Outcome of meeting with RCC Highways on 14 October 2019

Pedestrian hazard from A606 in Langham

Presentation by Langham Traffic Group
to Rutland County Council

Meeting 14th October 2019
Langham Village Hall

Recap of issues

• Nov 17 Document submitted by Langham
• Dec 18 Integrated Transport Feasibility Study
  – ICTP 2017-12 A606 Langham

• In summary - three main issues highlighted
  1. A606 Langham complex road layout
  2. Volume of traffic
  3. Fear of pedestrians

Challenging layout of Langham / A606

Assumptions

• Vehicle at 30mph = 13.4 ms^-1
• A606 road width approximately 8m
• Average adult walking speed 1.2 ms^-1
• Average walking speed for male > 65 yrs = 0.9ms^-1, for female = 0.8ms^-1
  – Asher L. Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time: a cross-sectional study. Age and Ageing 2012; 41: 690–694

Time required to cross A606 based on assumptions:

• For average adult, 8m @ 1.2 ms-1 = 6.7s, not including decision time.
• For older male >65 years, 8m @ 0.9 ms-1 = 8.8s, not including decision time.
• For older female >65 years, 8m @ 0.8 ms-1 = 10s, not including decision time.
• Physically impaired persons and those with young children will also take longer than average adult time of 6.7s

From LTN 1/95 guidance

Acceptable Gap

An acceptable gap in which to cross, from kerb to kerb (or refuge), varies from person to person. The majority of pedestrians will accept a gap of 4-6 seconds at normal urban vehicle speeds to cross two lanes of traffic and even shorter gaps at slow vehicle approach speeds. Other groups may require somewhat larger gaps, of around 10 to 12 seconds or even longer. For these reasons the waiting times for various gap durations should be established for all types of users.

Poor visibility for crossing pedestrians – reduces safe time to cross

A606 / Cold Overton Road junction, 90° bend – visibility reduced to 10m each way

30mph = 13.4m/s giving

A606 / Burley Rd junction. Reduced bi-directional line of sight due to 90° bend. 270° visual scan required by pedestrian - more complex and takes longer

{Insert pics here }

Absent pavement along stretches A606 in Langham – pedestrians have no option but to cross A606

Volume of traffic A606 Langham

Mean traffic volume

• 2000 Circa - 6,500 per day
• 2014 Circa - 8,000 per day
• Dec 17 - 9,845 per day
  • RCC traffic count Dec 17
  • Speed Survey 1

Max traffic volume

• Dec 17 - 12,144 per day
  • RCC traffic count 8 Dec 17
  • Speed Survey 1

Peak time traffic volume

• 590 vehicles 0830-0900 (RCC)
• 1122 vehicles 0700-0800 31/10/17

Fear of pedestrians

In the Langham Neighbourhood Plan Survey of 2014, there were 329 comments relating to speed, volume and noist of traffic on the A606

• Are there any changes needed - 110 comments
• What I dislike about Langham - 128 comments
• Key things to be improved - 84 comments
• Any additional comments - 7 comments

That's 43% of all comments in a survey covering 6 separate issues - not just roads.

Example comments

• 'Dangerous corner for traffic turning right from A606 into Burley Road'
• 'Main road is dangerous'
• 'Take charge of A606 through the village'
• 'Traffic calming on A606' (3 comments)
• 'Access to Melton Road from Manor Lane is 'hair-raising''
• 'Something needs to be done about the speed, volume and noise of traffic on the A606'

Ongoing online petition. Views replicated in survey 2017. Langham PC continuing to receive similar feedback from residents.

New issues arising since Nov 17

• Change within the village and wider
• Comparison with other sites

Change within the village and wider

RCC Delivery report 2001-2006 (May 06) shows Langham A606 refuge (bottom left).
Traffic levels risen dramatically since

Mean traffic volume

• 2000 Circa - 6,500 per day
• 2014 Circa - 8,000 per day
• Dec 17 - 9,845 per day
  • RCC traffic count Dec 17
  • Speed Survey 1

Traffic levels risen dramatically since A606 Langham refuge depicted 2000-2006

Ongoing growth in Oakham
3 x houses Cold Overton Road near completion
Ongoing growth in Ranksborough
Forecasted houses for Cold Overton Road
Melton Bypass confirmed

Comparison with other sites