New Pedestrian Crossings - Broadway, SH3

Thank you to everyone who participated in the feedback process for improved pedestrian access on Broadway/SH3.

This project was funded entirely by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. 

Construction began in July and was completed in October 2024.

• Feedback received to date

  Hey Stratford! Wow, we love how passionate you are about Broadway between the roundabouts.
  
  

  We're getting lots of feedback talking about traffic lights as an alternative, loss of car parks and potential congestion. All valid questions and comments which Elected Members will discuss when they determine the final outcome later this month.

  
  If you're keen to see improvements to pedestrian access in the CBD, please use the feedback form to tell us which option you like best and leave any comments. Alternatively you can do our quick poll.

  Some of you are disappointed that there isn't a "disagree" option in the feedback form. Fair call! The purpose of that form is to understand the preference of the 2 options available to SDC within the scope of the funding provided by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

  For those that aren't sure about this project at all, or would like to provide an alternative suggestion, a comment in the online forum or an email to feedback@stratford.govt.nz is the best way to do this.
  
  

  The team here will be sharing all feedback and comments included on YourSay.Stratford.govt.nz and via our email feedback@stratford.govt.nz with Elected Members early next week before they meet to make their final decision on Thursday 20 June.

• Key details for each option

  Option 1

  • Northern crossing is located outside the TET King's Theatre on the western side of Broadway and outside Sinclair Electrical/Magnum Sports on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • Southern crossing is located outside the Hall of Remembrance, Municipal Building on the western side of Broadway and outside Cottage Lane on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • The impact on parking would be removal of 11 parks for the northern pedestrian crossing and 11 parks for the southern pedestrian crossing.
  • The existing crossing point at Regan Street roundabout will be removed but the existing pedestrian refuge at Fenton Street roundabout will be retained.
  • No stopping road markings will be applied to the Regan Street roundabout to stop traffic stacking at the pedestrian crossing and blocking the roundabout access for people travelling along Regan Street.

  
  Option 2

  • Northern crossing is located outside the TSB Bank on the western side of Broadway and outside Knit and Sew/KY Fast Food and Restaurant on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • Southern crossing is located outside Farmlands on the western side of Broadway and outside the old gym/Salvation Army Family Store building on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • The impact on parking would be removal of 9 parks for the northern pedestrian crossing and 13 parks for the southern pedestrian crossing.
  • The existing crossing point at Regan Street roundabout will be removed but the existing pedestrian refuge at Fenton Street roundabout will be retained.
  • No stopping road markings will be applied to the Regan Street roundabout to stop traffic stacking at the pedestrian crossing and blocking the roundabout access for people travelling along Regan Street.

  
  Option 3: It's possible to construct a combination of option 1 and 2 if this was more favourable to our community. See below for details.

  3(a) Northern crossing from option 1 with southern crossing from option 2

  • Northern crossing is located outside the TET King's Theatre on the western side of Broadway and outside Sinclair Electrical/Magnum Sports on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • Southern crossing is located outside Farmlands on the western side of Broadway and outside the old gym/Salvation Army Family Store building on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • The impact on parking would be removal of 11 parks for the northern pedestrian crossing and 13 parks for the southern pedestrian crossing.
  • The existing crossing point at Regan Street roundabout will be removed but the existing pedestrian refuge at Fenton Street roundabout will be retained.
  • No stopping road markings will be applied to the Regan Street roundabout to stop traffic stacking at the pedestrian crossing and blocking the roundabout access for people travelling along Regan Street.

  3(b) Northern crossing from option 2 with southern crossing from option 1

  • Northern crossing is located outside the TSB Bank on the western side of Broadway and outside Knit and Sew/KY Fast Food and Restaurant on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • Southern crossing is located outside the Hall of Remembrance, Municipal Building on the western side of Broadway and outside Cottage Lane on the eastern side of Broadway.
  • The impact on parking would be removal of 9 parks for the northern pedestrian crossing and 11 parks for the southern pedestrian crossing.
  • The existing crossing point at Regan Street roundabout will be removed but the existing pedestrian refuge at Fenton Street roundabout will be retained.
  • No stopping road markings will be applied to the Regan Street roundabout to stop traffic stacking at the pedestrian crossing and blocking the roundabout access for people travelling along Regan Street.

• Safety features

  Here's some information about the improved safety features for the new pedestrian crossing designs:

  Built out kerbs:

  • Reduces crossing distance and therefore crossing time.

  • Improves safety of pedestrians because they are more visible to oncoming drivers and can view approaching traffic better.

  • Creates space for pedestrians to wait without blocking others walking past.

  • Physically prevents drivers from parking and blocking the crossing point.

  • Can help to slow vehicle speeds by narrowing the road.

  Median refuges:

  • Reduces crossing distance for pedestrians.

  • Simplifies the crossing task as pedestrians only need to find gap in one stream of traffic at a time.

  • Can considerably reduce delays to pedestrians.

  • Can help to slow vehicle speeds by narrowing the traffic lanes.

  Zebra Crossing:

  • Gives pedestrians priority resulting in minimal delays for pedestrians.

  • Are obvious as a place for pedestrians to cross.

  Tactile ground surface indicators:

  • Directional indicators give directional orientation to people who are blind or have low vision when other tactile or environmental cues such as the property line or kerb edge are either absent or give insufficient guidance.

  
  

  

• Why are we doing this?

  Improvements to pedestrian access across SH3 in Stratford’s CBD has been on SDC’s wish list for some time and was identified as a key priority in its Connecting our Communities Strategy which was adopted last year. It coincides with plans to upgrade the town centre, Prospero Place, which is due to begin within the next 12 months.

  District Mayor, Neil Volzke says “The support from Waka Kotahi to make these improvements to pedestrian safety in Broadway is a welcomed relief. Difficulties with crossing SH3 in our CBD has been highlighted to us for many years, both from a pedestrian point of view as well as drivers.”

  “We’re excited to finally remedy this by providing 2 safer crossing points while removing the cause of confusion at the existing Glockenspiel crossing,” says Neil. “It hasn’t been a case of ‘to be or not to be’ for road users in Stratford, but a case of ‘to go or not to go’ when trying to figure out if someone is crossing the road or simply enjoying the view of the Glockenspiel’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet, playing 4 times a day.”

  “We want people to enjoy what Stratford has to offer, but we don’t want to cause further issues for those at the wheel or risk people’s safety. Both options proposed will fix that issue, but we need to understand from all travellers, whether they’re on foot, in a mobility scooter or in a truck and trailer, what option they think will provide the most benefit for improved pedestrian safety while catering to traffic flow through town.”