Local Planning Policy Framework - Moreland City Council

Central Coburg 2020 Background Report [ PHASE 1: Research and Analysis ]
line and to increase the surveillance of the pedestrian underpass at the rail station.
? There are opportunities to reconfigure some streets through strategies such as
road widening and to alter parking and laneway regimes. Some streets should be
redesigned to accommodate cycle lanes and wider footpaths.
? There are opportunities to improve pedestrian access, links and environment
throughout the area.
Bell Street and Sydney Road
The traffic carrying capacity of Bell Street is evident in its high traffic volumes and
relatively constant traffic flows. Bell Street is managed by VicRoads as a Principal
Traffic Route, promoting its freight and regional traffic carrying function. It is the main
link between the Tullamarine Freeway and the Hume Highway. The speed limit is
60kph west of Rodda Street and 70kph east of Rodda Street with a number of turning
restrictions into Sydney Road. Bell Street is also characterised by narrow footpaths
and bans on parking along the kerbs.
Sydney Road is classified as a Secondary Arterial (Shopping St) and is not part of the
metropolitan car network. It is a major route for cars and trucks with local origin or
destination. There is a high level of pedestrian and parking activity generated by local
retail trading. Sydney Road has a two lane way carriageway, which includes a
tramway and a parking lane. The speed limit along Sydney Road is 60kph. The road
can be identified as two distinct sections north and south of Bell Street. The northern
section of Sydney Road has a wide carriageway and reservation. This presents the
potential for streetscape enhancements, connecting the north and north east sectors
of Coburg into central Coburg. Traffic loadings are near capacity along the southern
section of Sydney Road. The care and management of the tram tracks is undertaken
by M>trams. A number of traffic flow management techniques such as clearways and
turning restrictions are used along the road. The issues to be addressed for this part
of Sydney Road include the impacts on the operation of the tram services, impacts on
movement of goods, impacts of clearways on trading, and poor amenity for cyclists
and pedestrians during Clearway periods.
Harding, Munro, Reynard and Hudson Streets area classified as Collector Roads to
provide exclusive access to local residences and businesses. Main Street plays a
Limited Collector role. The remainder of the streets in Central Coburg are classified
as local streets and their function is to provide exclusive access to local residences
and businesses. The speed limit in all these streets is 50kph. Analysis of traffic
volumes showed that the volume of traffic in the above mentioned streets was
acceptable. Further analysis of some local streets showed that Loch Street was
carrying unacceptable volumes of traffic for a local street. This classification should be
reviewed.
Accident data through a check of State Accident Records indicates that 73% occurred
along Bell Street and Sydney Road. Of the other remaining 27% of the accidents,
89% occurred in the section of Central Coburg south of Bell Street. Many of these
involved pedestrians.
Local Road Network Issues
The railway line and large street blocks contribute to traffic congestion and the need
for drivers to make longer short trips that would otherwise be the case. The Pentridge
site, Moreland City College and the open space along Merri Creek are restrictions to
the network connectivity in the north-west sector. Opportunities to address these
issues include consideration of street closures to restore connectivity, and creating a
street link between the western carpark and Bell Street.
Pentridge Site
The vitality of Central Coburg will be influenced by the form and connectivity of
Pentridge Boulevard. This route can be designed to suit the demands of travel along
it as well as across it, without creating the amenity impacts that are apparent within
Elm Grove and Urquhart Street.
27