TRAFFIC CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 19

TRAFFIC CONTROL

quay sTkeet problem f f MECHANICAL SIGNAL PLAN UNUSUAL DIFFICULTIES PEDESTRIANS AND TRAINS The Auckland Harbour Board's decision this week not to accept any share of financial responsibility for the installation of a vehicle-operated traffic control apparatus at the junction of Queen Street with Quay Street, which js being considered b.v the City Council. is lik'ely to delay measures for dealing with congestion at this point unless the council decides to bear the whole of the cost, estimated at £lßo3. Tho junction at the foot of Queen Street has been a problem for some considerable time, owing to the steady increase in traffic that has followed the revival of overseas trade since the depression period. There are also two difficulties which occur at no other point in the Auckland street system. One is the very large volume of pedestrian traffic which passes across Quay Street to and from the ferries, espeeinllv at the morning and evening rushhours and at mid-day on Saturdays The other is the passage of trains serving Prince's and Western Wharves.

Working of Apparatus It was found necessary some time jiiro to erect posts and chains along the kerb in front of the Kerry Building to deter foot-passengers from crossing except over a broad section of roadway near the Queen Street corner. A subway has been often proposed, but is not now favoured by the council. The proposed signal system, which would replace the officer who now controls the junction during busy hours, would operate coloured lights automatically, but the working of the lights would be varied if the timing did not suit the needs of the traffic at a particular moment. This would be effected if the first vehicle of a number waiting to cross drove over a rubber pad set in the pavement. Up to a certain maximum period, the crossing would remain open in that direction so long as a succession of vehicles passed over the pad. The Problem of Trains In this particular case, special arrangements would have to bo made for tho passing of trains, probably by temporary hand-operation of the lights from a box on the kerb. One advantage of the system over the employment of an officer on point-duty would be that it could be kept at work throughout the day, and night if necessary. The proposal has been under review by the City Council for nearly a year. It will possibly now be further considered in the iight of information provided by the latest survey of traffic in the city. A tally was commenced early this year, and it is probable that the detailed results will be placed before the council at its next meeting.