Blog #5

Phew!  Traffic impact assessment for rural development complete, except for negotiations with road authorities.  It’s an art of balancing probabilities when defining what is the minimum (least expensive) standard of traffic infrastructure that could be proposed for a development, but still be considered within acceptable levels of crash risk.  I didn’t realise so much mathematics could be involved.

This month I presented a half-day traffic signals workshop to a bunch of enthusiastic trade services staff.  I was concerned how participants would find the course material and learning activities since I had only two weeks to prepare for the workshop.  Thankfully most people contributed to discussion and the feedback included “good basis to understanding traffic lights”.  However, something to keep in mind for next time: a request for more “hands-on” activities.  I guess it should have been obvious that trade workers prefer to learn by undertaking practical tasks.

Whilst I have washed our car which was having transmission troubles last month, I haven’t done anything proactive about my moan for May (Elliott Heads Road is still very rough!).  In order to ensure this blog doesn’t disintegrate into a black hole of complaints I am not going to allow myself to whinge about any other road issue until I do something about that one.

Lastly (before I go and try to find my tax records to do my tax return), who will be the first person to contribute to this on-line discussion forum?  If no-one has commented by next month’s blog I am not sure what I will do.

Blog #4

With two contracts being undertaken at the moment, this month I completed fee proposals for a further two potential contracts and received an enquiry about a fifth project.  If this level of demand for traffic engineering services continues I may need to make plans for business expansion.

The ‘safe system’ approach to road safety advocates for safer roads, safer road users, safer speeds and safer vehicles.  While travelling home from Rockhampton in the dark last night the ‘hold’ feature in our car’s automatic transmission seemed to be kicking in randomly without application from the driver.  To disengage it, we had to pull over and stop the car a number of times.  Each time we stopped I became more concerned about the risks involved with slowing down and pulling over in the dark, on a high speed road that has a narrow carriageway.  I couldn’t help wondering whether the car was going to get us back home, and, if not, how cold and uncomfortable I would feel sleeping in it overnight.

My point?  I’m not sure, but…..please make sure your vehicle is well cared for.  And if you see someone in trouble on the roads your help might be appreciated.  Travellers can be really vulnerable sometimes.

Blog #3

This month I read about an organisation called Beyond Zero Emissions.  In addition to my regular engineering and tutoring work I had been looking for opportunities to undertake research so I have volunteered to assist with their Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Transport Sector Plan.  I look forward to finding out more about this research.

Although the formal feedback period has closed I took the plunge and printed off the draft 2011 – 2020 National Road Safety Strategy so I can read it comfortably away from the computer. 

Also, according to a Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport’s website, nominations for Black Spot locations are invited from individuals.  So I have decided to send my concerns about the Barolin Street / Ruddell Street T-junction to the Black Spot Consultative Panel in Queensland in response to my friend’s crash.

Lastly, my moan for May:  Elliott Heads Road between McCarthy Street and Ashfield Road is so rough that I mistakenly pulled my car over to the side of the road to check if I had a flat tyre!

Blog #2

It has been a busy month since my last post. 

Following the launch of the RoadCulture business logo on 8^th March I was pleased to quote on a traffic impact assessment for a commercial development. 

My family and I attended a ceremony which recognised the scheme “Bundaberg Waterworks 1902” with an Engineering Heritage Marker.  As described in Geoff Bullpitt’s nomination for the Marker, the East Water Tower (the ceremony location) is “a fine example of late 19^th Century water supply technology used in the scheme”, and it remains in use today. 

Also this month I attended a road safety audit ‘refresher course’ in Brisbane and I welcomed a new senior school student for regular tutoring sessions in mathematics!

Pushing my daughter in her pram around the streets of Bundaberg is always an adventure, but today I reported a particular footpath hazard.  Recent trenching for utility services combined with the excessive rainfall experienced in the region since Christmas has created deep depressions in the grass footpaths along Walker Street near the railway line and Woondooma Street near City Fit gym.  The pram was getting stuck in the depressions and my ankles and hips didn’t like the disruption, so I hope the council or utility company will be able to fix it soon!

On another note, I should mention the revisions occurring to the DTMR standards and manuals, which will now refer primarily to the new Austroads guides for road planning and design.  The Interim Guide to Road Planning and Design Practice outlines the relevant criteria to be used until the release of the new Road Planning and Design Manual – A guide to Queensland Practice.  I am pleased Queensland is moving towards being part of a Nationally consistent traffic system, but can’t help wondering whether the new Manual will continue to be freely available on the DTMR website.  Might be time to budget for some additions to the business library!

On the topic of National transport, I found out the draft 2011 – 2020 National Road Safety Strategy is available for consultation.  Some light bedtime reading perhaps?

Blog #1

Hello and welcome to my RoadCulture blog. 

I intend using this forum to share traffic engineering news and ideas.  I hope this blog generates discussion between people who are passionate about achieving pleasant traffic environments.

Crash

Recently my friend was involved in a car crash on an arterial road near my house in Bundaberg.  She was waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic in order to turn right from Barolin Street into Ruddell Street and was hit by a following vehicle.  Fortunately my friend and the other vehicle occupants, including her three week old daughter, were unhurt.  I know there is a poor crash history along this section of Barolin Street and also that funds are available in the Federal Blackspot Program to address these types of problem locations.  My friend’s crash reminded me I would like to try to make improvements to locations such as this one by communicating and working with the local road authority - now I need to work out a plan to make this happen.

RCITI

Did you know the University of New South Wales’ Faculty of Engineering is establishing a new Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (RCITI)?  The Centre will focus on three areas:

·         Communication – eg. vehicles communicating with each other and with the traffic management systems;

·         Smart Engines – eg. research into alternative fuels, lowering emissions and improved aerodynamics, and;

·         Infrastructure and Planning – eg. investigating how climatic changes will affect transport infrastructure, testing of aging infrastructure and research into stronger, safer and more environmentally friendly materials.

I hope the establishment of this specialised research centre helps to ensure transport engineering skills are cultivated in Australia.