Small victory for residents in traffic battle

By Mick Roberts

Surry Hills residents have had a partial victory in their battle to improve traffic safety around their suburb.
The City News revealed in January that pedestrian safety in the leafy thoroughfares behind Flinders and Oxford Streets’ entertainment precinct was under threat with short-cut seeking motorists.
The streets have become a ‘rat-run’ for vehicles travelling between the city and eastern suburbs according to locals and they wanted quick solutions.
After our report and lobbying from the Nichols Street Community Group, last month residents were given an assurance by City of Sydney Council that measures will soon be underway to help remedy the problem.
Surry Hills residents want wider footpaths, traffic-calming measures and pedestrian crossings, as more motorists find an alternative to the Cross City Tunnel or busy Oxford Street.
Nichols Street Community Group spokesman Brian Noad said years of inaction by Council and the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) could lead to a tragic accident in Surry Hills.
‘Council has been sitting on their hands since the opening of the Cross City Tunnel and traffic management around Surry Hills,’ Mr Noad said.
A Council spokesperson confirmed no specific traffic management plan had been done for Surry Hills since the opening of the Eastern Distributor and the Cross City Tunnel in 2000. However, a study was currently underway and further community consultation was expected this month or during May.
Mr Noad said the main problem was with vehicles turning from Flinders Street into Short Street making it unsafe for pedestrians.
Surry Hills resident Peter Maddison said a pedestrian crossing in Short Street would be a quick solution to slowing traffic.
He said a crossing on the intersection of Short and Bourke Streets would send a clear message to motorists that the area was high in foot traffic.
However, pedestrian and vehicle counts by Council at the intersection failed to meet RTA requirements for a pedestrian crossing. As an alternative solution, Council has gained approval from the RTA for a pedestrian refuge island in Short Street near Bourke Street. Council will also install footpath extensions at the intersection to reduce the road width to make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road.
In addition, Council says the streets in the area have a reduced 40km speed limit, as well as a three tonne load limit.
Peter Maddison said the refuge island is a move in the right direction. ‘But Short Street at Bourke is an accident waiting to happen,’ Mr Maddison said.
‘This is the largest street between Taylors Square and Albion Street, with the homeless people crossing constantly drinking alcohol. It’s a very dangerous crossing.”
Council said it encourages local residents to come forward with their traffic issues as part of the Surry Hills Local Area Traffic Management. All traffic issues will be considered as part of the plan and reported to Council later this year, the spokesperson said.
The Council study is expected to be completed later this year and its recommendations put in place early in 2009.