Faster Traffic Lights for Perth intersections

• Improved traffic light timing on nine key traffic routes
• Quicker movement at 93 intersections
• Improves 289,000 journeys a day

The State Government has improved the timing of traffic lights at 93 intersections across Perth’s metropolitan area, with immediate benefits during morning and afternoon peaks and quicker travel for 289,000 journeys a day. 

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the year-long program by Main Roads saw the biggest improvements on Canning Highway (18.2 per cent faster), Charles Street (24.4 per cent faster) and Shepperton Road (28.4 per cent faster).

“We are extending the green time for the major traffic flow while rationalising the signal times for side streets.  This means larger volumes of traffic are proceeding through the area more effectively,” Mr Nalder said.

The Minister said the Government was determined to improve travel times by better use of the existing network, with another 108 traffic signals to be addressed in the next round of the program over 11 routes.

“We chose this initiative because we knew it could deliver immediate benefits at key congestion hotspots to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times,” he said.

The nine traffic routes reviewed were:

• Canning Highway – North Lake Road to the Causeway
• Leach Highway – Carrington Street to Karel Avenue
• Marmion Avenue – Karrinyup Road to Hodges Drive
• Charles Street – Newcastle Street to London Road
• South Street – Carrington Street to Benningfield Road
• Shepperton Road – Great Eastern Highway to Welshpool Road
• Stirling Highway – Canning Highway to Leake Street
• Albany Highway – Welshpool Road to Kenwick Link
• Wanneroo Road – Cape Street to Reid Highway

“Given the success to date, the program this financial year will look at 201 intersections, including 108 new locations, and a review of the 93 sites from 2014-15 in order to maintain benefits,” Mr Nalder said.

“Traffic signal timing can vary over time due to changes in land use, traffic demand and road space.  It is therefore vital they are reviewed on a regular basis to meet driver travel experience expectations.”

Fact File

• This is a key initiative of Main Roads’ Traffic Congestion Management Program
• A $40m congestion package was announced by the State Government in May 2015
• The State Government is spending $1.6b on roads and public transport in 2015-16, from all funding sources

Minister’s office – 6552 6400

Background

Canning Highway

Following a successful trial in March 2013 on Canning Highway between Riseley and Henley streets, the signals were again reviewed in February 2015 from North Lake Road to the Causeway. Compared with March 2013, morning eastbound travel times improved by 18.2 per cent and westbound by 7.9 per cent, even with a growth of three per cent in westbound traffic volumes.  The afternoon peak showed a 6.1 per cent improvement for eastbound traffic.

Leach Highway

This is an important east-west arterial route, providing a major connection for traffic from and to Kwinana Freeway, Fremantle and the port.  It is also a key traffic route to Murdoch University and the Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Main Roads reviewed the 12 signalised intersections along 9.1 kilometres of Leach Highway between Karel Avenue and Carrington Street.  Between June 2014 and June 2015:

• eastbound morning peak travel times improved by 4.3 per cent while traffic volumes increased by four per cent
• eastbound afternoon peak travel times improved by 4.3 per cent while traffic volumes increased by two per cent
• westbound morning peak travel times improved by two per cent while traffic volumes remained the same.  In the afternoons, there was no noticeable reduction in travel times, however traffic volumes increased by four per cent.

Marmion Avenue

This is an important north-south arterial route which provides major connections for east–west traffic to the Mitchell Freeway. The review covered nine intersections over 14km between Hodges Drive and Karrinyup Road.  From March 2014 to March 2015, southbound travel times improved in the mornings by 1.3 per cent, even with a growth in traffic of 3.4 per cent. Northbound morning peak traffic times improved by two per cent, with a four per cent growth in traffic volumes.

Charles Street

The north-south arterial route connects with Scarborough Beach Road, Walcott Street and Mitchell Freeway, south of Newcastle Street.  The review covered seven intersections over seven kilometres between Newcastle Street and London Road.  Between April 2014 and April 2015, travel times improved northbound in the afternoon peak by 9.8 per cent, while traffic volumes grew by one per cent.

South Street

The traffic lights were modified at 11 intersections on this important east-west route over 7.7km.  Results from May 2014 to May 2015 found morning eastbound peak travel times improved by 3.3 per cent and in the afternoons by half a per cent. There were also increases in traffic volumes by two per cent in the morning and four per cent in the afternoons.  Westbound traffic flow improved in the morning peak by 3.2 per cent and in the afternoons by 7.2 per cent, even though traffic volumes in the afternoons grew by six per cent.

Shepperton Road

This important north-south road has eight signalised intersections northbound and seven southbound over 3.7km.  Between May 2014 and May 2015, the southbound afternoon peak travel times improved by 28.4 per cent, while traffic volumes grew by one per cent.

Stirling Highway

Between Canning Highway and Leake Street, 5.4km of road has 10 signalised intersections. In the afternoon peak, westbound travel times improved by 7.6 per cent between May 2014 and May 2015, while traffic volumes increased by three per cent.

Albany Highway

Improvements were made to signals at 11 intersections between Welshpool Road and Kenwick Link over 5.3km.  Travel times compared with June 2014 improved southbound in the morning (9.8 per cent) and afternoon peaks (13.6 per cent), and northbound in the morning peak (2.4 per cent) and afternoon peak (5.5 per cent).  During this time, there was a five per cent growth in afternoon peak traffic volumes southbound.

Wanneroo Road

Improvements were made to 10 signalised intersections on this important north-south arterial route over six kilometres between Reid Highway and Cape Street.  As a result, southbound morning traffic improved by 4.7 per cent on top of a two per cent traffic volume growth compared with June 2014.