Watlington Traffic Study TPP Presentation 24/11/2014

1. Watlington Traffic StudyTPP Presentation 24/11/2014

2. Study brief • Analyse what the traffic issues are currently; • Without any additional development in Watlington itself, determine what the anticipated rise in traffic volumes generally in the region would mean for Watlington's roads; • Assess which areas of Watlington would be better for development (without any additional road infrastructure) to minimise additional traffic flows within the town; • If you could facilitate a relief road with new housing development, determine which roads it would be best to connect with; • Establish how through traffic could be deterred, whilst still encouraging destination traffic which supports Watlington’s shops and business community

3. Our approach to the traffic study • Comprehensive traffic surveys were undertaken in September 2014. • A site visit was undertaken on Thursday 18th September 2014. • A pragmatic approach to this study based on the data, our knowledge of the town and professional judgement of the transport issues. • Supported by the extensive local knowledge of members of the NPCC.

4. Structure of presentation • Site visit observations • Traffic surveys • Future background traffic growth • Potential relief road • Options for improving traffic • Summary and conclusions

5. Site visit observations • B4009 Shirburn Street • Shirburn Street / Hill Road / Couching Street / High Street Priority Junction • B4009 Couching Street • Couching Street / Brook Street Priority Junction • B480 Brook Street • Other routes: Hill Road, High Street, Pyrton Lane

12. Traffic surveys • Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) survey • Indication of the level of through-traffic by cars and HGVs on a typical weekday. • A cordon was identified and ANPR was set up at four locations: • B4009 Shirburn Road • B480 Howe Road • B4009 Britwell Road • B480 Cuxham Road

13. Traffic surveys • Manual counts • Link counts for Hill Road and Pyrton Lane • Turning movements on Pyrton Lane between B4009 and B480 • Turning movements at the Couching Street / Brook Street priority junction • Automatic Traffic Counters • Installed near the ANPR cameras to confirm the traffic flows on the ANPR survey day were not atypical.

15. Summary of traffic surveys • The ATCs confirmed the traffic flows on the ANPR survey day were not atypical. • Average weekday 24-hour traffic flow: Approximately 22,500 vehicles pass the four main cordon points (ATCs). • Total ANPR traffic flow: • 1,890 in the AM peak (7.0% HGVs) • 2,061 vehicles in the PM peak (2.6% HGVs) • Approximately 85% were “matched” which gives an indication of through-traffic. • Shirburn Road accounts for a large proportion of the through-traffic, in the region of 40% to 50%.

16. “Matched” vehicle movements to/from Shirburn Road, AM Peak 30 46 330 304 151 160 127 76 Note: 22 U-turning movements not shown

17. Summary of traffic surveys • Approximate average journey times: North - South 3 mins 5 mins in AM peak East – West 2.5 mins 4 mins in AM peak

18. Summary of traffic surveys • Couching Street / Brook Street priority junction PICADY analysis • Theoretically be operating within capacity. • Confirms observation that queueing was caused by the on-street parking on Couching Street. • Pyrton Lane used as a “rat-run” especially in the AM peak

19. Future background traffic growth • TEMPRO (Trip End Model Presentation Program) database • Without any development, between 2014 and 2031. • 6% to 8% increase in background traffic depending on the time period. • Inter-peak and weekends are expected to experience more growth than during the weekday peak times. • Junction analysis for

20. Potential relief road • Most HGVs travel between Shirburn Road and Howe Road or Britwell Road • Link between Shirburn Road and Britwell Road could be provided • Pyrton Lane could be improved and used as an alternative HGV route • Pyrton Lane could also provide access to schools

21. Options for improving traffic • Discourage HGV through movements • Signage • Physical measures to restrict HGV access • Enforcement of 7.5 tonne weight restriction zone • Public realm improvements • Short-term • Medium-term • Long-term

22. Discourage HGV through movements • Signage • 7.5t weight restriction signs on the M40 before Junction 6. • Consistency in signage at the M40 Junction 6 slip roads. • Removal of “M40” from the signs at the Couching Street / Brook Street junction. • Local access only signs. • Black lorry routeing signs.

23. Discourage HGV through movements • Physical measures to restrict HGV access • Width / height restrictions. • Lack of alternative routes available for HGVs at present. • Requirements for HGV access to serve Watlington. • Physical measures are not considered to be appropriate at Watlington at this time but an opportunity might exist in the future. • Enforcement of 7.5 tonne weight restriction zone • Police checks need to be undertaken on a regular basis to encourage HGV drivers to change habits.

24. Public realm improvements Short-term measures • Removal of on-street car parking. • Realignment of kerb to ease left-turning manoeuvres from Couching Street to Brook Street.

25. Public realm improvements Short-term measures • Rearrangement of the "give-way to oncoming traffic" • Road markings to improve the alignment and visibility for northbound traffic. • Renewal of footways and kerb materials by the pinchpoint. • Convert one or two of the on-street parking bays on High Street into loading bays.

26. Public realm improvements Medium-term measures • Reconfiguration of the Shirburn Street / Hill Road / Couching Street / High Street junction. • Potentially involve installing traffic signals. • Buildout on Shirburn Street. • There is scope to provide an additional loading bay. • Potential for implementing a 20mph zone.

27. Public realm improvements Long-term measures • Long-term aspiration for Watlington: to “reclaim” the town from the traffic. • A “relief road” in the future would reduce traffic flows along Shirburn Street and Couching Street. • Elements of the “shared space” concept could be applied to Watlington. • Any changes to Watlington should be fit for purpose and recognise the constraints which Watlington faces. • Acceptance for some HGVs which have to serve the town.

28. Public realm improvements Long-term measures • Heart of Watlington could be considered to be along the High Street, between the War Memorial and the Town Hall. • Demarcated by a different surface material. • Carriageway could be raised to be the same level as the footways. • Vehicles be made aware they are passing by the heart of the town - slow down and drive more carefully • Depending on the car parking demand in the future, potential to remove yellow lines along the High Street. • Further scope to implement other traffic management measures, e.g. a one-way system on Couching Street.

30. Summary and conclusions • High proportion of through-traffic and HGV movements. • HGVs are mainly travelling between the M40 and Britwell Road or Howe Road. • There is a potential to deliver effectively a “relief road”. • Background traffic growth is expected to be between 6% and 8%. • Traffic growth in the area is expected to intensify the existing congestion and air quality issues in the town. • Measures to deter through-traffic have been examined. • Discourage HGVs through the town. • Short-term, medium-term and long-term public realm improvements.