Goods Way Zebra Crossing Safe and Healthy Streets Consultation

Overview

We want our streets to have more safe space for everyone to walk and cycle, for children to get to and from school safely and healthily, for businesses to be able to flourish, to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles and for you to be breathing cleaner air.

We want to ensure that our streets support a strong recovery from the pandemic and provide a lasting legacy of greener, safer, healthier travel.

As 69% of households in Camden do not own a car and public transport use remains much lower than before the pandemic, we know that safe and easy walking, cycling and scooting routes are more important than ever. Supporting and encouraging those who are able to walk and cycle, by creating safer streets will ensure that there is more space available on public transport and on our roads for those who need it the most.

Pedestrians are the largest group of road users in the Goods Way area. Large numbers of people walk to visit attractions like Granary Square with its fountains, shops and restaurants around Coal Drops Yard and Kings Boulevard, or the leisure centre at 5 Pancas Square. Close by there are numerous office buildings and the University Central St Martins, residential blocks as well as the major train and tube stations at Kings Cross and St Pancras. All of these generate significant amounts of pedestrians. We believe it vital to prioritise the safety of pedestrians in line with the Camden Transport Strategy.

Since the opening of the new Esperance footbridge into Granary Square there has been a noticeable rise in people wanting to cross Goods Way at this point and these numbers are expected to rise significantly in the upcoming months as Covid restrictions continue to be reduced.

There is no formal crossing facility here, and the existing zebra crossing is too far from the footbridge where people are now trying to cross. The pedestrian volumes crossing here justify considering a new controlled crossing facility to improve road safety for vulnerable road users.

Because a zebra crossing is already present on Goods Way close to Granary Bridge, we are proposing a second zebra crossing.

Why your views matter

To improve road safety we are proposing:

• A second zebra crossing next to the new footbridge.  This would help give priority to pedestrians wishing to cross here and reduce the risk of vehicles speeding up after leaving the existing zebra close to Granary Bridge.
• Extending the existing widened area of pavement. This would reduce the road width and crossing distance here, making it quicker, safer and easier for people crossing the road. It would also restrict vehicles parking or taxis waiting here, as they obscure visibility when people attempt to cross between stationary vehicles.

How would these changes be made?

After the consultation, we will carefully consider the responses to help us in deciding on whether or not to progress the scheme. The final decision will be made based on evidence including monitoring data, relevant policies, and the results of this public consultation.

Should a decision be made to proceed, we would implement the changes subject to a final design check.  

What happens next

After the consultation, a decision report will be produced and published online via our website. Local residents and stakeholders will be notified of the outcome. The report will consider a broad range of information including officer observations, consultation responses, relevant policies, and other data/information.