Re: Paradise Works
 

Sorry again for the thread wander ... have asked re. this, hope it helps:

'He's talking about co-ordination of the signal timings so that traffic
flows along Eastgate continuously. The idea is that when one signal
goes green, the next signal goes green before the traffic has
approached the stop line so that traffic keeps flowing. Unfortunately,
it's not always that simple. In principle, if Eastgate was the
principal route with no major flows on the crossing arms, then this
would be no problem to implement. However, there are major arms that
join traffic flows on Eastgate or cross Eastgate. Burnley Road is a
major radial route into Accrington, is dedicated as a strategic bus
corridor for the 20 group of services and carries significant amounts of
traffic in the inbound peak period. In addition, Avenue Parade is
relatively busy because it is a key exit point from a major,
high-density residential area. This is why the signals cannot be
co-ordinated to give the sort of priority to Eastgate that he is
thinking.

Traffic signals are co-ordinated using two methods: fixed timing phases
or responsive timing phases. If the signals are fixed timing then the
dominant flow will be given greater priority (unless it conflicts with a
major public transport corridor). If the signals are responsive, then
they will adapt their signal timings to react with changes in the
dominant flow on each of the approach arms. The ones on Eastgate are
fixed timing but will probably have different timings depending on the
time of day (I would think that Eastgate would have priority in the
peaks on all arms except Burnley Road).

The lights at the retail park should work on a fixed series of signal
phases until the pedestrian 'calls in' the signal by pushing the button.
The pedestrian green, and subsequent traffic all red, phase should not
come on without a pedestrian 'calling in' the signal. If it is coming
on without pedestrian being at the crossing then this needs fixing. As
for people calling in the signal and walking away... annoying...
fixable... but very expensive.'

Re: Paradise Works
 

I still think that there's one set of lights too many on Eastgate. If we only had the lights at Plantation St and at Burnley Rd the traffic would flow a lot better than it does now.

And I don't believe it would inconvenience pedestrians too much.

Re: Paradise Works
 

And how would the buses get down to our current 'bus station' Bernard ?

Perhaps when we get the new one .. may be able to block it off then ... LOL.

(These are my comments by the way).

Re: Paradise Works
 

I don't think it will be changed Kate anyway, irrespective of where the bus station might go.

I think people by and large have got used to the traffic lights system on Eastgate

Although when Eastgate was first built, there was a lot of opposition to three sets of traffic lights.

Re: Paradise Works
 

I'm sure you are correct ... we are attempting to regenerate the town and residents need access to the centre ... not to be cut off by a small ring road.