Dirty-engine trucks will be punished under new plan

RESTRICTIONS for ‘dirty-engine’ trucks and speed limits of 50km/h are part of a bold new plan to improve air quality and road safety in the inner-west.

RESTRICTIONS for ‘dirty-engine’ trucks and speed limits of 50km/h are part of a bold new plan to improve air quality and road safety in the inner-west.

The Maribyrnong Cleaner Freight Initiative has been launched by two unlikely partners, the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) and the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG).

Under the plan access times for trucks using Francis St, Somerville Rd and Moore St in Yarraville would be increased for ‘environmentally-friendly’ accredited operators and reduced for those without accreditation.

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To qualify, operators must use prime movers that have low emission Euro 5 compliant or greater engines.

The plan aims to incentivise the use of lower emission trucks as a condition for them to travel for longer hours on roads that have truck curfews.

“This visionary plan we have developed with MTAG addresses the safety and environmental concerns of residents and equips drivers with a specific skills-set for operating in residential communities,” VTA CEO Peter Anderson said.

Accredited operators would be fitted with GPS technology, and data made available for third party review as an enforcement tool.

Curfews on Buckley St and Williamstown Rd would also be introduced and reduced speed limits of 50km/h applied to all vehicles using gazetted freight routes in Maribyrnong.

“This initiative is a huge leap forward in finding solutions agreeable to both sides,” MTAG president Samantha McArthur said.

“We really welcome this opportunity to work alongside the VTA.”

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