Safety in Parkville and North Melbourne

In my past few columns I have covered the tram stop works, cycling paths and speeding. Currently there is a Parkville traffic management study, and the Parkville Association has a committee focused on the subject.

The tram stop works are complete yet sadly this week I witnessed a near accident at the Morrah St stop. On the 19 from the city the tram stopped, opened doors and passengers began to disembark. From the kerb side a lady went to walk to the tram and a car went through at around 65kph. Luckily a friend dragged her back.

This is despite the very good work the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has done on Royal Parade. If this was an isolated incident, so be it; but sadly, it happens regularly.

I feel for DTP – it has chevrons on the road, has narrowed the lane next to the stop and has clearly marked the road with warnings yet drivers still ignore all these great measures.

How do we make passengers safe? At Morrah St there are tram loads of students crossing Royal Parade en-masse. This is now the main university stop and many of the students are from overseas.

What can be done? Maybe some rumble strips, or more importantly, more policing. Sadly, the latter is difficult because the police simply don’t have the numbers to check both the stops and manage the many bikes that are ridden illegally over a “pedestrian only” crossing.

The only solution is to lower the speed limit on Royal Parade which I gather DTP would like to do. Even then the selfish and speeding motorists will not slow. This is not a one-off issue as near accidents happen frequently and we must also feel for the tram drivers who have to put up with this.

On top of this, by years end, the Westgate Tunnel will open and put around 3000 vehicles a day each way onto Curzon, Harker and Gatehouse streets. Some will turn right on to Flemington Rd and Royal Parade.

Remembering there is a new 12-storey hospital planned for the corner of Harker St and Flemington Rd, the slip road onto to Flemington will be an ambulance bay so we can expect more delays.

Mary Masters from the North & West Melbourne Association (NWMA) and I have had discussions and will form a joint approach from both of our associations to council.

Our Premier has suggested we all wait and see what the traffic flows will be before action. Sadly, we know the result and it will be chaos for North Melbourne and Parkville.

The traffic volumes and more importantly safety issues will become more serious than ever, and the safety of people should be prioritised.

From my initial meeting with the council, it is looking very seriously at Parkville’s rat running, however, the exercise must also include our friends from North Melbourne, particularly given North Melbourne Primary has campuses both sides of Harker St. That is also in a dip where the traffic pollution will become intolerable to our children moving across between the campuses.

In 2025 these are all issues that should be front of mind, so where are the minds?

Enough of this, but please be aware if you drive through the area be mindful your speed when driving past trams as it is bloody dangerous! •