Dear Sir,
We are concerned with the proposal to reduce the width of
the promenade along Beach Road, by taking 3 metres for an extra road lane,
with the 140M baht ‘beautification’ reported last week. Pattaya’s famous
beach is a bit like the stories in Playboy magazine; an excuse for buying
the mag, rarely the reason; in Pattaya’s case, an excuse for coming here.
Taking three metres from the promenade will take nearly
half of it, at places such as in front of the Amari, and in the vicinity of
Mike Shopping.
It is not necessary to add another lane. Currently the
loading of Beach Rd is actually very low - we would guess 10 - 15% of actual
capacity.
The congestion occurs at three places: in front of
Central Festival; at the entrance to Walking Street; and the Second Rd
intersection.
It is not uncommon to find that the traffic flows freely
once past Central. Some short term and long term improvements may eliminate
most of the problem.
Re Central Festival, we suggest:
1) Clear the left lane back to in front of the Soi 9
Police Station, or earlier, as found to be necessary, by trial and error.
2) Place a banner over Beach Rd before Pattaya Klang, and
another after, advising Central bound traffic to keep left (1 lane) and for
through traffic to keep to the right (2 lanes).
3) Change the traffic cones to flexible or low profile
fixed markers as per the attached pictures, which can be run over without
damage. (Currently, as the slow traffic bunches up, drivers encounter the
cones when they are very close - then they often have to reverse to change
lanes, not wanting to run over the cones. This greatly slows the traffic.
Flexible or low profile markers could be run over). Currently, cones are
also placed to stop vehicles parking just before the left turn into Central
- but these cones take up that lane, which could be Central’s access.
4) Waiting baht buses and taxis & could use the existing
parking bay (4th lane) on the extreme left of Beach Rd, while ‘circulating’
baht buses, etc, could stop after the Central entrance.
These measures could be implemented very quickly, and
should result in a considerable increase in the capacity of Beach Road at
Central. These could be tested for 2 - 4 weeks to see if they eliminate the
problem, to help save Pattaya’s most famous asset from partial demolition.
Widening Beach Rd will have little effect on congestion
at Walking St, and no effect on congestion at Second Rd. The traffic will
actually move more slowly unless the congestion is cured. We have been
working on a design for the Walking St intersection, but it can wait until
the Central problem is solved. Or not solved. Other long term measures to
relieve Pattaya’s traffic woes might include a redesigned higher capacity
baht bus, and baht bus scheduling. We would be happy to work with the Baht
Bus Association and Pattaya City Council to make baht buses as convenient
and comfortable for all, including tourists, to use.
Finally, we would like to thank the authorities for
opening an exit from Highway 7, and an entrance to it, at Chaiyapornvittee
Rd for the benefit of Pattaya residents, as requested by Pattaya Progress
Association, via Pattaya Mail, some time ago. Working together, we
can make Pattaya a great city.
Stuart Saunders,
Pattaya Progress Association
www.pattayaprogress.org
