30km/h limit on Stirling Street a possibility to promote cycling and pedestrian use

Stirling Street’s speed limit could be dropped to 30km/h as part of a proposed Department of Transport trial.

The 2km stretch between King Road and Charles Street intersections has been identified by the DOT as a suitable location for its Safe Active Street project.

Otherwise known as bike boulevards, safe active streets promote share street space between cyclists, motorists and pedestrians, with a reduced speed limit of 30km/h to improve safety.

And on Tuesday night, Bunbury city councillors will vote on a motion to accept $50,000 of DOT funding to carry out a concept design and consultation for Stirling Street.

City of Bunbury chief executive officer Mal Osborne said the concept design work and community consultation would help determine whether the project would go ahead and in what format.

If it does get the final go ahead, it will be the first trial of its kind in regional WA.

The section of road in the heritage area was selected for its low traffic volumes, narrow width, unique character and its significance as a cycling connection within the Bunbury Wellington 2050 Cycling Strategy.

There have also been a number of calls from local residents to reduce speeds on the stretch.

Design options include traffic islands, pedestrian crossings and single-lane slow points.