Trenerry Crescent is a major link between Clifton Hill and North Abbotsford.

If you live, work in or visit this area of Clifton Hill or North Abbotsford you will likely travel along this Corridor.

It provides direct access to Victoria Park, Ramsden Oval, Quarries Park, Merri Creek and Yarra bend Parkland, the Capital City and Meri Creek bike and pedestrian trails and the Clifton Hill recycling centre.

Its popular for a range of users; motorists, cyclists and pedestrians included, but there have been some casualty crashes along the corridor and many reports of near misses.

A road safety review has identified a number of locations where the conflict between different types of road uses cause them to be higher risk. The aim of this study is to reduce road safety incidents for the benefit of the local wider community and our visitors.

Where appropriate these studies might look at:

• Minimising conflict between the different modes of transport, with higher priority given to vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists without compromising the functional role of streets.
• Reducing vehicle speeds in locations where there is interaction between vehicles and vulnerable road users
• Making it safer to cross streets and seek to remove barriers to accessibility
• Implementing other Council priorities relating to tree planting and greenery and sustainable management of water if there is an opportunity as part of the delivery of works.

Yarra Council supports 30km/hr speed limits due to the potential for significant road safety outcomes. The 30km/hr trial in parts of Fitzroy and Collingwood was the first of its kind in Australia.

The Department of Transport approves changes to speed limits and its Speed Zone Policy (December 2021) allows for further trials in principle. It is still very early in the process and no new trials in Yarra are proposed or upcoming.

During the trial in Fitzroy and Collingwood, we asked whether you would support 30km/hr speed limits in the future should this ever become an option.

We heard that:

• 32.4% of participants support a 30km/hr speed limit

• 43.3% of participants oppose a 30km/hr speed limit

• 25.3% of participants would require further information to inform any decision

We will consider this information as we go forward, as part of this study or a wider approach to safe speed limits on residential and community streets in Yarra.

Find more information about the safety aspects of the Fitzroy/Collingwood trial.

While some local streets in Yarra experience higher traffic volumes and congestion usually during peak periods, it is Council policy not to increase vehicle capacity or allocate more space for vehicle movements unless this best addresses an identified road safety issue (i.e. the introduction of a roundabout or traffic signals to address conflicts between vehicles and vulnerable road users).

Increasing vehicle capacity within Yarra’s constrained road network has the potential to encourage more through or non-local traffic using Yarra’s local streets.

It is understood that the volume of vehicles using local streets is an issue for some members of the community. However, restrictive measures to address vehicle volumes such as road closures have not been supported by the community (as a whole) particularly where this results in restricted access to local facilities or neighbouring suburbs; increased travel times and a potential redistribution of traffic onto another street in the neighbourhood (i.e. transferring the problem elsewhere).

It has also generally been found that less restrictive measures such as turning bans have proved to be ineffective as it requires policing and impacts on residents (there is no option to apply restrictions to non-residents only).

There may be opportunities in areas with a high number of vulnerable road users (i.e. outside schools or near train stations) or on streets with low traffic volumes where restricted vehicle access could result in a significant safety improvement or overall community benefit. In such situations, localised restrictions on vehicle access will be investigated with the community as part of the RSS.

Arterial roads are owned and managed by the Department of Transport.

We heard a range of concerns about road safety on the nearby arterial roads during the first round of engagement. We’ve proposed some treatments that Yarra Council could feasibly deliver subject to approval from the Department of Transport.

Major projects such as the signalisation of an arterial road intersection are outside of the scope of what we can deliver.

As an action of this study, we will advocate on behalf of the community for any major improvements that could make the nearby arterial roads safer.

We strongly encourage you to report general personal safety issues to Council via our website www.yarracity.com.au so it can be provided directly to and addressed by the appropriate department.

We have collected a range of data and we’ve investigated all the issues raised during the first round of consultation. We recognise that the issue you have raised may not be covered by a treatment put forward for community feedback.

This may be because our data collection and analysis did not pick up a need for intervention as part of this study (e.g. vehicles are travelling within the speed limit).

We are aware of your concerns, and we will monitor what you have reported going forward. We do address road safety concerns outside of the Road Safety Study process.

LAPMS has not been completely replaced by Road Safety Studies at this point. Council is delivering committed projects from previous LAPMS.

We are currently exploring different approaches to determine how best we can do place making planning with the community (things like, broader streetscapes, greenery, street furniture and lighting for example) and how the community can best be involved in the range of approaches we currently provide that have a direct focus on place making. This is so we can be transparent with you about the focus of these studies and the resources available to deliver on the issues you raise.

Road safety interventions will seek to incorporate other works though, like increased greenery and permeable surfaces, where possible.

RSS will also still employ creative design outcomes where this best addresses the road safety issue.

Yes. On 5 October 2021 Council adopted the Road Safety Policy 2021 for the purpose of undertaking two initial Road Safety Studies (including this first study on Trenerry Crescent corridor) to assist with the goals of Yarra's Road Safety Strategy 2016-2026.

Council has instructed officers to review its implementation to ensure we capture what is working well and identify where any improvements could further improve this approach.

Read the Road Safety Study Policy 2021