Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Scully –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         residents have reported that since the construction of the Eastern Suburbs and CBD Light Rail, traffic volumes within Surry Hills have changed, with residents reporting increased use of “rat-runs” in laneways;

(ii)        residents report that in particular, one-way streets in Surry Hills, such as Rainford Street, are now being heavily used as a short cut to avoid traffic lights;

(iii)      increased volumes of traffic on narrow one-way streets such as Rainford Street pose safety concerns to pedestrians and local residents;

(iv)      a petition of 41 Rainford Street residents, from approximately 83 per cent of the households, requesting traffic calming measures be investigated for Rainford Street was tabled before Council;

(v)       City staff will arrange for traffic counts in early 2022 once traffic patterns return to normal;

(vi)      the City rejected Transport for NSW’s proposal to ban Right Turns into Bourke Street for eastbound vehicles on Cleveland Street resulting in potential increased traffic in Rainford Street; and

(vii)     the City is currently investigating a Continuous Footpath Treatment (CFT) at various intersections (including Rainford Street) along Crown Street as part of streetscape improvement projects for Crown Street; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to investigate traffic calming measures for Rainford Street and report back to Councillors via the CEO Update.

Carried unanimously.

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