Resources

STREET NAME: Treatment area located between Alexandra Parade (north), Hoddle Street (east), Johnston Street (south) and Nicholson Street (west)

SUBURB: Fitzroy and Collingwood

MUNICIPALITY: City of Yarra, Melbourne

STATE & COUNTRY: Victoria, Australia

SPEED REDUCTION: From 40 km/h to 30 km/h

DATE IMPLEMENTED: January 2020 (trial start October 2018)

SCHEME INCLUDED: 

• Implementation of trial area (30km/h) and control area (40km/h)
• Replacement of speed limit signs with 30km/h signs
• Pavement marking
• 91 sites where speeds were recorded

COST: Not available

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Modest reductions in mean speed: average travel speed fell by 0.3km/h
• Reductions were more apparent at higher speeds where risk of severe injury or death to vulnerable users is more likely
• Unexpected speed reductions in adjacent control sites
• “Treatment effect” showed 11% reduction of likelihood of a vehicle travelling above 40km/h in treatment area and 25% reduction above 50km/h
• 4% reduction in risk of severe injury for pedestrians
• Increase of people supporting the 30km/h area from 42.7% to 50.3% within the trial area

Observations of pedestrian and cyclist activity were undertaken at a limited number of locations within the treatment and non-treatment areas during three days before the trial implementation and three days at 12 months into the trial. The small number of locations and survey days limits the ability for general conclusions. The data shows a 12.7% drop in pedestrian activity (largely driven by a single site) and a 27.8% increase in cycling activity.

LESSONS LEARNED:

For some members of the community there was confusion about how the pedestrian priority at the crossings worked, how to determine when to enter and how to exit the roundabout.

There are feelings of frustration caused by inconvenience to the driving experience which are perceived to be caused by the Wombat Crossings.

Intercept surveys at the Wombat Crossings found people using them thought they created a more convenient walking experience however there was still concern about understanding how the crossings worked and the expectations of people walking and people driving.

Information about the benefits of the crossings and the expectations of all road users would assist the community to understand the role they play in creating a pedestrian priority city centre.

LOCATION:

Cavill Avenue/Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Hedges Avenue/Old Burleigh Road, Mermaid Beach
Garfield Terrace/Northcliffe Terrace, Surfers Paradise
Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach
James Street, Burleigh Heads
Connor Street, Burleigh Heads
Pacific Parade, Tugun
Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Thomas Drive, Chervon Island
Cloyne Road, Southport
Marshall Lane, Southport
Tedder Avenue, Main Road
Broadbeach area – Queensland Avenue, Albert Avenue, Old Burleigh Road, Victoria Avenue, Surf Parade and Charles Avenue

SPEED REDUCTION: Various – some 50 km/h to 40km/h, 50km/h to 30km/h and 40km/h to 30km/h

MUNICIPALITY: City of Gold Coast

STATE & COUNTRY: Queensland, Australia

SCHEME INCLUDED: 

• Signs and lines
• Raised crossings and wombats
• Contraflow bicycle lanes
• Placemaking

DATE IMPLEMENTED: Various

COST: Noted as low-cost initiative in the Gold Coast Road Safety Plan 2021-2026
Speed reviews done internally (although Department of Transport and Main Roads grants available for these speed reviews) and minimal operational budget required for signs and linemarking and threshold treatments if required.

ADDITIONAL INFO: General support and now going back to some 50km/h to 40km/h zones and undertaking further reviews to reduce to 30km/h

LESSONS LEARNED:

• Lesson around now going straight to 30km/h, rather than 50km/h to 40km/h and then second review 40km/h to 30km/h (this has come from taking a conservative approach initially and now being more comfortable with going straight to 30km/h following the speed limit review process documented in MUTCD Part 4.
• Tools now support 30km/h (MUTCD Part 4)
• Importance of looking at a broader area, get the data and use engineering knowhow to develop consistent precinct wide approach for speed limits
• Queensland Police Service supportive of 30km/h (note they have had challenges enforcing loud cars in café precinct but can enforce speed breach)
• Importance of working with community and Councillors, and that when the speed reduction requests come via their offices, they are more supportive/less concerned
• Value of placemaking project supporting traffic speed changes in centre projects

Cycling network guidance – planning and design (CNG) framework aims to promote a consistent, best-practice approach to cycling network and route planning throughout New Zealand.

An example of the process that can be used to map and plan the direction signs required to navigate along a cycle route. The example used is the Battery Point section of the Sandy Bay to Hobart and return route.

St Kilda Road will soon be safer for everyone with new bike lanes to be built to separate drivers and cyclists.
A Victorian Budget 2019/20 investment of $27.3 million will fund a new layout for one of Victoria’s busiest corridors, combining both central safety zone bike lanes and protected kerbside bike lanes.

An innovative program designed to make streets, friendlier and safer for all users including people in cars and those riding bikes and walking.