Monitoring stages
The low traffic neighbourhoods are being monitored as part of our Low Traffic Neighbourhoods Monitoring Strategy and assessed according to up to three discreet stages to understand how they are performing and to make improvements.
- Stage 1 – Initial adjustment
- Stage 2 – Settling down
- Stage 3 – Regular use
Given the varied and uncertain way that Covid-19 is influencing travel behaviour, the stages are not fixed and will be affected, to varying degrees, by how Covid-19 restrictions evolve. This will include taking account of the uncertainty of Covid-19 and how long and which restrictions the government may instruct must be kept in place.
- During these stages LTNs may be modified or even removed altogether based on evidence and consultation.
- Schemes may also deliver on the objectives of the programme and contribute to our wider Borough policies and so may be made permanent.
- Full public consultation will take place before considering whether trial schemes should be made permanent or not.
Stage 1 – Initial adjustment
What can we expect?
- Immediately post implementation and before enforcement begins a proportion of drivers may not respect the legal restrictions and still travel through LTN ‘traffic filters’ (these still need to be accessible for emergency service vehicles in the emergency schemes, so physical barriers are largely avoided).
- Traffic across the wider area won’t have fully adjusted at this point. We would expect to see higher traffic levels throughout the monitored area than intended by the objectives of the project. Assessment should focus on identifying community issues and traffic problems to make specific design improvements where needed.