Speed and safety evaluation of shared spaces in NSW

This research project is a continuation of the Evaluation and Implementation of Shared Spaces in NSW research program, which to date has provided a summary of existing knowledge concerning the topic and background research to define a local evidence base.

This project initiates data collection by conducting a macroscopic speed and safety analysis of the road network in the context of the location of shared spaces. It will provide a high-level understanding of the effectiveness of implementations, serving as guidance for future strategic planning of shared road infrastructure.

Participants

• Transport for NSW
• University of Technology Sydney

Project background

Road networks offer both movement and place functionalities. Until recently, their primary purpose was to ensure that users could safely and efficiently travel between origins and destinations.

However, as road infrastructure continues to consume dwindling land available for communities, their role as places for people which foster social interaction and active forms of mobility (cycling and walking) is increasing in importance.

Shared spaces aim to equalise priority across travel modes to reduce the dominance of private vehicles, thus encouraging active modes of transport and reclaiming roads and streets as spaces for people and the community to walk and gather.

Yet the way specific design parameters of roads and streets (such as lane width, number of lanes, parking options, speed limits, tree coverage, urban furniture, etc.) enable the successful integration of both movement and place remains unclear. In particular, the link between such parameters and performance metrics (number of accidents, diversity of people using the streets, etc) is not yet established.

The Transport Research Centre (of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT) at UTS was commissioned by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to investigate further opportunities to enhance place in the context of road infrastructure.

To address this need, UTS has developed a staged research program that examine shared spaces and the design principles supporting it. Figure 1 presents an example of a shared space transformation in Auckland, New Zealand where the introduction of vegetation, seating and alternative pavement design has been effective in establishing a place tailored to the local context.

This example has led to several enhancements in performance metrics such as reduced vehicular traffic and speeds and importantly an increase in value perceived by the community.

Figure 1: Before and After – Fort Street, Auckland, New Zealand

The research program, Evaluation and Implementation of Shared Spaces in NSW, investigated the potential application of shared spaces in NSW and intends to form an evidence base and guidance for practitioners for future implementation. In 2021, UTS completed Stage 1: Examination of existing Shared Space knowledge for TfNSW which provided a comprehensive review of literature and defined shared spaces in an Australian context.

Then, during 2022 and 2023, UTS delivered Stage 2a, Collation of shared road infrastructure in NSW and examples that provided the evidence base of practitioner perspectives concerning shared space applications and initiated the development of a database of shared space sites.

This project begins the data collection by conducting a macroscopic speed and safety analysis of the road network in the context of the location of shared spaces. Multiple sources of crowdsourced data will be leveraged to present visualisations of the utilisations of the infrastructure.

In addition, statistical analysis and modelling will be conducted to identify key relationships between design parameters and performance metrics across shared space locations within Sydney’s road network. This will provide a high-level understanding of the effectiveness of implementations, serving as guidance for future strategic planning of shared road infrastructure.

Project objectives

The project objectives are to:

• Explore currently available data (crowdsourced and other sources) in combination with field surveys to gather objective and subjective speed and safety data.
• Conduct statistical and spatial analysis to understand opportunities for changes in speed zoning and potential for development (or enhancement) of shared spaces.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!