Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are ramp signals being installed?
- How do ramp signals help traffic flow?
- Why do operating times and timings on green light cycles differ between ramp signal locations?
- Won’t waiting for a green light slow down my travel time to and from work?
- How do ramp signals improve safety?
- Why do ramp signals have truck priority lanes?
- What stops motorists ignoring ramp signals and driving straight through?
- Why are traffic signals being installed on the Market Road off-ramp?
- Can motorcycles also use the priority lanes?
- Why will ramp signals be installed at Hobson Street when traffic lights are already there?
1. Why are ramp signals being installed?
With traffic on Auckland motorways growing, Transit is taking proactive steps to help reduce congestion by managing its existing motorways in the best way possible. Ramp signals are designed to keep traffic flowing on the motorway and to help reduce accidents.
2. How do ramp signals help traffic flow?
By separating the stream of vehicles travelling down the on-ramp, merging is made easier for those entering the motorway. It also means less impact on the motorway traffic that these vehicles are joining.
3. Why do operating times and timings on green light cycles differ between ramp signal locations?
Because traffic conditions and demands are different on each on-ramp, the operating times and the green light timings on each set of ramp signals will be slightly different and customised to manage those exact conditions.
Some areas experience high demand at different times of the day to others, some have longer peak times, and most differ in the volume of traffic travelling across the ramp during peak times.
The ramp signalling system is designed to monitor and adjust to these traffic conditions to free up traffic.
4. Won’t waiting for a green light slow down my travel time to and from work?
Only at the height of peak hour traffic will cars be waiting longer than a few minutes than they did without the signals. Waiting times depend on the number of cars in the queue, and on how congested the motorway is.
Ramp signalling requires a small wait for a greater gain. Regulating flow on the on-ramp helps to relieve congestion and faster speeds can be reached on the motorway as a result.
Motorists on shorter trips should consider alternative routes to work through local roads, or travelling on public transport.
5. How do ramp signals improve safety?
Most accidents on Auckland motorways happen during peak hours when traffic is stop-start, due to lapses in driver concentration and motorists travelling down crowded on-ramps vying for positions in traffic or trying to merge together.
Ramp signalling provides a smoother flow of traffic, minimising stop-start conditions by separating on-ramp traffic into streams of one or two vehicles.
6. Why do ramp signals have truck priority lanes?
The purpose of the priority lane is to allow truck priority and High Occupancy Vehicles (HOVs) faster access to the motorway, so that public transport and commercial freight schedules are maintained. The inclusion of HOVs in this priority access in the future, is to encourage people to carpool where possible. The more people who carpool, the fewer vehicles there are on the road.
7. What stops motorists ignoring ramp signals and driving straight through?
Ramp signals look identical to regular traffic lights to avoid any confusion.
RUNNING A RED RAMP SIGNAL LIGHT HOLDS THE SAME PENALTY AS A REGULAR TRAFFIC LIGHT.
Ramp signals will be monitored by Transit using CCTV surveillance and by police using patrols. This also applies to solo drivers attempting to skip queues by using the truck/HOV priority lane.
8.Why are traffic signals being installed on the Market Road off-ramp?
Normal intersection traffic signals will be installed at the top of the Market Road off-ramp to assist traffic exiting the motorway. Market Road has been a difficult intersection to exit for both the north and southbound off-ramps and giving a light phase allowing free turning onto Market Road will significantly lessen queues back down the ramp. Transit and Auckland City Council will monitor the progress of this intersection closely to ensure the best results.
9.Can motorcycles also use the priority lanes?
Yes, motorcycles may use the priority lanes, except at Grafton Road as stated above.
10.Why will ramp signals be installed at Hobson Street when traffic lights are already there?
A large number of traffic movements take place along the stretch of SH1 between Hobson Street and Gillies Ave. Traffic from the Hobson Street on-ramp joins the motorway and merges with traffic from the north and northwest. Much of the traffic then changes lanes depending on the driver’s desired destination. By spacing the number of cars joining the motorway at Hobson Street, ramp signals will help to improve traffic flow and create safer merging onto the motorway lanes.
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