Menu: [Top][Crossings][Cycle Lanes][Speed Reduction][Misc][Bottom]

Section 2: Cycle Lanes

	Cycle Lanes &		Approx cost: £60
	Tracks		per linear metre
	A cycle track is dedicated space provided for cyclists either on-road
	or off-road.

	Advantages:
		provides for safer cycling
		promotes a healthier lifestyle
		encourages more cycling which in turn may reduce traffic
		fumes, noise and congestion
		can reduce the speed of other vehicles by limiting the width of
		road available to them

	Disadvantages:
		roads and verges are often not wide enough to install cycle
		facilities
		for on-road cycle lanes to be effective, parking has to be
		removed
		road signs are needed at frequent intervals along the length
		of the cycle lane or track

Menu: [Top][Crossings][Cycle Lanes][Speed Reduction][Misc][Bottom]

Section 3: Speed Reduction

	Speed Camera		Approx cost: £25,000
	Speed cameras automatically photograph the number plates of
	drivers exceeding the speed limit. Many speeding drivers have been
	convicted by the photographic evidence.

	Advantages:
		reduces vehicle speeds
		improves road safety

	Disadvantages:
		some drivers only slow down at the camera sites
		the camera flash can be distracting to drivers
		the camera housing may be considered visually intrusive

	Round Topped		Approx cost: £1,000
	Road Humps		per hump
	Round topped road humps are usually 75mm high. They must be
	accompanied we a speed reducing feature installed at both ends of a
	series of humps.

	Advantages:
		very good at reducing vehicle speeds and improving road
		safety
		do not usually affect on-street parking
		self enforcing
		relatively cheap

	Disadvantages:
		can increase traffic noise especially when HGV's pass by
		can cause damage to some vehicles
		signs, street lighting and white lines are all required and may
		be considered visually intrusive
		can cause discomfort for drivers and passengers
		can cause problems for buses and emergency services

	Flat Topped		Approx cost: £1,500
	Road Humps		per hump
	Flat-topped are usually 75mm high and can be of any length.

	Advantages:
		very good at reducing vehicle speeds and improving road
		safety
		do not usually affect on-street parking
		self enforcing
		flat-topped humps can be used by pedestrians as a crossing
		point

	Disadvantages:
		can increase traffic noise especially when HGV's pass by
		can cause damage to some vehicles
		signs, street lighting and white lines are all required and may
		be considered visually intrusive
		can cause discomfort for drivers and passengers
		can cause problems for buses and emergency services

	Speed Cushions		Approx cost: £1,500
	per cushion
	Speed cushions slow down cars but cause minimal inconvenience to
	larger vehicles such as buses and fire engines.

	Advantages:
		reduces vehicle speeds
		improves road safety

	Disadvantages:
		on-street parking causes problems
		can cause problems to some ambulances
		signs, street lighting and white lines are required which may
		be considered visually intrusive

	Mini-roundabout		Approx cost: £10,000
	Mini-roundabouts are often only marked out with white paint. They
	are used on roads that have an average speed of 30mph or less.
	They are quite often used as a 'speed reducing feature' before a
	series of road humps.

	Advantages:
		reduces vehicle speeds and can improve road safety
		can reduce driver delays when emerging from minor roads

	Disadvantages:
		can generate traffic conflicts, especially at four armed
		junctions
		not ideal for cyclists
		signing, street lighting and white lines are required and may
		be considered visually intrusive

	Chicanes		Approx cost: £10,000
	Chicanes are road narrowings located alternately on either side of the
	road. They slow traffic down by forcing one stream to give-way to the
	other. There needs to be a balanced two-way flow of traffic for the
	chicanes to work.

	Advantages:
		reduces vehicle speeds and can improve road safety
		well accepted by bus companies and the emergency services

	Disadvantages:
		can reduce on-street parking
		can create conflicts between vehicles
		usually illuminated bollards, street lighting, signing and white
		lines are all required, which may be considered visually
		intrusive

Menu: [Top][Crossings][Cycle Lanes][Speed Reduction][Misc][Bottom]

	20mph Zone		Approx cost: £50,00 - £100,000
	20mph zones are usually limited to small residential areas. Traffic
	calming measures (usually speed humps) have to be installed so that
	vehicle speeds are physically restricted to 20 mph or less.

	Advantages:
		very good at reducing vehicle speeds
		improves road safety
		traffic calming measures situated in a 20mph zone need less
		signing and street lighting than usual, which keeps visual
		intrusion to a minimum

	Disadvantages:
		requires traffic calming measures, usually road humps, to be
		installed, which have their own disadvantages
		very expensive
		legislation restricts the size and location of 20 mph zones

	Junction Tables		Approx cost: £5,000
	per table
	Junction Tables are large flat top humps constructed across
	junctions to reduce the speed of approaching vehicles. They also
	provide a level place for pedestrians to cross.

	Advantages:
		reduce vehicle speeds at junctions
		highlights junctions to motorists
		provides level crossing point for pedestrians

	Disadvantages:
		pedestrians may not take care when crossing
		may cause problems for buses
		vehicles may drive onto footway

	Kerb Build Outs		Approx cost: £7,000
	per junction
	Kerb build-outs are extensions to the footway and are constructed in
	a similar material. The are used to reduce road width at junctions.

