Push for 40km/h speed zones in pockets of the east

THE speed limit could be dropped to 40km/h in Stepney, Maylands and Evandale, following residents’ concerns leadfoots were cutting through suburban streets.

There’s a push to lower speed limits in several streets across Adelaide’s east.

THE speed limit could be dropped to 40km/h in Stepney, Maylands and Evandale, following residents’ concerns leadfoots were cutting through suburban streets.

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council is investigating cutting the limit in streets bordered by Portrush, Payneham and Magill roads and Nelson St after a consultant advised the lower speed would improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cr Mike Stock — whose ward covers the area — said many residents he had spoken with while campaigning during a council by-election last year said traffic was the number one local issue.

“A lot of people, or most people, I spoke to had problems with traffic and parking,” Cr Stock said.

“They were the two main issues they raised.

“It’s worth putting it to the people to see if it (a speed reduction) would work.”

His fellow ward councillor, Kevin Shepherdson, said he would support a lower limit, if that was what the community wanted.

The council last year spent $60,000 on a traffic study which identified issues across the three suburbs.

The study highlighted concerns with “cut-through” traffic, where drivers avoided the arterial road network.

It also said residents had difficulty leaving their driveways due to traffic volumes and that the average speed within the targeted area was 45km/h.

However, a preliminary survey of 3500 households as part of that study found just 36 people supported a 40km/h speed limit.

Last year, the Transport Department changed guidelines which required councils to secure two-thirds support from at least 30 per cent of residents in a target area before it would consider any changes to speed limits.

Under the changes, councils were no longer required to consult residents on any such changes.

But NP & SP Mayor Robert Bria said the council wanted to secure resident support before looking to lower the speed limit.

He said the council would be led by community sentiment with a further round of consultation to follow.

There were six crashes resulting in minor injuries in the area between 2012 and 2017, according to State Government data.

A section within the study area, known as Stepney Triangle which is bound by Payneham and Magill roads and Nelson St, already has a 40km/h speed limit.