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Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road, Devonport – Pedestrian Safety Improvements Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road, Devonport – Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Proposal status: Feedback closed 8 December 2022

Reference number: 20100383

Proposal update

In June 2023, we advised you that these works were scheduled to be constructed at the end of 2023. Due to a shortage in budget, the construction of this project will now start between July 2024 and June 2025.

Proposal outcome 

In November 2022, we proposed some safety improvements to reduce speeds and create safer roads at Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road intersection. After reviewing all the feedback we received, we are proceeding with the following minor change:  

  • Some of the proposed broken yellow lines will be removed to restore parking spaces outside the Cheltenham Milk Bar. This was in response to community concerns that it would negatively impact businesses and locals that regularly go to this store.

Download the updated drawing PDF(1.74MB)

These works will help support Tāmaki Makaurau’s Vision Zero goal.   

What happens next  

We anticipate the changes will be constructed at the end of 2023. We will be in touch with local residents and businesses prior to any construction taking place.

Community feedback 

Thank you for helping us make better decisions for your neighbourhood, informed by your local knowledge.  A summary of your feedback and our responses to community questions is below. 

Benefits to the community

  • “This would make the intersection much safer for pedestrians.”
  • “It will keep children and adults safe to enjoy this lively commercial and beachfront area from the regularly speeding drivers.”
  • “It would slow traffic and improve visibility, especially re pedestrians on crosswalk. Now, there is confusion when a southbound vehicle on Vauxhall stops for a pedestrian on the crosswalk. Cars turning left out of Tainui barge in, looking only right and not seeing the pedestrian. Bus stop is much too small and often occupied by cars belonging to cafe patrons.”
  • “This is well-known as a dangerous intersection, with "near miss" accidents happening almost every day.  Any changes which might slow traffic and protect pedestrians can only be beneficial.”
  • “I’ve been victim of a near miss at this location.”

Thank you for your feedback. This proposal aims to prevent future accidents at this location. 

Speeding

Concern that the intersection is dangerous because it is busy, and drivers need to slow down. The problem is speeding along Vauxhall Road. Slowing traffic will solve the problem. Not widening paths. These are wide enough.

Our response: The kerb at the intersection is being widened in order to tighten the intersection to slow down vehicles approaching from Tainui Road. Expanding the footpath also helps to achieve visibility for pedestrians wishing to cross the road while reducing the number of parking spaces needing to be removed. This also helps to reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians. Vauxhall Road will be monitored post construction to ensure the speed calming is effective.

Suggestion to slow traffic down with chicanes or speed bumps before drivers gets to the intersection.

Our response: The raised intersection and signage will promote slower speeds in the area.  

Parking Removal 

Request not to remove carparks on Tainui Road. Car parks are already limited in the area with beach visitors, local business clientele and residents.

Our response: The final design has removed some broken yellow lines to retain parking outside the Cheltenham Milk Bar. We need to remove two parking spaces on the opposite side of Tainui Road to improve bus operations and accessibility at the existing bus stop. 

Concern that by removing 10 car parks the vitality and commercial sustainability of the cafes and the dairy that attract people to the area will be compromised. Concern that if parking is not available, people will go elsewhere and suggestion to retain the car parks. 

Our response: The revised design has removed some broken yellow lines to retain 2 parking spaces outside the Cheltenham Milk Bar. We understand that driving to the local shops is important, but we are also making improvements to public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure to allow other modes of travel choices. We have put the bus stops in locations which minimises the removal as much as possible but allows buses to stop next to a flat part of the footpath rather than a kerb. This means that those with mobility requirements and people with strollers/prams can move straight onto the footpath and do not have to step up or down into the road. Getting on and off buses from a level footpath is a key part of making public transport more accessible.  

Raised Intersection and Crossings 

Concern that the zebra crossing on Tainui Road is too close to Vauxhall Road in that vehicles turning right into Vauxhall Road will not be able to see oncoming traffic particularly from the left.

Our response: Raised crossings are an effective way of slowing vehicles down to 30km/h or less which significantly reduces the risk of a death or serious injury when an accident happens. Research from various road safety organisations such as Austroads and International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (IRTAD) shows that a direct impact speed of 30km/h is the maximum a healthy human body can withstand without sustaining serious life changing injuries. Research also indicates that the death risk is about 4-5 times higher in collisions between a car and a pedestrian on foot at 50km/h compared to the same type of collisions at 30km/h.

Concern that the raising of the road is a totally unnecessary waste of money. Suggestion to leave the road height as is and upgrade the road warning signs as it is more efficient and cost effective.

Our response: The goal of this project is to improve safety for all road users at the intersection of Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road. There is a particular emphasis on pedestrian safety given the local shops located around the intersection. Improving the pedestrian facility on Vauxhall Road invites improvements to pedestrian facilities across Tainui Road. A requirement of pedestrian safety improvements under Auckland’s Vision Zero goal, adopted by AT, involves raising any crossings to ensure the safety of users by reducing the speed of approaching drivers.  

