Crossing change a danger

A new kea crossing on Alma Rd has caused confusion for pedestrians, some of whom have almost been run over expecting cars to stop for them outside of school patrol hours, says a neighbour.

A kea crossing is a school crossing, installed around schools so school patrols can control traffic and safely guide children across the street.

Such a crossing has been installed on Alma Rd, just before the intersection with York St, for the use of school students at St Anthony's Primary School and St Dominic's College.

When it was installed, a pedestrian crossing, which was situated on the York St side of the intersection, was removed.

The kea crossing was installed about five weeks ago, but the schools have only started patrolling it in the past two weeks, because of the need for students to receive police training.

The kea crossing does not operate like a pedestrian crossing in that when there are no school patrol and no-crossing signs, the crossing point is just like any other section of road.

The NZTA website advises drivers: "When there are no signs and no school patrol, drive as you normally would on any other road, but remember that pedestrians might cross the road here."

Dann Anderson, who lives near the crossing, said he had seen about five people "almost get bowled", including a man in a wheelchair, when they stepped out expecting traffic to stop for them.

He said there was a crossing sign left in from the old pedestrian crossing, and it was taken out last week after he pointed it out. By that time, the kea crossing had been in for three weeks.

"Some kids step out, expecting cars to stop, and they haven't. This is a recipe for disaster," he said.

However, he agreed that the new kea crossing was in a better position than the pedestrian crossing, because cars coming around the corner from Abbot St on to Alma Rd or York St could see it as they approached.

But to make it safe, it needed white lines painted on it to make it a pedestrian crossing in between school patrols, he said.

Whanganui Police education officer Val Overweel said she had heard there had been some confusion from drivers and pedestrians, and wanted to make it clear that the only time it was a legal crossing was then the patrols were out.

School patrols were identifiable by their bright orange flags and orange stop signs.

Failing to stop for the stop signs carries a fine of $150. Most kea crossings operate before and after school, for around 15 minutes in the afternoon and half an hour in the morning.

The principal of St Dominic's and St Anthony's, Father Andrew Cranshaw, said the crossing had made a busy intersection much safer and eased congestion, and was grateful to the council and Ms Overweel for her time and effort.

Wanganui District Council senior roading engineer Rui Leitao said the removal of the pedestrian crossing outside St Anthony's School and its relocation as a kea crossing were carried out as a request in consultation with the police and the school.

The relocation removed the need for most pedestrians, particularly children, to cross the road twice - once across York St, then across Alma Rd - and the kerb extensions reduced pedestrian exposure distance and the speed environment.

Infrastructure and Property Committee chairman Ray Stevens said the pedestrian crossing would have been taken out because of regulations.

The sign that was left in from the old crossing was an error on their part, he said.

However, it was the first they had heard of any problems.

The crossing would be monitored and assessed for effectiveness over the next 12 months, and requests, like turning the kea crossing into a kea/pedestrian amalgamation, could be accommodated if regulations allowed.

Using the crossing on Carlton Ave as an example, where there appears to be a kea crossing with pedestrian crossing lines, he couldn't see a reason why it could not be replicated if necessary.