City of Stirling to trial 40km variable speed limit for Beaufort Street

The City of Stirling will begin a two-year trial of a variable speed limit on a section of Beaufort Street, Inglewood between Central Avenue and Crawford Road, with installation of signage beginning this week and the formal start of the speed limits set to begin in June.

The two-year trial will involve the installation of LED speed signage in partnership with Main Roads WA, with the speed limit dropping 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.

Mayor Mark Irwin said that the initiative followed requests from local businesses and the Town Team, Inglewood on Beaufort over a number of years.

“This will bring this 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,” he said.

Chair of Inglewood On Beaufort Damien Giudici welcomed the announcement of the new speed restrictions.

“Inglewood on Beaufort has been advocating for reduced speed limits since early 2017, so it's pleasing to see this initiative come to fruition,” he said.

“We have advocated for this trial as there is evidence across many towns and cities that creating safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists will in turn benefit businesses to establish and prosper. 

“We've seen this already, in part due to the introduction of line marked parking spaces, which slowed cars down, and the speed trial will build on this in establishing Inglewood as a family friendly precinct.”

The City will be actively monitoring 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 this trial, we will be monitoring 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.

As part of the trial, the City will be periodically monitoring vehicle movements and speeds on the adjoining side streets to ensure there are no adverse flow-on effects to local residents.

The start date of the trail is subject to installation of signage by Main Roads. To raise public awareness, local residents will receive a letter with additional information and updates will be provided on the City’s website and social media channels.

You 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