Toowoomba Regional Council approves $318k upgrade to CBD zebra crossing due to changes in safety standards

It’s a zebra crossing you’ve most likely used — 13,000 drivers a day pass through it. Now the council is going to spend $318,000 to potentially upgrade it with signals after safety standards changes a decade ago.

The Ruthven St zebra crossing near Joseph St, which will be upgrade by the Toowoomba Regional Council.

A zebra crossing in the Toowoomba CBD that sees 13,000 daily traffic movements will undergo a major upgrade worth nearly $320,000 due to a change in Australian traffic safety legislation.

The Toowoomba Regional Council voted on Tuesday to change the crossing on Ruthven St near Joseph St, just south of the Ruthven-Herries intersection.

The report from the infrastructure group explained the safety legislation had changed in 2010, banning crossings that went across two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction.

Depiste numerous attempts to remove the zebra crossing in the past 10 years, the TRC couldn’t reach alternative arrangement.

An investigation presented seven options, with the officers recommending a solution that staggers the crossing and adds traffic signals for motorists.

“To ensure a high level of pedestrian safety is maintained within the CBD, the preferred treatment is to replace the existing zebra pedestrian crossing with a new staggered crossing and compliant pedestrian centre refuge treatment in Ruthven St at Joseph St,” the report said.

While there was discussion about just removing the zebra crossing without a replacement, Cr Carol Taylor pointed out how it any pedestrian would be nearly 200m from the nearest intersection to cross Ruthven St safely.

She also pointed out the TRC had signed a walking charter to encourage pedestrian movements back in 2018.