Suggestion to have a pedestrian crossing in between Selling Simply and the exit of the Gull petrol station and the beginning of Tainui Road.

Our response: The zebra crossing on Tainui Road has been positioned to be as close as possible to where pedestrians and cyclists currently want to cross the road. 

Concern that similar projects resulted in vehicles stopping on the crossings themselves leaving pedestrians to walk around them.

Our response: Motorists are required to give way to pedestrians at the crossing before driving over it. The raised intersection will lower speeds at the intersection and allow more opportunities for motorists to turn onto Vauxhall Road, this should attempt to reduce drivers stopping on the crossing for extended periods of time.  

Concern that raising the intersection would increase the noise for residents which has already increased from the Gull petrol station being put in.

Our response: This raised zebra crossing will be a gentle slope, so it is unlikely to contribute to an increase in noise and vibration level when motorists traverse the crossing at an appropriate speed.  

Concern that raising the intersection will make it more dangerous for cyclists.

Our response: Cyclists are expected to reduce their speed on approach to the intersection to manoeuvre through the intersection as safely as possible. The raised intersection is intended to be 75mm high with 1:15 grade ramps. This is the shallowest profile allowed at this location to minimise noise and discomfort whilst also being effective in speed reduction.

Suggestion that the changes aren’t required and it is better to cut unnecessary expenditure.

Our response: The community have raised concerns about speeding and pedestrian safety in the area. Therefore, the goal of this project is to improve safety for all road users at the intersection of Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road. There is particular emphasis on pedestrian safety given the local shops located around the intersection. Auckland’s Vision Zero strategy includes raising crossings to reduce speeds to ensure the safety of all road users.  

Bus Stops 

Suggestion of various possible bus routes and bus stop locations. 

Our response: Bus routes in Devonport were changed in 2021 after extensive local consultation on the future of the local services. After this consultation, the proposal was withdrawn, and the current bus routes were implemented. We are working through a programme to remove redundant bus stop and shelters as a result of these changes. Wherever possible, this process will return the space to alternative uses such as time limited or unrestricted parking. 

Suggesting not to put broken yellow lines in for the bus stops. The current one works perfectly well. 

Our response: Bus stops require 15m of space before the stop so a bus can straighten up and approach the kerb smoothly. They also require 9m to exit the space safely.  

We're proposing improvements in your area

We’ve received feedback from the community that many people speed along Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road, so we are proposing some safety improvements to reduce speeds and create a safer intersection. As part of these works, we are also proposing some improvements to the nearby bus stops.

We are proposing to:

  • Raise the intersection of Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road. This includes raising the existing zebra crossing at #85 Vauxhall Road.
  • Upgrade the pedestrian island on Tainui Road intersection into a zebra crossing on the newly raised intersection.
  • Widen the footpath on the corner of Tainui Road and Vauxhall Road.
  • Install tactile pavers at all road crossing points to help visually impaired people find their way to crossings and safely across roads.
  • Relocate the southern bound bus stop at #62 Vauxhall Road slightly further south to keep the bus clear of power poles and driveways.
  • Paint broken yellow lines (no stopping at any time) near the bus stops to make it easier for buses to pull into and out of the bus stops.
  • Paint broken yellow lines at the intersection to improve safety and visibility of pedestrians.

Download the proposal drawing for Vauxhall Road and Tainui Road (PDF 646KB)

These trials support Tamaki Makaurau's commitment to Vision Zero, an ambitious transport safety vision, with the goal of no death or serious injuries on our transport system by 2050.This approach acknowledges that as people we all make mistakes, however a mistake should not mean someone dies or is seriously injured on our roads. It’s also an approach that values everyone using the road, not just those in vehicles. It is about caring for more vulnerable road users like people walking or cycling, children and the elderly. Vision Zero is the international benchmark for transport safety.

  • Slow motorists to a safer speed
  • Improve visibility between motorists approaching the intersection
  • Raise pedestrians crossing the road to be at eye-level of approaching motorists, making them easier to see.

These improvements would remove 10 on-street parking spaces near the intersection to improve visibility. We acknowledge this can be inconvenient, so we have minimised the removal of parking as much as possible.

More information

We anticipate construction for this project to begin at the end of 2023. Until then, we'll keep you updated on any changes, and we'll contact you again with more information closer to the time.

Devonport: Safe with us

These trials support Tāmaki Makaurau’s commitment to Vision Zero, an ambitious transport safety vision, with the goal of no deaths or serious injuries on our transport system by 2050. This approach acknowledges that as people we all make mistakes, however a mistake should not mean someone dies or is seriously injured on our roads. It’s also an approach that values everyone using the road, not just those in vehicles. It is about caring for more vulnerable road users like people walking or cycling, children and the elderly. Vision Zero is the international benchmark for transport safety.