COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

HEADED ITEM NO. 8

TRAFFIC SIGNS BUTTERFIELD AVENUE

Following the adoption of an emergency motion at the March meeting of the Area Committee it was agreed that a headed item be brought forward to the April meeting of the Area Committee in relation to this matter and that the Roads Department be asked to re-examine the provision of signage at this location.

Legislation governing the installation of traffic signage on public roads is contained in Section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended by Section 37 of the Road Traffic Act 1994.

A traffic sign is defined as - 

“any sign, device, notice or road marking, or any instrument for giving signals by mechanical means, which does one or more of the following in relation to a public road or public roads: 

( a ) gives information (such a sign being referred to in this section as 'an information sign'),

( b ) warns persons of danger or advises persons of the precautions to be taken against such danger, or both (such a sign being referred to in this section as 'a warning  sign'),

( c ) indicates the existence of a road regulation or implements such a regulation, or both, or indicates the existence of a provision in an enactment relating to road traffic (such a sign being referred to in this section as a regulatory sign')."

Provision of traffic signs by a Road Authority –

A Road Authority may provide for public roads in their charge such information signs and warning signs as they consider desirable - sub section 3(a). 
Subject to sub section (4) of this section a Road Authority may, after consultation with the Commissioner, provide for public roads in their charge such regulatory signs as they consider desirable – sub section 3(b).

Special Category Sign –  

A Special Category Sign is a regulatory sign specified as such in regulations prescribed by the Minister under sub section (2).

Before providing a Special Category Sign a Road Authority shall publish a notice stating that representations in relation to the proposal may be made and consider any representations made.  A decision by a Road Authority to provide a Special Category Sign shall be a Reserved Function - sub section (4).

However, regulations giving effect to a Special Category Sign have not yet been made by the Minister.   

The signs being provided on Regional routes, which are designated as such by order of the Minister, are information signs approved for Regional Route Signage. These signs provide information to road users about routes and places and facilities of particular value and interest. These signs are normally rectangular in shape and there size is governed by the information contained on them.  

Information signage is being provided on Butterfield Avenue as part of route signage along the  Regional route R114 within the County from Dodder Bridge, Rathfarnham Road to Brittas via Butterfield Avenue as part of the Regional Route Signage Programme carried undr the auspices of and funded by the Department of Transport in compliance with the Traffic Signs Manual as published by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (as amended), the 2006 Guidelines for Regional Road Signage and relevant circulars prescribed by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This is no different than other Regional route signage throughout the County and country and is the minimum required to satisfy the signage requirements of this busy regional route.

Location of signage:

The sign location has to be in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual and the Guidelines issued. Table 2.5a of the Manual indicates distances from a the junction that signs have to be located which ranges from 50-100m from the junction depending on safety, the individual location and the prevailing speed at that location. This is the distance which it is required for a driver to make any necessary adjustments to their routing in order that they can safely arrive at their correct position on the road in good time at the junction. It is the distance from the junction where only one lane is provided on approach or the distance from a bifurcation in lanes in the case where lanes or channels are provided for different destinations. The Guidlines also state thatsigns must not be placed at an excessive distance from the junction where the information provided loses relevance. In this case the preferred location is shown on the location map attached and indicated on the map are a number of locations considered possible. We have tried to locate the sign at other positions along the route to allow sufficient time for drivers to get into the appropriate lane for proper traversing of the junction. In this case the H frame post has been provided in the optimum location and there is very little movement on this without similar problems arising. 

It should be noted that sign location should not be chosen where the indicated destination may be confused with an intermediate junction or where they block existing access to private property. Signs should be placed where planting or other screening reduces visibility from adjacent residential properties. In this case the frame location is at the boundary divide between two properties and is partially obscured from these residences.

Sign content; 

In the interests of clarity and safety sign content has to be rationalised and consistent with the adjoining signage schemes. In this case there is a major urban junction where two regional routes intersect ( R114 and R 817)  and normally the main destinations served by each of the roads at the junction have to be shown. Where a previous or subsequent junction better serves main destinations an appropriate local destination is to be be used.  

Size; 

The size of the lettering is a function of the X height (height of text) which is also prescribed by the Department of which there are two specified. In this case we have kept the size to a minimum and in the second attachment we have shown the original proposed sign together with an alternative sign reduced in size by dropping a destination from the sign. This smaller sign is now recommended as the prefered sign for this location. 

The size of sign and its location and height above ground also defines the type of frame required and must comply with relevant safety criteria for the particular location, clear of any footpath, cycleway or other road users that may encounter the sign. It must also be positioned so that it does not create blind areas when combined with other street furniture.

Following the representations made, the roads department have re-examined the provision of advance directional signage at this location and it is now proposed that the particular sign at the western end of Butterfield Avenue be reduced in size from that originally proposed and the associated H frame will be reduced in size accordingly. The signage proposed is shown on the attached sketch.  The new proposed sign is 30 % smaller than that proposed originally. The sign location is shown on the attached map and is at the optimum location as specified in the guidlines given the particular circumstances. Any further adjustment  would only transfer the issue to another location.