Speed cushions to reduce speeds in Henderson town centre

During the recent Henderson Streets for People trial, led by Eke Panuku Development Auckland, in collaboration with Auckland Transport, we tested a series of temporary changes in the Henderson town centre to make it easier and safer for locals to move around.

On 5 August 2021, after reviewing the traffic data and feedback collected during the trial, we announced that most elements would be scheduled for removal, whilst some elements including the main intersection artwork would be retained or adapted.

On reviewing the data collected, it showed that vehicle speeds through the main intersection of Great North Road, Railside Avenue and Ratanui Street were high - 20% higher than appropriate for a town centre. This indicates that the artwork alone is not sufficient to reduce speeds to the levels desired for town centres.

Eke Panuku strongly supports Auckland’s Vision Zero approach to road safety by ensuring speeds are safe and appropriate across the roading network. The Vision Zero programme is a partnership between agencies, including Auckland Transport, dedicated to keeping Aucklanders safe on our roads. This means prioritising the safety of all people, with an added focus on ensuring vulnerable road users (children, older people, people with disabilities, people walking, people cycling and motorcyclists) are protected.

The risk of death for pedestrians in a crash involving vehicles jump from 10% to 80% when vehicles travel at 50km/h as opposed to 30km/h. The risk of serious injuries can also be minimised significantly by reducing speeds.

To improve road safety and address the issue of high speeds through the town centre, we’ve investigated various options with Auckland Transport and the decision has been made to install speed cushions around the intersection to encourage slower speeds, supporting safety for all road users and enabling the artwork to be safely retained.

As people move through the town centre it may take a little time adjusting to the speed cushions, but research has shown interventions like speed cushions promote safe and appropriate speeds. We believe it is part of our collective responsibility to find a solution to this safety concern in the Henderson town centre.

Summary

• Installation of seven speed cushions will begin 14 Oct (see image below)
• Vehicle speed data collected from the recent trial indicated that speeds through the main intersection of Great North Road, Railside Avenue and Ratanui Street were high (20% higher than appropriate for a town centre)
• The artwork on the main intersection alone is not sufficient to reduce speeds to the levels desired for town centres
• The installation of speed cushions promotes safe and appropriate speed, making it safer for all road users – children, older people, people with disabilities, people walking, people cycling, motorcyclists as well as people in vehicles
• Eke Panuku strongly supports Auckland Vision Zero approach to road safety across the roading network

To sign up for project updates or find out more about the Henderson Streets for People, click here.

To find out more about Eke Panuku’s long-term regeneration plans for Henderson, visit the project page.

To find out more about Auckland’s Vision Zero Programme visit Auckland Transport’s website - Vision Zero