Prince of Wales Road Walking, Cycling and Road Safety Improvements

Overview

We are seeking your views on the Council’s proposals to create a safer and more pleasant environment for walking and cycling on Prince of Wales Road between the junction with Haverstock Hill and the junction with Grafton Road.

Why your views matter

Current collision data for Prince of Wales Road, indicates that the majority of collisions that have taken place in the last 36 months on Prince of Wales Road have taken place at the Prince of Wales Road/ Haverstock Hill junction and the Malden Road/ Prince of Wales junction. The majority of collisions along Prince of Wales Road have involved vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and powered two wheelers). The collision data for Prince of Wales Road indicates that there is a need for road safety improvements that will make this a safer road for vulnerable road users, particularly at signalised junctions.

Prince of Wales Road provides a strategic east / west cycle link between Kentish Town Road (east) and Haverstock Hill (west). The London Strategic Cycling Analysis 2017, identifies Prince of Wales Road as currently being in the top 5-10% of roads in the London road network with the highest cycle flows. This analysis also identifies Prince of Wales Road as having high potential to contribute towards addressing London’s greatest cycling needs, through forming part of a wider cycling network.

In light of the above cycling analysis and collision data, officers have been investigating options for improving the cycling infrastructure on Prince of Wales Road and making it easier and simpler for pedestrians to cross this road. A particular focus has been on simplifying the layout and improving the safety of the junctions with Haverstock Hill and Malden Road. Three options were developed and assessed using traffic modelling, these options are:

 Option A: Do Minimum

This option proposes an advisory cycle lane along the Prince of Wales Road Corridor, where widths permitted this, and no alterations to the kerb lines. Minor amendments including Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) for cyclists are proposed at the junctions with Haverstock Hill and Malden Road, this also included no alterations to kerb lines.

Option B: Segregated eastbound cycle track

Option C: Segregated westbound cycle track

Both Options B and C propose the introduction of a cycle track along Prince of Wales Road. This cycle track would be either eastbound (adjacent to the northern footway) or westbound (adjacent to the southern footway) depending on the option taken forward, the reason for this being that there is not enough road width to allow for a cycle track in both directions on Prince of Wales Road without removing a substantial amount of residents’ parking. In both options, bus boarding facilities will be provided where the cycle track runs parallel to a bus stop. At the Prince of Wales Road / Haverstock Hill junction it is proposed that a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists is introduced. Significant improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities are proposed at the Prince of Wales Road / Malden Crescent junction. In particular, it is proposed to ban the left-turn from Prince of Wales Road into Malden Crescent (southbound), improve pedestrian crossings including the provision of a new diagonal crossing, create wider footways, narrow and simplify the junction layout, early release at the signals and two-stage right turns proposed for cyclists and integration with cycle track. It is proposed to raise all informal and formal pedestrian crossings along the corridor.

The key difference between Options B and C is the amount of resident permit parking spaces that would need to be removed in order to accommodate the proposed segregated cycle track. Option B (eastbound cycle track) would require the removal of 5 resident permit parking bays along the northern side of the carriageway while Option C (westbound cycle track) the design retains the same number of residential parking bays.

The three options developed for Prince of Wales Road have been evaluated against each of the project objectives. The assessment of each option against the project objectives indicates that option C (westbound cycle lane) is best able to deliver the scheme objectives.

These objectives are:

• Simplify junction layouts
• Significantly improve facilities for cyclists
• Provide enhanced pedestrian crossing facilities
• Do not significantly increase traffic congestion
• Improve air quality
• Improve the quality of the public realm
• Make this a more pleasant area for residents

This consultation document sets out the proposals for the implemention of Option C: westbound segregated cycle track on Prince of Wales Road. The proposals are detailed below and illustrated in the attached consultation drawing.  It is considered that Option C better meets the objective of significantly improving facilities for cyclists than Option B as, while both provide the same cycle facilities, the gradient is steeper and the volume of cyclists higher travelling westbound on Prince of Wales Road. Therefore, a westbound cycle lane was deemed to have more impact.

Haverstock Hill/ Prince of Wales Road Junction:

Reduce the westbound lane on the Prince of Wales Road arm of the junction from two lanes to one lane. Buildout the footway on Prince of Wales Road arm of the junction. A shared pedestrian / cyclist area introduced adjacent to existing cycle link from Maitland Park Villas. This shared space will be accessed via a dropped kerb from Haverstock Hill (southbound). It is proposed to introduce an advisory cycle lane on Haverstock Hill southbound.

Malden Road/ Prince of Wales Road Junction:

It is proposed to improve the layout of this junction and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. This will be done through introducing a new diagonal crossing, building out the footways on all arms of the junction and introducing a two-stage right turn for cyclists.  The left-turn from Prince of Wales Road into Malden Crescent (southbound) will be banned and a pedestrian / cyclist shared space intoduced on eastern arm of junction. The road layout on the Malden Crescent arm of the junction will be reduced to a single lane approach.

Cycling:

Introduction of a 1.5m wide, segregated westbound cycle lane with 0.5m buffer between the track and parking bays. The cycle track will run from the junction with Grafton Road in the east to the junction with Haverstock Hill in the west. Bus boarding areas will be provided for bus passengers where the cycle track travels behind a bus stop and waiting area for passengers.

Walking / Public Realm:

In addition to the pedestrian improvements proposed at both of the above mentioned junctions, it is proposed to raise to footway level the 2 existing zebra crossings and 2 informal crossings along Prince of Wales Road. The footway will be built out along some sections of the corridor in order to provide more space for pedestrians, particularly at junctions. A total of 500sq.m of additional footway is proposed.

Parking:

To accommodate the westbound cycle lane, the layout of residents parking bays on Prince of Wales Road will be realigned and rearranged. However, the total number of parking spaces will remain the same as the existing provision.

Air Quality:

Pre and post scheme monitoring of air quality will be carried out as part of this scheme.

Traffic Impacts:

There is likely to be an increase in traffic congestion on Prince of Wales Road due to the additional walking and cycling facilities that are being provided. The left turn into Malden Road from Prince of Wales Road will be banned as part of the proposals, this movement is used by 14 vehicles during the peak travel times which are expected divert to alternative routes.

Buses / Public Transport Users:

Eastbound and westbound bus stops will be retained. Westbound bus stops will be moved into the carriageway in order to accommodate the cycle track. Where the cycle track travels behind a bus stop a waiting area will be provided for passengers to board and alight.

Funding:

This proposal is being funded through the Council’s LIP programme funding and S106 contributions, if approved it is expected to be implemented within the next 12 months.

The Council will be pleased to hear your views on the proposals we are consulting upon as well as any alternative suggestions or objections you may have to any aspect of the scheme. Please respond to this consultation by completing the online survey by Monday, 10 September 2018.

Please Note: If you are responding on behalf of an organisation only one reply will be accepted. You must give your full postal address when responding to this consultation if you want us to consider your views.

What happens next

While it will not be possible to reply to you individually, all comments will be taken into account. At the end of this consultation exercise, a report will be prepared analysing the comments received and officers’ recommendations. This report will be presented to the Director of Regeneration and Planning who will make a decision whether or not to proceed with the scheme. Under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, your response is available for public inspection; however, your personal details will remain confidential.