Pursuant to subclause 3.4(1) of the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 (“Rule”) and a delegation from the NZ Transport Agency, I, Glenn Bunting, Network Manager, authorise the installation, maintenance and operation of overhead, variable lane control and advisory signs, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines to identify the central section of roadway as either a flush median or a lane available to traffic:

1. For the purpose described in Schedule 1;
2. in the form and layout and complying with the operational conditions set out in Schedule 2;
3. at the location stated in Schedule 3;
4. for the period specified in Schedule 4; and
5. subject to the evaluation outlined in Schedule 5.

The variable lane control and advisory signs, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines may be installed for the purpose of evaluating their use and the trial will be called the “Whangaparaoa dynamic lane control trial”.

For the purposes of the trial, the combination of variable, advisory signs, white, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines are equivalent to a flush median described in 7.4 of the Rule and the yellow, illuminated pavement markers are equivalent to a no-passing line described in 7.3 of the Rule.

Schedule 1—Purpose of trial

The purpose of the trial is to:

1. Enable the installation and operation of overhead, variable lane control and advisory signs as an alternative to the signs described in 7.(13) and signs R4-4, R4-5 and R4-6 in Schedule 1 of the Rule;
2. enable the installation and operation of white, illuminated pavement markers as an alternative to the painted lines required to mark a flush median in 7.4(2) of the Rule;
3. enable the installation and operation of yellow, illuminated pavement markers as an alternative to the continuous line required for a no-passing line in 7.3(2) of the Rule;
4. evaluate the safety and effectiveness of overhead, variable lane control and advisory signs, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines to identify the central section of roadway as either a flush median or a lane available to traffic; and
5. assess road users’ understanding of and compliance with overhead, variable lane control and advisory signs, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines as a dynamic lane control system.

Schedule 2—Form and layout of overhead signs, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines

1. The over head, variable lane control signs must comply with sign numbers R4-4, R4-5 and R4-6 in Schedule 1 of the Rule and the variable advisory sign must comply with the specification in Schedule 2(e) of this notice.
2. In addition to the combinations of symbols set out in 7.13(3) of the Rule, the variable signs installed above the central section of roadway may display the following:
1. “FLUSH MEDIAN” for both directions, when the white pavement markers are illuminated to represent flush median markings; and
2. a yellow diagonal arrow for both directions.
3. The symbols displayed on the overhead, variable signs for the dynamic lane in the central section of roadway must operate in the following sequence as an alternative to the sequence in 7.13(4) of the Rule:
1. “FLUSH MEDIAN” displayed for both directions (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(i)), followed by;
2. a yellow diagonal arrow displayed for both directions (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(ii) Stage 1), followed by;
3. a red diagonal cross for both directions (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(ii) Stage 2), followed by;
4. a green downward-facing arrow for one direction with a red diagonal cross for the other direction (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(iii)), followed by;
5. a yellow diagonal arrow for the direction that previously had a green downward-facing arrow and a red diagonal cross for the other direction (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(iv) Stage 1), followed by;
6. a red diagonal cross for both directions (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(iv) Stage2), followed by;
7. “FLUSH MEDIAN” displayed for both directions (coincident with the pavement marker operation described in Schedule 2(h)(i)).
4. Overhead, variable lane control and advisory signs must be installed:
1. at each end of the section of road for the dynamic lane control trial; and
2. at intervals along the length of the road, with a maximum distance of 350m between sign locations;
5. Flush median variable advisory sign:

Note: The size of the sign and the legend may be increased.

Example: Flush Median variable advisory sign

6. The illuminated pavement markers used to mark the flush median and no-passing lines must comply with the NZ Transport Agency specification M29 Specification For Internally Illuminated Pavement Markers.
7. The layout of the illuminated pavement markers and painted lines to mark the flush median and no-passing lines must conform with the following diagram:

Layout of pavement markers and painted lines

8. The illuminated pavement markers must operate as follows:
1. When the central section of roadway is operating as a flush median, the white pavement markers representing the longitudinal and diagonal lines of a flush median must be illuminated and the yellow pavement markers representing no-passing lines must be off;
2. during the change-over period from flush median to active traffic lane, the pavement markers must operate in the following two stages:
   Stage 1: the white pavement markers representing flush median diagonal lines must be off; the white pavement markers representing lane lines may be illuminated or may be off; and the yellow pavement markers representing no-passing lines must be off;
   Stage 2: the white pavement markers representing flush median diagonal lines must be off; the white pavement markers representing lane lines may be illuminated or may be off; and the yellow pavement markers representing no-passing lines, between the left lane and the central lane for each direction of travel, must be illuminated so that they are visible only to traffic travelling in the direction each no-passing line applies to;
3. when the central section of roadway is operating as an active traffic lane, the white pavement markers representing flush median diagonal lines must be off; the white pavement markers representing lane lines may be illuminated or may be off; and the yellow pavement markers representing a no-passing line, between the single lane for the minor flow of traffic and the central lane, must be illuminated so that they are visible to traffic travelling in both directions; and
4. during the change-over period from active traffic lane to flush median, the pavement markers must operate in the following two stages:
   Stage 1: the white pavement markers representing flush median diagonal lines must be off; the white pavement markers representing lane lines may be illuminated or may be off; and the yellow pavement markers representing a no-passing line, between the single lane for the minor flow of traffic and the central lane, must be illuminated so that they are visible to traffic travelling in both directions;
   Stage 2: the white pavement markers representing flush median diagonal lines must be off; the white pavement markers representing lane lines may be illuminated or may be off; and the yellow pavement markers representing no-passing lines, between the left lane and the central lane for each direction of travel, must be illuminated so that they are visible only to traffic travelling in the direction each no-passing line applies to.

Schedule 3—Location

The location approved for this trial is Whangaparaoa Road, Auckland, from Hibiscus Coast Highway to Red Beach Road.

Schedule 4—Period of trial

The trial may begin after 1 July 2017 and, unless terminated earlier, must end by 31 December 2018.

Schedule 5—Evaluation

An evaluation and analysis must be undertaken as described in the trial application dated February 2017, received from Auckland Transport. The evaluation must include:

1. An assessment of all road users’ recognition and understanding of the overhead, variable signs, illuminated pavement markers and painted lines used to identify the central section of the roadway as either a flush median or a lane available to traffic;
2. measurement of drivers’ compliance with the dynamic lane control system;
3. an assessment of any seasonal effect (such as weather or light variations) on the visibility or legibility of the pavement markers and signs;
4. analysis of enforcement, conflicts and crashes;
5. analysis of costs, efficiency improvements and other benefits;
6. a summary of feedback received from road users, residents and the general public during the trial;
7. a description of any operational issues which arose during the trial and how they were resolved; and
8. recommendations for improvements or changes that should be made to the form and layout or operation of the dynamic lane control system.

An interim evaluation report must be sent to me by 30 April 2018 and a final report by 28 February 2019.

Signed at Wellington this 23rd day of June 2017.

GLENN BUNTING, Network Manager, NZ Transport Agency.