Released 06/05/2023
A new draft best-practice design guide for Canberra’s streets and intersections will see better cycling and walking infrastructure to support our compact and modern city as it continues to grow.
“More Canberrans will walk and ride if it is safer, more accessible, convenient, and enjoyable. This starts with the basic design of our city’s streets,” said Minister Steel.
“This new design guide ensures that intersections and streets are designed to safely to support all forms of transport including walking, cycling and driving.”
The design guidance improves pedestrian and cyclist safety by separating the different modes of transport at intersections, where most conflicts and crashes occur.
New design principles balance safety and efficiency depending on the function of a street.
Designs that passively encourage slower vehicle speeds are proposed in key areas where there are more vulnerable road users.
“This is a blueprint for Canberra’s future streets, intersections, paths and cycleways as we build transport infrastructure to move more people around our growing city,” said Minister Steel.
The guide has been shaped and informed by best-practice examples and research from cities around the world and the ACT Government is now seeking community input on the designs.
Once finalised the guide will be used inform future projects, not existing projects. However, new protected intersection designs have already been incorporated into the Light Rail Stage 2A Works Approval submission, with protected intersections on Northbourne Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue separating pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and the future light rail system.
“Canberrans can expect to see better streets for people with similarities to Europe’s best cycling cities,” said Minister Steel.
“The new designs will not be retrofitted to every street and intersection in Canberra overnight, but once finalised this will be the new standard for all new and upgraded streets and estates.”
The development of this best practice intersection design guide was a key action in the ACT Government’s Draft Active Travel Plan which was released in 2022. Future updates to the ACT Government’s Municipal Infrastructure Standards (MIS) will be informed by the guide.
Feedback can be submitted on the new design guide by visiting YourSay Conversations website.
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Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases