Some Footscray streets to get 30km/h speed limits

SPEED limits on some Footscray streets will be slashed to 30km/h as part of a bold plan to save lives, but not everyone is behind it.

Some streets around Footscray will have a 30km/h speed limit. Digitally altered image

MARIBYRNONG Council says lives should be saved by a bold plan to slash speed limits, including introducing a 30km/h limit in the Footscray CBD.

VicRoads will introduce the Footscray Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project following a $2.54 million commitment from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is a 30km/h speed limit the answer to road safety? Tell us below

The TAC and VicRoads have $1 billion to spend from a statewide joint fund aiming to transform Victoria’s highest risk roads into some of the state’s safest.

Mayor Catherine Cumming said Maribyrnong said yes instantly to the funding offer, which will also extend to parts of West Footscray and Seddon.

RELATED: Road safety experts call for 30km/h speed zones

VicRoads told the Leader it was possible the new limits could be in place by the end of this year. As well as central Footscray dropping to 30km/h, drivers will have to slow to 40km/h in outer Footscray and 50km/h on some main roads such as Hopkins and Buckley streets.

It’s understood Maribyrnong could be one of the first Melbourne councils to introduce 30/km limits. Yarra Council is likely to trial the same speed limit in parts of Fitzroy.

The RACV last year said that it did not support the push for 30km/h speed zones because the limit was not suited to Melbourne roads.

In the five years to December 31, 2015, there were 305 casualty crashes in Footscray involving pedestrians, two fatalities and 84 serious injuries.

A high number were caused by jaywalking or pedestrians not using designated crossings.

Cr Simon Crawford said slowing cars down would make Footscray streets safer.

“The most important thing is everyone gets home safe,” he said.

Cr Mia McGregor said the project was “about the health and mortality of our residents”.

The council will seek out community opinions on the project.

At this week’s council meeting West Footscray resident Eddie Merrifield thought the plan was too extreme, with traffic on some roads already moving at a “snail’s pace”.

“I think it’s going a little too far. There are bottlenecks already,” he said.