	Advantages:
		provide additional space for pedestrians on the footway
		reduce crossing distance
		restricts traffic speeds
		can deter unsafe parking on the junction

	Disadvantages:
		can make manoeuvres difficult for large vehicles
		usually need bollards to stop cars driving onto them
		can cause difficulties for cyclists
		may be hit in poor weather or at night

	White Lining		Approx cost: £0.50p
	per metre
	White Lining can be used to guide drivers through a junction or along
	a road. Hatch markings indicate which areas of carriageway should
	not be driven on.

	Advantages:
		very cheap
		very effective
		can be removed or modified easily

	Disadvantages:
		in poor weather changed or 'burned off' markings can be
		misleading
		no physical protection for pedestrians
		visibility problem in wet weather or a night

	Road Surface		Approx cost: £12.00
	Changes		per m2
	Road surface changes can be different colours and textures to
	highlight particular features. These may include cycle lanes,
	pedestrian crossings, bus stops or changes in speed limit.

	Advantages:
		does not reduce parking
		highlights certain features to road users
		relatively low cost
		does not disadvantage buses or emergency vehicles

	Disadvantages:
		difficult to see in poor weather conditions
		colours can fade
		limited effectiveness
		can create confusion regarding priority

	Gateways		Approx cost: £5,000
	per gateway
	Gateways are installed at entrances to towns and villages. They
	remind drivers that they are entering a residential areas and should
	reinforce the speed limit.

	Advantages:
		remind drivers of the change in road environment
		highlight speed limit changes

	Disadvantages:
		not effective in reducing speeds over a long stretch of road
		other measures are needed to maintain speed reduction

	Road Narrowings		Approx cost: £5,000
	per narrowing
	Road Narrowings are width restrictions which are used to narrow the
	road on either one or both sides of the carriageway.

	Advantages:
		reduces crossing width for pedestrians
		restricts traffic flows and speeds
		highlights hazardous sites e.g. outside schools
		prevents parking at hazardous sites

	Disadvantages:
		requires greater levels of driver skill to negotiate
		may cause conflicts
		careful signing essential
		can reduce available parking for residents

Menu: [Top][Crossings][Cycle Lanes][Speed Reduction][Misc][Bottom]

Section 4: Miscellaneous

	Permanent		Approx cost: £5,000
	Road Closure		per junction
	Permanent Road Closures are used to close one end of a road to
	prevent 'rat running'.

	Advantages:
		reduces through traffic
		reduces width of carriageway that pedestrians have to cross
		can incorporate cycle by pass allowing cycles to use route.

	Disadvantages:
		can increase emergency service response time
		can make certain journeys longer for residents
		forces vehicles onto other routes - these may be other
		residential roads

	New Bus		Approx cost: £7,000
	Shelters		depending on style
	New Bus Shelters should be used to provide better protection for bus
	passengers. They can vary in style from simple cantilever styles
	(roof and front) to fully enclosed units incorporating bus information
	screens.

	Advantages:
		provides weather protection for bus users
		can incorporate electronic information points for bus users

	Disadvantages:
		can reduce width of footpath available to pedestrians
		can be visually intrusive

	'Walking Bus'		Approx cost: £100
	The 'Walking Bus' is the newest mode of school transport! It is a
	group of pupils walking in pairs in a long line. The bus has a 'driver'
	and 'conductor' who are volunteer parents. On a rota basis, the
	parents walk the children to school picking up pupil 'passengers'
	at different 'bus stops'. Heavy bags and musical instruments are
	carried in a trolley which is pushed in front of the bus by the pupils.
	For safety, the pupil to parent ratio is limited, parents are trained
	by Road Safety Officers, parents are vetted by the Police and
	everyone travelling on the bus wears fluorescent jackets.

	Advantages:
		encourages walking, which in turn reduces traffic and fumes
		near the school
		improves general fitness of pupils
		promotes social development of pupils
		teaches pupils good road-sense
		starts the walking 'habit' which will be beneficial in later years
		fun for the pupils and parents
		parents get to meet other parents in the area

	Disadvantages:
		the walking bus may not always be available after extra
		curricular activities
		may need someone to co-ordinate the rota
		needs volunteers who will be available at school start and
		finish times

	Heavy Goods Vehicle		Approx cost: £8,000
	(HGV) Ban		for width restriction
	An HGV ban can be introduced to prohibit large vehicles from using
	unsuitable roads, by means of height, weight or width restrictions.

	Advantages:
		reduces traffic noise and vibration in residential areas
		reduces traffic fumes and discolouration of buildings
		makes walking and cycling more pleasant

	Disadvantages:
		physical width and height restrictions can cause problems for
		emergency services and removal lorries
		enforcing this type of ban is difficult and so it is not always
		very effective
		road signs are needed and may be considered visually
		intrusive

	Pavement		Approx cost: £20 - £100
	Reconstruction		per m2
	Old pavements can be broken out and replaced by new tarmac, block
	paving or slabs.

	Advantages:
		provides a good flat surface and reduces the likelihood of
		people tripping up
		good quality materials can improve the 'look' of the area

	Disadvantages:
		some of the more attractive paving materials have a rough
		surface, which may not be suitable for all areas

Menu: [Top][Crossings][Cycle Lanes][Speed Reduction][Misc][Bottom]


[home][concept][starting out][legal][events][links][join list][web contacts]