Department of Roads And Transport

1. Department of Roads And Transport The implementation of Traffic Calming Measures Cradle of Humankind – South Africa

2. Contents • Introduction • Background • The need for research • Research Methodology • Research Outcomes • Traffic Calming Theory • Implementation: Traffic Calming Measures • Challenges/ Solutions Conclusion

3. Background:The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS): • June 1998, the Government submitted nominations to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the listing of three sites in South Africa as World Heritage Sites. • The COH WHS was listed as a World Heritage Site in December 1999 and the Gauteng Provincial Government is the Management Authority for the COH WHS, • The COH WHS extends across approximately 30 private owned farms, some 52 000 ha in the north western quadrant of Gauteng. • The COH WHS is a geospatial tourism project and has developed a network of visitor facilities for the COH WHS. The main visitor facility, the Interpretation Centre Complex is located on a site 7 km from Sterkfontein Caves known as Maropeng

4. Background:The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS): (2) • World Heritage Site is an area that is deemed to have outstanding universal value and is therefore worthy of protection • The COH WHS is an international and national offering, one of unique scientific significance and has the potential to enhance the profile of South Africa and Africa

7. The need for research emanates from the need to do:- • Traffic management in Environmentally Sensitive Areas and/or Areas of Natural Beauty; • Traffic Calming measures on Rural Provincial Roads, where mobility is still a priority due to land use needs ( farming, tourism, conference centres, farm schools and commuter traffic:

8. Research Methodology: • Literature Review, • An interview with the management authority and • Questionnaires distributed to cycling clubs.

9. Research Outcomes: Literature Reviewed: • COHWHS: Development & Transportation Infrastructure Implications. PWV Consortium (BL 02/02). This report considered the impact of the Cradle on the surrounding road network recommending the removal of strategic major arterials. It also recommended the importance of ensuring balance between the need for roads infrastructure and the protection of the environment. • Traffic Calming Investigation within the COHWHS – BKS – August 2005. This report formed the basis of the implementation of traffic calming measures in the Cradle. Citing the Chilterns, classified as an Area of Natural Beauty where new design guidelines were developed to cater for the sensitivity of the Area - environmentally.

10. Literature Reviewed • Various correspondences and records of meetings held pertaining to this project. • Environmental Impacts of Tourism and Recreation – Stephen. M. Turton and Nigel. E. Stork.This report brings to the fore the challenges related to the creation of a balance between sustainable tourism and recreation and environmental protection and preservation in areas that are environmentally sensitive. Similar to the Cradle, the report recommends traffic control measures like closure of some roads during breeding season as well as traffic calming to reduce noise penetration.

11. Interview - Cradle Management Authority Salient points discussed include: • Consultation and Public Participation • Management of heavy vehicles – delivery vehicles??; • Access control – boom gates. UNESCO prescribed Open Access World Heritage Site • Street Lighting • No street lighting allowed – dark sky appearance; • Future Planning • Expansion to other roads – D374; • Addressing the increase in traffic volumes as destination becomes popular.

12. Questionnaire – Cycling Clubs around Gauteng The questionnaire was designed to ascertain the cycling experience, the perceptions, the comfort and the quality of the efforts made to provide facilities for road sharing within the Cradle of Humankind.

13. Safety

18. 56% indicated that trucks put them off from cycling; • 53% cited Lack of Maintenance; • 47% cited Taxis – tendencies to stop anywhere and with little regard for cyclists or pedestrians; • 44% cited private vehicles; • 24% were concerned about motorcycles.

19. Traffic Calming Theory: “The combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour and improve conditions for non-motorised street users” ITE; “Traffic calming has the objective of moderating traffic behaviour through physical and legislative measures aimed at the reduction of vehicle speeds or traffic volumes.” (South African Guidelines for Traffic Calming)

20. Traffic Calming Theory • Speed control measures are: • Speed humps (most commonly used traffic calming measure) • Speed tables (higher speeds) • Raised intersection

21. Traffic Calming Theory • Speed control measures: • Textured pavements • Mini traffic circles • Traffic circles (roundabouts) – design determine negotiating speed

22. Traffic Calming Theory • Speed control measures: • Chicanes (s-curves) • Re-aligned intersections • Roadway width reduction – intersections/chokers

23. Implementation: Traffic Calming in the Cradle Considering the uniqueness of the CoHWHS and the developmental restrictions the consensus was that the roads’ design standards be sensitive in terms of context with regards to the normal Provincial rural road standards. Some of the Constraints encountered included: • Existing road alignment; • Costs – changing the existing alignments and proposed treatments

24. Proposals: Introduction of Gateways;

25. Proposals: Introduction of Gateways

26. Proposals: Separation of road and cycle lanes Protection of cyclists/pedestrians using the paved shoulder through (selected areas): • Separation of road & cycle lanes

27. Proposals: Rumble Strips The Noise Factor.

28. Proposals: Road Narrowing Narrowing of road: • Indigenous tree “tunnels” • Reduction in lane width

29. Proposals: Traffic Calming Circles Traffic calming circles at intersections & at selected accesses to increase frequency

30. Proposals: Chokers Chokers • Narrow bridge over Blaauwbankspruit retained

31. Practical Issues and Experiences: • Geometric Design: • Do as little as possible; • Reduce design speed; • Retain trees and growth adjacent to the roadway • Surface or not: • Traffic Volumes required surfacing – community opposition • Heavy Vehicles: • Delivery to conference centres and restaurants • Lane Widths • Reduced to 3.0m from 3.7m • Benefit of shoulders without financial costs

32. Practical Issues and Experiences: • Rumble Strips: • Noise factor • Rumble surfaces • Textured road paint • Accidents at roundabouts: • Street Lighting?? • Rumble strips?? • Placement and Location of Measures: • Community opposition – required comprehensive consultative process; • Systems Approach and Methodology: • Cannot be implemented piecemeal – area-wide implementation • Funding to be committed simultaneously;

33. Practical Issues and Experiences: • Protection of Bicycle Lanes: • Plastic rumble strips?? • Heavy vehicles make use of the shoulders and drive over the strips; • Optimal solution still being sought??? • Pedestrians: • Conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists; • Road Signage: • Design and implementation of special signage in terms of the context; • Illegal signs???

34. Conclusion: Most traffic calming literature focuses more on the urban situation. The rural context brings to the fore quite different dynamics. Valuable lessons learnt and still to be learnt as the implementation proceeds. Core among these is Consultation which formed a major part of the successes so far. Unforeseen outcomes regarding traffic calming measures and impacts on the environment (e.g. Noise)

35. Acknowledgements: • Cradle Management Authority; • Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport; • Gauteng Department of Economic Development;