by Grunk » 17 Nov 2011, 13:41
The first thing that needs to be done is to ensure that all the junctions are working at maximum efficiency. To do this the bottlenecks need to be identified and the timing adjusted to suit.
The simplest way to identify a bottleneck is to see where a queue of backed up traffic starts from. As can be seen on most days the queue starts at the pedestrian crossing, it is clear after that. This means that too many cars are coming in vs the amount of cars going out. The fix would be to phase the pedestrian crossing during rush hour.
Other blockages include bus stops and T-junctions. Where vehicles stopped block traffic. A solution would be to put (enforced) double yellow lines opposite these, ensuring that even when a vehicle is stopped, there is space for traffic to flow.
WRT bus stops, having them just before a junction isn't great. The bus can only move up to the stop when the lights are green, it then stops at the junction blocking traffic through the green phase. It then moves off during the red phase, so an entire phase has been missed.
After that, you can look into making streets one way, as doing that doesn't remove the blockage, so traffic backs up even further making other rat runs more appealing (e.g. windsor place, st. marks place).
I guess the broader point is why are so many people choosing the Portobello route rather than the Portobello bypass (HLR), the town centre traffic cannot simply be residents only can it? Although I've not checked recently I imagine there is probably an issue at the milton road junction and the new kings road junction (which seems to have had massive holes in it for ages).