THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG
ROADS, STREETS AND ROAD SAFETY SUMMARY DRAFT INTEGRATED TRANSPORT STRATEGY
ROADS, STREETS AND ROAD SAFETY THE OUTCOME WE SEEK Greater Geelong needs a safe, efficient and resilient network of roads and streets that moves people and goods while creating accessible, attractive and liveable places. manage it, including the speeds we set and the safety measures we provide for every user.
WHY IT MATTERS Roads and streets do much more than carry traffic. They connect communities, carry public transport and freight, and provide access to homes and businesses. Many also serve as public spaces where people walk, meet, shop and spend time. Growth will bring more journeys and place greater pressure on the network. But road space is limited. Continually widening roads is expensive, disrupts surrounding communities and can attract even more traffic. A growing city will inevitably experience some congestion, so we must focus on maintaining reliable access, improving safety and using existing infrastructure more efficiently. One approach will not suit every street. Arterial and connector roads carry larger volumes of people, goods and essential services. Local streets serve homes and neighbourhoods, and this is where lower speeds and safe community activity matter most. Main streets and activity centres perform several roles at once. They must support movement while also providing space for walking, business access, public transport and public life. Safety will guide every decision. Vehicle speeds, street design and the separation of different users all affect the likelihood and severity of crashes. High speeds and difficult crossings create the greatest risks for children, older people, pedestrians, riders and people with disability.
WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE Greater Geelong will have a clear road and street hierarchy based on Movement and Place and Safe System principles. The future network will include: arterial and connector roads that reliably carry public transport, freight and longer-distance traffic including completion of the Bellarine Link local streets that prioritise access, lower speeds and neighbourhood safety activity-centre streets that support walking, business, public life and essential vehicle access safer intersections and crossings self-explaining street designs that reinforce appropriate speeds quieter neighbourhoods protected from inappropriate through traffic reliable emergency, servicing and freight access streets that support the Urban Forest Strategy to achieve tree canopy cover targets along priority active transport routes infrastructure that is resilient to heat, flooding and climate change. Road capacity will be targeted to locations where it is required to support planned growth, address safety risks or improve public transport and freight reliability. Existing roads and streets will otherwise be managed more effectively before expansion is considered. Local Area Traffic Management may be used to reduce speeding and discourage through traffic while maintaining access for residents, visitors, deliveries and emergency services. Measures may include raised crossings, kerb extensions, traffic calming, one-way arrangements and filtered connections that retain direct access for walking and riding. Street design and speed limits will respond to context. Lower-speed environments will be considered around schools, activity centres, local streets and other places with high pedestrian activity, while higher-order roads will retain speed environments appropriate to their movement role. 36
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SECURE
MANAGE
ENABLE
Maintain a grant-ready project pipeline.
Manage speeds, traffic and street
Deliver safer crossings and complete
hierarchies.
streets.
Allocate road space according to
Give priority to efficient, space-saving
movement and place.
modes.
Maintain assets and address high-risk
Preserve access for freight and
locations.
essential car trips.
As We Grow
As Demand Matures
Secure road-safety and renewal funding. Coordinate council and state corridor investment.
Now
Define the Movement and Place role of key streets and address locations with high safety risks.
Protect essential road access while improving safety, crossings and local street environments.
Use existing road capacity more efficiently, giving greater priority to public transport, freight and highcapacity transport where appropriate. Coordinate road renewals with improvements to walking, riding, public transport, accessibility, greening and public places.
Add road capacity selectively where planned growth, safety, freight or public
Manage congestion instead of trying to eliminate it everywhere by adding
transport requires it.
capacity for general traffic.
Redesign mature corridors and activity centres to move more people safely within limited street space.
Transform streets over time to reflect their mature roles in movement, access and public life.
Maintain reliable access for essential traffic while shifting a greater share of journeys to more space-efficient transport.
Indicators Fatal and serious injuries Safe-speed compliance Movement & Place implementation Road renewal integration Network reliability Person throughput
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