The evaluation of Canberra's traffic management schemes

A number of traffic management schemes have been progressively implemented in the ACT since 1993. These projects were initiated either in response to political commitments or in response to community concerns. This study investigates four schemes recently implemented. It examines the impacts on operating traffic speeds, traffic volumes, traffic compositions and crashes in these suburbs through a before and after comparison. The analysis of residents' perceptions of these schemes' effectiveness is also presented. Canberra's newest town centre is currently developing to the north of the City. When fully developed, Gungahlin will have an approximate population of around 110,000 in the next fifteen to twenty years. In addition to other transport measures aiming to serve the associated traffic growth, the ACT Government had implemented traffic calming measures in existing North Canberra suburbs to minimise the potential infiltration of traffic in these areas. The first stage of two of these schemes are in the northern suburbs of Watson and Downer, and Lyneham, Turner and O'Connor. On the other hand, devices were implemented in Curtin, Hughes and Garran in response to residents' continuous expression of traffic related concerns. While each scheme includes an extensive public consultation process (public meetings, workshops, public displays and opinion surveys) which can take 9-16 months to complete, the final product seems to generate mixed reactions. Some residents support the measures and request more, other residents think the measures are a waste of limited funds which should be directed to other higher priorities for them. The consideration for further traffic calming schemes was recently halted until an evaluation of implemented schemes is completed.