40km variable speed trial for Beaufort Street begins

The City of Stirling’s two-year trial of a variable speed limit on a section of Beaufort Street, Inglewood between Central Avenue and Crawford Road began on Monday 5 July 2021.

The installation of LED speed signage in partnership with Main Roads WA was completed in June and from 7.30am Monday 5 July 2021, the speed limit dropped from 60km/h to 40km/h between the hours of:

• 7.30am and 10.00pm Sunday to Thursday
• 7.30am and 1.00am on Friday and Saturday.

The trial – which was first advocated for by the local town team in 2017 – will bring the strip into line with other 40km/h areas on Beaufort Street, including near Perth College during school pick up and drop off times, and closer to Perth city in Mount Lawley and Highgate.

There is evidence across many towns and cities that creating safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists in turn benefits businesses to establish and prosper. 

The City will also actively monitor Beaufort Street and the affected precinct via traffic collection surveys before and after the project to ensure that traffic patterns and speed are within an acceptable range.

During the trial, the City will monitor a number of different factors which will help Council assess how the change in speed has impacted the area, including:

• traffic volumes
• vehicle speed
• accident data
• pedestrian activity and numbers
• anecdotal evidence from business owners and residents.

Mayor Mark Irwin said as part of the trial, the City would periodically monitor vehicle movements and speeds on the adjoining side streets to ensure there are no adverse flow-on effects to local residents.

“We understand that with anything that needs trialling, it is about collecting data, information and feedback to inform the best way forward and that is exactly what we are doing through this project,” he said.

“That being said, local businesses and community groups have been calling for this for four years, and initial indications – not only from national and international case studies but also from the variable sections of this road closer to the Perth CBD in other jurisdictions – is that the speed variability gives flexibility to balance the competing needs of pedestrian safety, business uplift, family-friendly environments and a safe, quick and effective road network.”

Local residents can also register to follow the project via the Your Say Stirling project page for the trial at www.stirling.wa.gov.au/your-city/your-say-stirling/beaufort-street-variable-speed-limit-trial.