HERE WE GO AGAIN... ROAD INTERSECTION UPGRADE

​At the inner Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe, the local Council has plans to “upgrade” a four way intersection (Commercial Road & Skyring Terrace) by installing traffic lights, removing car parking spaces and existing trees and creating right turn lanes for vehicles.

​Back in 2012 Brisbane City Council published similar proposals for the four way intersection of James, Doggett, and Robertson Streets in Fortutide Valley. At that time we raised substantial concerns which were detailed here http://www.neylan.com.au/conversation/prioritising-vs-filtering-in-turn.
Fortunately Council’s plans for that intersection in Fortitude Valley did not proceed; consequently the pedestrian friendly nature and low vehicle speed environment of the area remains and life goes on.
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Now similar proposals are actually about to be implemented in Teneriffe.

 Some comment on why these proposals are flawed and inappropriate:

• This is a “traffic engineering” solution i.e. it is focussed primarily on moving vehicles expeditiously and ignores the nature of the surrounding environment
• This is an intersection which experiences congestion for 20 -30 minutes each day in the morning and evening peaks. For the remainder of the day vehicles and pedestrians move (filter in turn) with minimum fuss. Introduction of traffic signals which prioritize vehicles over pedestrians is a waste of rate payers’ money and is unnecessary.
• ​During off peak times (i.e. for most of the day and evening) signalized intersections are a source of frustration for both vehicles and pedestrians – the two traffic light controlled intersections just down the road at the Gasworks development provide a good case in point. 

• ​Casual observation of the journey along Macquarie Street which turns into Vernon Terrace and subsequently into Skyring Terrace shows how the character of the street influences vehicular and pedestrian behaviour.

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• ​Vernon Terrace between Florence Street and Commercial Road is characterized by buildings and shop frontages lining the footpath edge, wide footpaths, extensive shade tree planting and continuous kerbside parking. This character promotes pedestrian activity and also promotes natural traffic calming – i.e. lower vehicle speeds in this sector
• As Vernon Terrace turns into Skyring Terrace beyond the Commercial Road intersection the character of the thoroughfare changes significantly, and so does street-level behaviour. There is very limited kerbside parking, very limited street tree plantings and no commercial frontages. The change in character translates to an increase in vehicle speeds and a less amenable environment for pedestrians. This arrangement continues through the Gasworks development right up to Breakfast Creek Road.

​In summary the proposed signalized intersection is an unnecessary traffic engineering “fix-up” to a problem that does not exist: it will be detrimental to the wonderful character of the Woolstores precinct of Teneriffe.