Creating better crossings in York: trial at key junction aims to reduce pedestrian wait times

City of York Council have announced a trial project to reduce pedestrian wait times at one of the city centre’s key junctions, where Blossom Street, Queen Street, Nunnery Lane and Micklegate meet.

Changes to the timing of traffic lights will significantly reduce the amount of time pedestrians wait to cross at this junction.  This project is one of the first to reflect York’s new Local Transport Strategy (LTS) and Movement and Place Plan Framework, adopted in July, which together place a greater focus on active travel, ensuring pedestrians are prioritised in line with the adopted transport hierarchy.

The aim of this trial is to enable more people to walk and wheel in this part of York. Currently this junction – which was identified by residents in the LTS consultation as an area of concern – has one of the longest traffic light cycles of any junction in York, leaving pedestrians waiting for up to 3 minutes before being able to cross the road. The trial seeks to significantly reduce that wait.

York Civic Trust’s Transport Advisory Group has organised volunteers to help the Council to collect data both before and during the trial, to understand the impact on pedestrians, wheelers, cyclists, public transport and other motor vehicles. Data collected so far shows that over 700 pedestrians per hour cross at peak times and as many as a third of those give up waiting for the green man and cross early – potentially endangering more vulnerable pedestrians who may follow.

The trial is set to start in mid-August and is planned to run until late September 2024. The council will closely monitor the trial and the impact it has on people’s ability to move around the city, and will carefully weigh up the benefits and any potential disadvantages to all road users.

The results of the trial will be analysed and findings will inform the new policy on traffic signal operation in the city. The results will also inform any future improvements to pedestrian priority at other junctions across the city.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport, said: “Reducing the wait time for pedestrians at this junction will make it safer and less frustrating for people crossing the road at this busy location. We’re very grateful to York Civic Trust for supporting us with this trial and we’re keen to see what kind of difference these small changes will make.”

Chris Polack, Chair of the Transport Advisory Group said: "York Civic Trust is pleased to be able to work collaboratively with Council Officers to make an early start on implementing the Local transport Strategy.  I am confident the reduction in pedestrian wait times will deliver real benefit for all users of York’s transport network."