Truck survey draft released on inner west Melbourne traffic

Date: 26.06.2014

Aim is to understand the proportions of through traffic and trucks that have a destination in the area

Truck survey draft released on inner west Melbourne traffic

Report seeks to define the scope and type of truck movements

Years of agitation over the trucking industry’s interface with residents in Melbourne inner west, along with commitments for the East West Link and Port Rail Shuttle, have led to the release of a draft truck movement report to VicRoads and the Maribyrnong City Council by consultancy GHD.

The draft is a part of a wider ‘Trucks & the Inner West’ initiative that also involves EPA Victoria and the Department of Health.

"It is expected both of these projects will have significant impacts on truck movements in the inner west and change the landscape of how trucks and vehicles enter and exit the broader western suburbs," initiative information states.

"Future land use changes as a result of these projects will also facilitate investment in the region.

"The Trucks & the Inner West working group will be looking at short-term measures that will complement and capitalise on these two projects into the future."

Centred on Footscray, Yarraville, Kingsville, Seddon, Tottenham and Brooklyn − the nearest suburban neighbours of the port of Melbourne − the Trucks & the Inner West: Truck Movement Survey draft report seeks to define the scope and type of truck movements in the area and follows a 2012 study for the Port of Melbourne Corporation origin-destination study.

This was seen to be port-centric and was limited on Geelong Road and CityLink aspects, so the latest report will complement that when finalised.

"A key objective of the study is to differentiate between trucks with a ‘local’ purpose as opposed to those with a ‘through’ movement," the draft’s executive summary says.

"This is primarily to understand the proportions of trucks that have a destination in the area, compared to trucks that are travelling through the area without stopping.

"Additionally it enables an understanding of what proportion of trucks will potentially be impacted by any additional truck curfews or bans.

"Under Road Rule 104 of the Road Safety Road Rules 2009, truck curfews or bans do not apply to those with a ‘local’ purpose.

"Truck curfews are currently in effect at night along parts of Somerville Road (Hyde Street to Geelong Road), Francis Street (Roberts Street to Whitehall Street), Whitehall Street (south of Somerville Road) and Hyde Street (south of Francis Street).

"Trucks are prohibited from using these roads from 8pm to 6am on Monday to Saturday and 1pm Saturday to 6am Monday. Full time truck bans exist on most local roads in the inner west such as Hyde Street north of Francis Street."