The Elizabeth Street Strategic Opportunities Plan sets out a long-term vision to transform Elizabeth Street through major streetscape improvements including widening footpaths, planting more trees, upgrading lighting and improving street furniture.
Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said the proposed changes would see Elizabeth Street reconfigured to prioritise access for pedestrians, cyclists and trams in the central retail area from Flinders Street up to La Trobe Street.
"As the gateway to Melbourne's retail and commercial heart, Elizabeth Street plays a key role in how visitors, residents and workers enjoy our city," the Acting Lord Mayor said.
"We want people to feel more welcome so that when they cross the road from Flinders Street Station they can easily walk down wider bluestone paved footpaths, pop into one of the many retail outlets, take a seat on new street furniture and enjoy alfresco dining."
The City of Melbourne's recently released draft Budget included $2.1 million for streetscape improvement works on the southern end of Elizabeth Street from Flinders Street to Little Collins Street. This plan has already been endorsed by Council and works are expected to begin in early 2020.
The opportunities plan to be considered by Councillors on Tuesday focuses on the northern end from Little Collins Street to La Trobe Street. Delivery of these further stages will be subject to both funding and coordination with other major projects in the area.
"If endorsed, the project works will be phased over the next six years, as we work closely with key stakeholders and the Victorian Government to coordinate and communicate changes to the city while delivering world-class places for people," the Acting Lord Mayor said.
Under the proposed plan, two city blocks that include tram stops would be pedestrianised and closed to vehicular traffic (between La Trobe and Little Lonsdale streets and between Little Bourke and Bourke streets). The footpaths on both sides of the street would be widened to boost safety and accessibility for people using busy city tram stops.
In blocks without tram stops, a large portion of the western side of the street would remain open for private vehicles, maintaining local access, business servicing and delivery requirements.
"The tram stops and transit interchanges at Flinders Street and Melbourne Central are some of the most congested parts in the city. We're proposing to widen the footpaths to make it safer and easier to access trams," the Acting Lord Mayor said.
"We know that pedestrian flow is vital to our city economy. In fact, studies show that a 10 per cent increase in walking connectivity in the Hoddle Grid is worth $2.1 billion in economic uplift."
Dedicated bike lanes will be introduced to improve safety and connectivity and encourage more people to visit businesses on Elizabeth Street.
Transport Portfolio Chair Cr Nicolas Frances Gilley said traffic modelling showed the changes would have minimal impact on the road network because few cars use Elizabeth Street as a through-route.
"Elizabeth Street today carries fewer cars than many residential streets. Pedestrians and people on trams make up 90 per cent of street users but have the least amount of space," Cr Frances Gilley said.
"In the afternoon peak hour there are on average 3,580 people walking south along Elizabeth Street at La Trobe Street, but only about 261 cars make the same trip. That is 14 times more pedestrians than people travelling by vehicle, and yet cars get allocated more space.
"The proposed realignment would allow trams to operate more efficiently and improve access to shops and retail stores. It would also create more welcoming spaces for people to enjoy which would be a vast improvement on the lack of trees and street furniture currently along Elizabeth Street."
Aligned with the Draft Transport Strategy 2030, the number of on-street disability and loading parking spaces would be retained in alternate locations on Elizabeth Street, ensuring accessibility for businesses and those who need to travel to the city by car.
The Elizabeth Street Strategic Opportunities Plan will be considered by the Future Melbourne Committee on Tuesday 21 May, 2019. If endorsed, the City of Melbourne will commence further engagement with stakeholders on detailed streetscape designs.
Statistics
- On average 90 per cent of people either walk or use the tram on Elizabeth Street, yet they are allocated only 21 per cent and 35 per cent of the space respectively.
- In morning peak hour there are 272 vehicles travelling southbound on Elizabeth Street crossing La Trobe Street – equivalent to five vehicles a minute. In comparison, around 3,000 vehicles an hour travel the length of King Street – around 50 vehicles a minute.
- A March 2018 study showed there were 1147 pedestrians per hour using Elizabeth Street around Melbourne Central, which is higher than the 1013 pedestrians using Swanston Street around Town Hall. Yet footpath width in Elizabeth Street is six metres compared to 14m in Swanston Street.
Timeline:
- May 2019: Council to consider Elizabeth Street Opportunities Plan
- Early 2020: Stage one improvement works start on the southern end of Elizabeth Street from Flinders Street to Flinders Lane (already endorsed by Council)
- 2020-2021: If endorsed by Council - Stage two improvement works for the middle section of Elizabeth Street to start (Little Collins Street to Little Bourke Street)
- 2026+ If endorsed by Council, Stage three construction works for northern end of Elizabeth Street to start (Lonsdale Street to La Trobe Street).
Read the Elizabeth Street Opportunities Plan here.