DELAY CAUSED BY TRAMS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22390, 2 May 1938, Page 11

DELAY CAUSED BY TRAMS

IBANK OF NEW ZEAjLAND CORNER SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVED qONTROL The new system .of electric vehicleactuated traffic control at the Bank of New Zealand corner has caused de- ■ lays on occasions through the movements of trams. The difficulty is caused when two or three south-hound, trams, travelling along Colombo -street,; are waiting for the signal and block the way for trams from New Brigh-, ton or St- Martins which have crossed the intersection and have to turn right to stop behind the Bank of New Zealand. This causes delay to other traffic. The traffic manager for the Tramway Board (Mr W. Dick) said that the difficulty had been realised, and he had issued the following instruction: “Jn future New Brighton trams and Linwood buses travelling to the Square will have the right-of-way at Barnett’s corner. When one of these vehicles enters the ‘bottle neck’ from High street, trams going in the opr posite direction must stop back clear of the in Brighton track in order to give clearance.” Mr Dick said that with such a large staff to deal with it was inevitable that there should be some misunderstanding and confusion at first, but the men were becoming familiar with the position and the trouble was being minimised. It has been suggested that the possibility of delay from this cause is an argument for trams and buses conforming with the gyratory system in live Square, * a view which was supported by the chairman of the City Council traffic committee (Mr T. Milliken). Three Traffic Lanes Suggested A suggestion for relieving congestion at the intersection was put forward by Mr Dick, who proposed that traffic from the Square bound for High street and Hereford street east should form a separate lane to the left of south bound traffic, which should be in the middle, with northbound traffic in the third lane. Such an arrangement would effect a faster clearance, as the High street and Hereford street traffic, receiving the right of way for those streets by the green arrow, would not be held up by Colombo street traffic waiting for the green light. Mr Milfiken said that this and other proposals would receive careful consideration. One suggestion was that bicycles should keep to the extreme left, leaving four-wheeled traffic to travel outside them.