Kea crossing at Vauxhall School a prototype for North Shore City

In a first for North Shore City, a new type of crossing will be installed at Vauxhall School in Morrison Ave, Devonport, to improve safety and traffic management.

The 'kea' crossing will replace an existing unofficial crossing used by Vauxhall School pupils. In addition, parking restrictions and a drop-off zone school will be established.

Kea crossings differ from other pedestrian crossings in that they do not have permanently painted white stripes on the road or black and white poles that designate pedestrian crossings. Instead, they have vehicle 'hold' lines on the road, pedestrian 'hold' lines at each crossing point, and posts on which the school patrol stop signs can be mounted.

The council's works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says kea crossings are an excellent option for schools in streets which usually have low traffic volumes, but heavy usage when children are coming and going from school.

"Kea crossings are in place and work well at a number of schools throughout the Auckland region. After Vauxhall School, three or four more schools in North Shore City are also likely to benefit from the kea crossing concept," Councillor Cayford says. The new measures are part of the council's Travelwise to School pilot project which aims to reduce congestion at the school gate and encourage alternative modes of travel to and from school.

Joel Cayford says it is the first initiative of this type in New Zealand, and based upon a partnership between North Shore City Council, Vauxhall and Bayswater Primary Schools. Travelwise seeks to address school traffic management and safety issues by involving local residents, parents, school and children.

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