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When the draft Mudgee Traffic Study went on public display, many residents were pleased it did not mention traffic lights. At the public meeting held on Wednesday night to discuss the study, it was stated that the consultant commissioned to prepare the study was specifically briefed not to look at traffic lights as an option.
The current Mid-Western Regional Council has frequently expressed its opposition to traffic lights on the basis that they would mar the country charm of the town. Many residents share that view.
However, whatever your views are regarding traffic lights, it is strange that in commissioning a study to look at ways to improve traffic flow and safety in the current time, and maintain it in the future, the council should rule out discussion of a possibly useful traffic control measure.
The purpose of a study is to look at all options. The purpose of releasing a draft strategy is to promote discussion about options, to be considered by council when adopting the final strategy. If there is strong opposition to any proposal, or if it is found to be impractical, it can be rejected.
Some areas in Mudgee could benefit from traffic lights. Roundabouts, which give priority to vehicles, leave pedestrians to take their chances on a break in the traffic. Traffic lights in some areas with high pedestrian use may be beneficial to people such as children or the elderly. Roundabouts also cost significantly more than traffic lights: The $1 million roundabout constructed on Ulan Road in 2011/12, for instance, cost around twice as much as traffic lights. With the traffic study proposing multiple new roundabouts for Mudgee, this represents a multi-million expenditure which could otherwise be spent to improved roads throughout the shire.
A thorough study of traffic management should look at all options, even those which are disliked by the councillors and potentially unpopular with the public. By barring traffic lights from the study, apparently because they are not pretty, the council has denied the public the opportunity to consider expert, impartial advice on what has been in other towns a useful traffic management tool.