TRAFFIC IN CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21597, 15 September 1933, Page 13

TRAFFIC IN CITY

NO CHANGE IN VOLUME ■ FALL ON LESSER ROUTES SYMONDS STREET INCREASE "The outstanding feature is that, while there has been a slight decline in the total traffic counted at the various points, compared with the counts at those points last year, the total traffic entering and leaving the city has remained constant, the only difference being a small change in the distribution of that traffic," said the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, in reporting to the City Council last "evening the result of the traffic census taken in February, Only a skeleton survey was carried out this year, the counts being made at 19 intersections and 71 contributory streets, instead of repeating the former comprehensive survey, which included 55 intersections and 212 contributory streets. *

The principal facts revealed by the census were:—

(1) At the points comprising the skeleton survey there was a general decline of 4.68 per cent, compared with the previous year. This was attri-, buted to the effects of the economic depression and to the increased benzine tax which came into force just prior to the commencement of the tallies. (2) There was a general increase of 3 per cent in the 1933 returns, compared with those made in 1931. (3) The intersections where substantial decreases had occurred during the past 12 months were: —HobsouWellesley Streets, 28'. 7 per cent; Tamaki Drive-Strand-Gladstone Road, 21.35; Hobson-Cook Streets, 20.9; Anzac Avenue-Alten Road, 19.5; Hob-son-Sturdee-Customs Streets (baths), 14; Hobsob-Fanshawe Streets, 22. (4) Increases had occurred at, some of the most important intersections, namely:—Grafton Bridge - Symonds Street, 13.5 per cent; Remuera RoadBroadway, 8.8; Earangahape RoadPitt Street, 8,4; Karangahape RoadQueen Street, 4.2. Analysis of the-Traffic

Analysing the type of traffic at 17 main points, Mr. Tyler reached the following conclusions:—(l) That there is a continual decline in the use of. horse-drawn vehicles and a small contraction in the use of motor vehicles: (2) that the decline in the public passenger transport services, noted last year, was not so pronounced this year, the tramway services having firmed to last year's figures, while omnibus services showed a small decline; (3) that there was a substantial increase in the use of pedal cycles. A comprehensive table showed the busiest streets, in order, according to volume of traffic, to be as follows: Broadway north of Remuera Road; Symonds Street north of Grafton Bridge, Beach Road east of Fort Street, Beach Road west of Anzac Avenue; Symonds Street north of Khyber Pass Road; Symonds Street south of Grafton'Bridge; Karangahape Road west of Pitt Street; Broadway south of Remuera f Road; Karangahape Road east of Queen Street; Grafton Bridge; Symond.B Street south of Khyber Pass Road; Karangahape Road west of Queen Street, Pitt Street north of Karangahape Road. In \ all those instances the number of vehicles ranged from 11,500 to 7000 during the 10 hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Effect of New Viaduct The most notable increases had oocurred on the following streets:—Symonds Street north of-Grafton Bridge, 34.1 per cent; Symonds Street south of Grafton Bridge, 16; Broadway south of Remuera Road, 14; Grafton Bridge, 12.5; Karangahape Road west of Pitt Street, 11.1; Karangahape Rn&d east of Pitt Street, 11; Pitt Street north of Karangahape Road, 8. Another remarkable feature of the increases was that, although thev were comparatively few, they occurred, generajiy speaking, on the busiest routes -

The effect ot the opening of the Harbour Board's new viaduct, which gives access to the western reclamation and, incidentally, provides egress from tho city to the North Shore bj' an alternative and more direct route to the Northcote ferries, was shown by decreases of 23.7 per cent* and 21 per cent respectively in the cases of Sturdee Street and FanshawQ Street. "It will b$ seen," said Mr. Tyler,' "that 48,644 vehicles entered and left the main business area on a typical week day this year, against 48.592 last year and 44,625 in the previous year. That is to say, in 1932 there was an increase of nearly 9 per cent on the tallies for, 1931, and this year the total vehicles are practically the same as last year." . ; After examining returns relating to the direction of traffic Mr. Tyler observed:—"lt appears the general trend is toward the south and south-east (via Upper Symonds Street and Grafton Bridge) and to some extent also the south-west (via Karangahape Road), and that much of this increase is at the expense of the volume of traffic due west, while the traffic to the east and south-east has remained constant.

"The statement made last vear that tho opening of Tamaki Drive has not had the effect of reducing to an Appreciable extent the volume of traffic in other directions is again confirmed by this year's tallies, although it is conceded that, had Tamaki Drive not been brought into use, the increases in the directions affected would have been even greater, and that the benefits accruing to the opening of this new outlet will become more apparent as the development of the district* directly served by it advances." "This is a most excellent report and affords most interesting and valuable information, which will enable us to make decisions if and when further traffic outlets are considered," said the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison. "Reports like this save the ratepayers a lot of money in preventing new schemes being embarked on before they are necessary.