Four pedestrian scramble crossings that have been trialled in the Hobart CBD for several months will become permanent fixtures.
The intersections of Elizabeth and Collins, Elizabeth and Liverpool, Murray and Collins and Murray and Liverpool streets will continue to feature a dedicated pedestrian phase where all vehicle traffic stops.
The crossings feature a countdown timer and allow pedestrians to cross in any direction simultaneously.
At a council meeting on Monday, seven councillors voted to make the crossings permanent and fully compliant at an estimated cost of $200,000, $160,000 of which will be sought from the state government.
The initiative, a joint project between the Hobart City Council and the Department of State Growth, has been met with mixed reactions from the community since being installed.
Councillor Louise Elliot raised concerns about the impact on traffic flow, saying the crossings have resulted in average daily journey time increases of 40 seconds on Liverpool Street, 64 seconds on Elizabeth Street and 68 seconds on Murray Street.
“It’s not in our imagination that only two or three cars can get through a phase of lights,” she said.
“We know that the traffic has slowed in those areas and disturbingly, I find it disturbing, that that was intentional and expected.”
She said motorists had become so “frustrated” they instead chose to take Bathurst, Brisbane and Barrack streets, but City Mobility portfolio chair Councillor Ryan Posselt said this was “excellent news”.
“For example, [the] number of car movements at Liverpool and Elizabeth Street has reduced by 20%,” he said.
“And that’s a good thing because there’s 12,000 pedestrians that are moving through that junction every day. And those 20% have moved directly up the road.”
Councillor Bill Harvey said it is “heaps more convenient” for him to avoid driving through the CBD and take back streets instead.
“I’m a supporter of the scramble crossings. When it comes to driving, I don’t drive down Murray Street anymore. I’ve given that up,” he said.
“I feel comfortable with these crossings. I think they’re excellent. I think people really appreciate that they’re safer and that you can get from one corner to the other without having two goes at it.”
Councillors Mike Dutta, Ryan Posselt, Gemma Kitsos, Ben Lohberger, Bill Harvey, Zelinda Sherlock and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds supported making the crossings permanent.
Councillors Louise Elliot, Will Coates, Louise Bloomfield, John Kelly and Marti Zucco opposed the decision.
