<p></p><p>Some of the key themes emerging from feedback received during the first stage of consultation included:</p> <p><i>Ensure two cars can pass each other at the same time:</i></p> <p>The existing road width is not sufficient for two cars to comfortably pass each other when there is a car parked on both sides of the road.  Council is proposing a parking lane on the western side of New Street, and two through lanes, with parking generally allowed on the eastern (southbound lane) side of the road.  This arrangement will provide priority to northbound vehicles and will clearly identify that southbound vehicles are required to give way to oncoming vehicles when passing a parked car.</p> <p></p> <p><i>Parking and safety concerns in proximity to the aquatic centre, including a request for 40 km/h speed limit:</i></p> <p>Council is proposing to restrict parking on the eastern side of New Street, opposite the aquatic centre in response to concerns raised with respect to parking and pedestrian access.  VicRoads determine the requirements for changes to speed zones, and 40 km/h zones are generally used for school zones and activity centres, and not for individual private businesses, and therefore would not be supported in this situation.</p> <p><i>Allowance for bicycles in design:</i></p><p><span>This section of New Street is not designated as a bicycle link, and the road reservation width is a limiting factor in providing bicycle lanes given the existing infrastructure.  As such a dedicated bicycle lane cannot be provided.<br> </span></p> <p><i><span>Vehicle speeds through Arlington / New / Molan:</span></i></p> <p>A traffic island in Arlington Street at the intersection with New Street is proposed to assist with controlling vehicle movements through the intersection.  The drainage works require the raising of Molan Street at the intersection with New Street, which should assist with slowing vehicles through this intersection.</p> <p><i>Concern with additional pedestrian facility in proximity to the recently constructed facility at Albert Street:</i></p><p><span>The signalised pedestrian crossing at Albert Street, constructed for users of the Ringwood to Box Hill rail trail, is considered to be too far away from the pedestrian desire lines between the residential catchment to the south and east of New Street and the Heatherdale Station.  The pedestrian facility proposed south of Arlington Street will be a pedestrian refuge which will allow pedestrians to undertake a staged crossing of New Street, with vehicles having priority at the refuge.</span></p> <p></p> <p><i>Road widening for turning lane into Molan Street:</i></p> <p>Traffic counts undertaken as part of the traffic concept design do not support the need for a dedicated turning lane into Molan Street.  Further, the existing road width is not sufficient to facilitate a turning lane into Molan Street noting that this intersection must cater for the turning movements of industrial traffic, and road widening is not supported due to the narrow naturestrips and impact on existing vegetation.</p> <p><i>Request for a Pedestrian refuge in Molan Street at the intersection with New Street:</i></p> Due to the turning movements of the heavy vehicles that use this intersection, it is not possible to construct a safe pedestrian refuge at this location as heavy vehicles would mount the refuge island.<br>