Traffic levels on a busy Jesmond street have decreased by more than 2,500 vehicles a day following the introduction of the low traffic zone, according to a report released by Newcastle City Council.
Since March this year, a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) has been in force in Jesmond, with road closures imposed on residential streets by the council to stop drivers using them as rat runs between Osborne Road and Cradlewell. The controversial scheme, which has prompted protests from some locals, has received more than 1,000 negative comments from people who have taken part in an online consultation about the changes, compared to 316 positive comments.
However, the council has been monitoring the impact of traffic on the surrounding streets, as well as collecting data on numbers of people walking and cycling and reviewing feedback from residents and local businesses. And now a new interim report, released half-way through the public consultation period, has provided an insight into the impact of the changes in the area.
The report states that traffic on Osborne Avenue has decreased by more than 2,500 vehicles a day, with around 1,250 vehicles using the western end of the street each day compared to around 3,750 vehicles a day prior to the road closures.
With more traffic using the Coast Road (A1058) rather than cutting through the NLT, the council has also been monitoring the impact this has had on journey times and the volume of traffic on the route, using traffic information based on 2019 (pre-pandemic) as a baseline figure.
Key findings are:
- Weekday vehicle counts on the A1058 Coast Road eastbound are 18% lower in May 2023 when compared to 2019. Westbound vehicle counts are similar to 2019.
- Analysis of journey time data shows that eastbound journey times have improved since the scheme was introduced to four minutes between Sandyford Road and Benfield Road. Westbound journeys saw increased journey times initially but look to be returning to levels seen similar to 2019.
- Weekday vehicle counts increased on Osborne Road following the measures being installed but remain at a similar level to that seen in 2019.
- Pedestrian and cyclist counts have increased over time since the implementation of measures. Examples includes an average daily total of 1,137 people on foot were counted on Jesmond Dene Road at its junction with Benton Bank from 1 April to 4 June 2023 compared to 903 in the week prior to the measures being installed. There has also been a noticeable increase in cycling on Grosvenor Road since the scheme was implemented, however due to the seasonal nature of walking and cycling more longer-term data is required to create a fuller picture.
- Air quality monitors placed on Osborne Road, one opposite the entrance to Jesmond Nursery, and the second close to Grosvenor Road are showing readings of 34.6ug/m3 and 18ug/m3 respectively, which are below the annual limit of 40ug/m3 where councils have to act. However, this is only one reading and clearer indications on air quality will require further readings for a comprehensive view which won’t be conclusive until June 2024.
- The consultation has generated considerable interest with as of 8 June, 1,442 individual respondents have taken part in the online consultation. Including 2,239 comments. Of the comments 316 are positive, 23 are mostly positive, 19 are neutral, 46 are mostly negative, 1046 are negative and 794 had no sentiment chosen.
Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city said: "As this is half-way through the trial, this is an opportunity to present some of the data we have collected. However, it is important to caveat that this is just a snapshot in time and more data would be needed over a longer period to provide a fuller and more accurate picture.
"There is still more work to be done on understanding the impact of these changes in the area and we will be looking at this in more detail. As we have said all along, this is trial and trials mean we can make changes if required based on emerging feedback and data."
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