Traffic & Roads

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Managing Traffic

The City of Port Phillip has a responsibility for the management of traffic within the local road network and in a cooperation with VicRoads also the arterial road networks within its boundaries.

The City of Port Phillip is intent on reducing the burden of injury on our community by providing a safer environment for all road users in Port Phillip. The Road Users Safety Strategy is currently being reviewed.

New 40kph Speed Limit in Local Areas

Council also supported the installation of the 40kph Speed Limit Local Areas. The first 40kph Speed Limit Local Area will be installed around Carlisle St in East St Kilda by end of March 2011.

Speed Limits

Lower speed increases community safety because there are fewer accidents that result in fewer injuries and fatalities. Speed is also major factor in attracting walking, cycling and making our city more liveable.

In February 2002, a 50kph blanket speed limit was introduced by the State Government on all roads in built up areas that are not signed otherwise.

The City of Port Phillip has continued lobbying the state government for a reduction of speed limits on road within the major activity centres that remained signed as 60kph. In 2006-07, Fitzroy Street formed a trial of what is now known as a 40kph variable speed limit in street shopping centres. In 2010 the 40kph variable speed limit was extended to the Carlisle Street, Barkly St and Clarendon Street shopping centres.

Measuring traffic

To understand the impact of the road networks on our community, Council measures traffic flow and growth and the types of vehicles using our roads. The data collected about how the road networks are performing provides an indication of where resources for traffic management should be directed. Data is also collected on other significant roads as required, and in response to specific community concern.

For further information view the Traffic Speed Volume Count Surveys Updated 22 December 2011.

If you feel there are adverse traffic volumes, speeds or vehicle type (ie large vehicles) in your street and data is not available for you to consider, please contact thr Council. Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Traffic & Parking Design.

Managing traffic

The City of Port Phillip does not have a formally adopted traffic management policy which provides an automatic response to adverse traffic volume / speed / vehicle type concerns. Council's traffic engineers will consider the following industry-accepted guidelines to determine if further investigation of traffic conditions in a particular street or area is required.

See updated traffic data, speed & volume to date:

Road Function

Melway Colour

24 Hour Volume

Peak Hour Volume

85th%ile Speed*

Local Street

Fawn

500 - 3,000 vpd^

<12 - 14% of daily volume

<63km/h#

Collector Road

Orange

3,000 - 8,000 vpd

<12 - 14% of daily volume

<63km/h#

Arterial Road

Red / Black

> 10,000 vpd

N/a

<106% of speed limit

vpd - vehicles per day

^ It is noted that some local streets operate satisfactory towards the higher limit while others are in the order of 500 vpd, see below factors for further explanation.

* Is the speed at which 85% of traffic travel at or below. Is often the indicator that determines the actual speed limit.

# Speed limits in all local streets and collector roads within the City of Port Phillip were lowered to 50km/h in February 2002. At this time, any physical traffic management response in 50km/h streets would be assessed as if they were still 60km/h. The cultural change to slow motorists to levels at or below 50km/h is continuing and expected to take a number of years. Note, this only applies to physical responses and not police enforcement or other initiatives identified.

Hint: Check the Melway street directory for the functional classification of your street.

If traffic conditions for a particular street fall outside the limits outlined in the above table, further investigation may be conducted to consider:

  • Road function and classification
  • Road network connectivity
  • Surrounding land use
  • Accident history
  • Types of road users (pedestrians, cyclists, special needs, public transport)
  • Road geometry and design
  • Impact on adjacent road networks
  • General environment

Following a review of these factors and the development of an appropriate traffic management response, community comment would then be invited on any traffic management plans recommended.

More information

Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Traffic & Parking Design.