Council has voted to improve pedestrian safety along West Coast Drive by installing three raised pedestrian ‘zebra’ crossings and limiting vehicle speeds to 40km/h between Karrinyup Road and Beach Road.
West Coast Drive is one of the most popular destinations in Western Australia for not only tourists but also locals seeking to recreate or exercise using the shared path which tracks our beautiful coastline.
In August 2022 Council endorsed an officer’s recommendation to make an application to Main Roads WA to allow pedestrian crossings, with conversations between the City and Main Roads continuing as far back as April 2021.
The three zebra crossings and reduced speed limit, down from the current 50km/h limit, will improve pedestrian safety, reduce the number of cyclists using the shared path and enable better access to key activity nodes at the following locations:
- Elsie Street, Watermans Bay (near Little Bay Café)
- Saunders Street, North Beach (Near Beachcombers, Spinifex and Trigg Pizza)
- Bennion Street, Trigg (near Trigg Beach).
A further two locations at Lynn Street, Trigg (near Mettams Pool) and North Beach Road, North Beach (near North Beach Shopping Centre) will be considered in the 2025/26 budget pending a technical review of the first three locations.
Mayor Mark Irwin said the City had made the right call in balancing the competing priorities and interests for this important stretch of coastline.
“There was plenty of discussion on the best solution moving forward and our community engagement invited locals to share feedback via online surveys, email, phone and through three Coastal Conversations at the proposed crossings, which at least 150 people attended,” he said.
“Residents were really engaged on this topic. Speed limit and pedestrian crossings were the top two insights that came up through our 689 survey responses and consultation showed 58 per cent local support for pedestrian crossings and 42 per cent support for speed reduction.
“Support from Main Roads for the pedestrian crossings is conditional on a lower speed limit and increasing lighting, so the two issues needed to be considered together.”
The combination of civil and lighting upgrades will be scheduled through the City’s 2024/25 annual budget, with works anticipated in late 2024.
All costs associated with the speed limit reduction such as changes in signage will be borne by Main Roads WA.
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