Issue - meetings

This report informs the Executive Member of the results of the public consultation undertaken on the proposed improvements to the Blossom Street area, advises of road network implications of any alterations made and presents potential options for altering the layout to improve safety for all users.

RESOLVED:                That the Executive Member for City Strategy agrees to:

i)             Note the results of the public consultation;

ii)           Note the results of micro-simulation computer modelling undertaken to ascertain the road network impact of making various alterations to Blossom Street;

iii)         Approve the implementation of the preferred option detailed in Annex ‘E’, in order that further consultation can be undertaken locally to develop detailed design, resulting in works being tendered and construction commencing in the autumn of 2010;

iv)         Delegate to the Director of City Strategy authority to approve the detailed design of the scheme, including refinements aimed at addressing any outstanding Police comments about safety issues, as well as any practical opportunities to include cycle priorities on Holgate Road and to reduce the problems caused by the cobbled gutter, and vehicles poorly parked on the double yellow lines, on the narrow strip of cobbles on the south side of Blossom Street;

v)            Request Officers to pursue the introduction of additional loading and waiting restrictions in Blossom Street so that any agreed changes can be implemented at the same time as other work is completed in the area.

REASON:                        The proposals will provide facilities to enhance the accessibility and safety for all users of this road, with significant improvements for the more vulnerable users: pedestrians and cyclists.  In addition, the streetscape and approach along Blossom Street towards the historic Micklegate Bar will be significantly improved, particularly by removing unnecessary street furniture.  The proposed measures would also make a significant contribution towards the aims of the Council as a Cycling City.

The Executive Member considered a report, which informed him of the results of the citywide public consultation undertaken on the proposed improvements to the Blossom Street area. The report also advised of the road network implications of any alterations made to Blossom Street and its junction with Queen Street, Micklegate and Nunnery Lane, following further detailed analysis.

The following options had been considered as part of the proposals:

Option A is merely a comparison case to the base model and acts as the ‘status quo’.  The only change here is the conversion of the bus-gate from signalised to a merge.  As discussed, this does show some apparent benefit to car users of this corridor and therefore acts as the ‘do minimum’ case against which each of the other Options are compared.

Option B (which was Option 1 in the public consultation) includes a new signalised one-stage pedestrian crossing between the Bar Convent and the Windmill PH, much to the benefit of pedestrians.  In addition, the inbound Blossom Street stop-line is set further back so that larger vehicles can make an easier left turn into Queen Street.  Furthermore, an extended cycle feeder-lane is introduced under Micklegate Bar outbound so that outbound cyclists can travel to the front of stationary traffic to access the ASL, unhindered by vehicles queuing and blocking the archway. 

Option C is the same, other than that the two other ‘staggered’ (two-stage) pedestrian crossings, at Holgate Road and outside the cinema, are straightened into one-stage so that pedestrians can cross in one movement.

Option D is the same as Option B (with similar benefits), except this time one inbound traffic lane on Blossom Street is removed (three lanes reduced to two) so that room is made to introduce a new inbound cycle lane.  This has the benefit that cyclists now have a facility inbound.  In addition, inbound traffic lanes would be significantly wider than the narrow ones, which are currently present.  With wider traffic lanes and with already being displaced further from the kerb by the new cycle lane, left-turning vehicles would no longer need to straddle both lanes and could easily make the manoeuvre.

Option E (which was Option 2 in the public consultation) is the same, other than that the flare from one to two traffic lanes occurs later inbound, after the cinema crossing.  This means that the inbound cycle lane can be continuous from Holgate Road to the Micklegate junction.

Option F (which was Option 3 in the public consultation) includes a new staggered two-stage pedestrian crossing outside the Bar Convent and also on the Queen Street arm, to improve capacity of this junction.  In addition, although similarly inbound to Option E for cyclists, a further cycle lane is introduced, as well as an outbound cycle lane.  As a result, outbound traffic lanes are reduced from two to one, and consequently the two outbound Queen Street lanes must be separately phased.

Officers circulated an update at the meeting which detailed their responses to additional comments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101