Since the beginning of 2022, City of Melbourne has been undertaking a study to identify a range of pedestrian improvement projects to be constructed in Kensington and North Melbourne over the next 12 months (financial year 2023-24) and beyond.

After conducting traffic studies, reviewing 10 years’ worth of community feedback and running a series of community reference group meetings, City of Melbourne came up with a list of proposed pedestrian improvement projects for the two neighbourhoods.

The community was provided with the list of proposed pedestrian improvement projects for each neighbourhood on Participate Melbourne. Concept sketches for several projects were also available for the community to review.

The community was then asked to indicate which projects they thought were a priority to implement and whether there were any they don’t support.

There were three phases of engagement for this project. Phase 1 and 2 took place between June and October 2022 in a series of community reference group meetings, where participants provided detailed insights and determined priority pedestrian improvement projects. Community reference groups for the two neighbourhoods were recruited through an online Expression of Interest process open to the public and promoted to key community groups.

Phase 3 of engagement took place online through a survey on Participate Melbourne. The survey was open from 21 February to 20 March 2023.

For North Melbourne, the top five projects that the community thought were the highest priority were:

• 40km/h speed limit on Harker Street/Curzon Street between Flemington Road and Arden Street.
• Pedestrian cut-through, pram ramps and kerb outstand, Macaulay Road northwest of Vaughan Terrace.
• Advocate for longer pedestrian walk times at some specific intersections.
• Zebra crossing and pedestrian refuge island, Haines Street at Macaulay Road.
• Zig zag line marking and signage, Errol Street at the raised shared crossing, south of Haines Street.

The project with the highest number (11) of respondents that do not support it was the 40km/h speed limit on Harker Street/Curzon Street between Flemington Road and Arden Street. However, this project also had 52 respondents that listed it as a top priority to implement.

Overall, 78 per cent of participants in North Melbourne thought that the proposed projects will contribute to a safer and more walkable neighbourhood.

For Kensington, the top five projects that the community thought were the highest priority were:

• 40km/hr LED signage ‐ Epsom Road and Macaulay Road shopping strip.
• Zebra crossings with road narrowing and traffic islands ‐ Kensington Road at Mercantile Parade.
• Zebra crossing and Road Hump ‐ Gower Street at Macaulay Road.
• Zebra crossing and traffic island ‐ Albermarle Street at Macaulay Road.
• Zebra crossings with kerb outstands and road hump – Rankins Road and Eastwood Street at Macaulay Road.

The two projects with the highest number (6) of respondents that don’t support them were the two road humps on Stockmans Way.

Overall, 83 per cent of participants thought that the proposed projects would contribute to a safer and more walkable neighbourhood.

The information provided by the community will help determine which pedestrian improvement projects will be prioritised for implementation this financial year (2023-24).

The following improvements in North Melbourne have already been completed:

• Vaughan Terrace at Canning Street: A zebra crossing, a pedestrian refuge, kerb outstands and speed humps installed at Vaughan Terrace at the intersection with Canning Street.
• Buncle Street at Canning Street: A zebra crossing with kerb outstands installed on both sides of Buncle Street. Speed humps installed on the approaches to the zebra crossing.
• Canning Street, just east of Vaughan Terrace: A zebra crossing, a refuge island, and kerb outstands installed on both sides of Canning Street, just east of Vaughan Terrace.
• Melrose Street at Canning Street: A zebra crossing and kerb outstands installed on both sides of Canning Street at Melrose Street. The centre median extemded and speed cushions installed on the approaches to the zebra crossing.
• Shiel Street at Canning Street: A zebra crossing installed on Shiel Street at Canning Street with speed humps installed to the south of the crossing.
• Melrose Street approach to Canning Street: A speed hump installed on the Melrose Street approach to Canning Street, parallel with the existing speed hump on the Melrose Street departure. Kerb outstands installed on Melrose Street.
• Canning Street, east of Shiel Street: A zebra crossing installed at Canning Street just east of Shiel Street. Speed humps installed to the east of the crossing.

With a commitment already made to construct some other pedestrian improvements in the two neighbourhoods, delivery of the priority projects identified will be subject to available funding. This will mean that some of the community’s priority projects won’t be constructed this financial year and will need to be prioritised for future funding opportunities.

Designs for specific projects will be shared with the community for feedback ahead of any works commencing to ensure local support for those in the immediately impacted area.

Please note, the 40km/h speed limit in North and West Melbourne has already been implemented.