Adelaide City Council to scrap 40km/h speed limit for 50km/h on Hutt St

CITY centre speed restrictions of 40km/h will be abandoned by the Adelaide City Council because the community “is not ready” to lift the foot off the pedal. What do you think — take our poll

CITY centre speed restrictions of 40km/h will be abandoned by Adelaide City Council despite a trial it says was a success, because the community “is not ready” to lift the foot off the pedal.

The council’s decision to revert to the 50km/h restriction in the city’s southeast comes after a survey showed the lower limit had limited public support, although the State Government, road safety experts, cycling groups and a local school all support lower traffic speeds in the area.

The public opposition now puts pressure on other councils considering lowering speed limits.

Unley, Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield councils have 40km/h zones in some built up areas.

While Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the trial showed “Adelaide is not ready’’ for lower speeds, he said the council “is committed to having a constructive conversation with the community about the long list of economic and social benefits’’ they would produce.

And he said lower speed limits were inevitable across all city streets.

“Based on experiences from around the world, I predict there won’t be a CBD on the face of the planet that isn’t either 25mp/h or 40km/h within ten to 15 years,’’ he said.

“We are the only one in Australia already.’’

Many city residents and drivers, however, will be happy to learn of the return to the higher speed limit.

A survey of ratepayers showed they did not want maximum speeds reduced in residential streets (57 per cent), on Hutt St (67 per cent) or anywhere else in the city (73 per cent).

The council also received general “community feedback’’ opposing the limit drop, although traders and shoppers in Hutt St, where the $76,000 trial was centred, have backed the lower limit.

The trial is part of the council’s Smart Move Strategy for the CBD, which aims to “calm traffic’’ and “create a city with great streets and places for people that

is safer and easier to access for all users’’.

According to a council statement, “Hutt Street was selected for the trial as it is a local main

street for the community; it has shops, restaurants, cafes

and a range of community and social services and facilities, all of which service the southeast community and visitors’’.

These aims were achieved, according to the Speed Trial Limit Report, which showed “vehicle speeds had dropped’’ and “traffic volumes have decreased ’’, with the largest reduction on Hutt St.

But council’s report on the trial showed a number of “key issues’’ had been raised, including that:

HUTT St is a key route into the city,

SPEED limit variations — 40, 50 and 60km/h — were causing confusion,

PERCEPTIONS that the rial was only introduced for “revenue raising’’,

TRAFFIC congestion increased during the trial,

SAFETY has decreased because pedestrians feel more comfortable crossing mid block.

The report also says, however, that “the long-term vision for these streets is to calm traffic, encourage more walking and cycling and provide a pleasant and safe environment for local residents and visitors’’.

It says limits should be “reconsidered in the future as part of a broad plan to evaluate speeds within the city’’.

This would occur “in addition to future street upgrade works in accordance with the Urban Design Framework principles and place-making process’’.

RAA road safety manager Charles Mountain said the motoring body welcomed the decision to restore the 50km/h limit on Hutt St.

“We are glad because it is a significant access corridor for public transport, motorists and cyclists and it is four lanes with a solid medium strip with a bike lane, which makes it suitable for the 50km/h limit,” he said.

The RAA does not support a blanket 40km/h speed limit across the CBD.

“You have major access corridors like Grote, Wakefield, Pulteney and King William streets which are important to moving traffic and are suitable for the current speed limits,” Mr Mountain said.

But Bike SA said the 40km/h limit should be kept.

“The simple act of reducing speed limits in appropriate city precinct areas is the most cost effective and efficient strategy to increase community safety, stimulate local business and deliver improved health outcomes,’’ the cycling body said in its submission to council’s report on the trial.