This paper presents some results of a study of the local area traffic management (LATM) scheme, implemented in Mount St. Thomas, a residential suburb of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. The devices used there can be classified into: (1) intersection channelisation; (2) raised threshold; and (3) angle slowpoints. Monitoring of the scheme, through attitude surveys and traffic surveys, started several months after the last devices were installed. This gave adequate time for residents to adjust their travel patterns and perceptions of the devices. In the attitude survey, different questionnaires were distributed to residents in two different parts of St. Thomas. The traffic surveys consisted of daily volume counts, surveys consisted of daily volume counts, speed surveys, and accident studies. Some results of the surveys are presented. The scheme has led to some reduction of through traffic. Most residents dislike the traffic control devices. Mean speed has decreased in some streets of St. Thomas, but increased in others. Accidents seem to have decreased in number and severity, although the sample is at present too small to be statistically significant. Noise and air pollution have decreased. Public education seems necessary, to inform local residents of the scheme's benefits.
Abstract