Design development on the much anticipated strategic cycling corridor along Inkerman Street from Caulfield to St Kilda has gained momentum after the two municipalities along the route recommitted to the project.
Last week the City of Glen Eira considered pausing the project because COVID-19 had infected the budget, causing a shortage of the financial oxygen needed to proceed. However, after taking a deep breath, councillors voted to press on with the preliminary design work.
And this week the City of Port Phillip decided to launch its design investigations for the western sector of the corridor within its municipal boundary.
Inkerman Street is one of a number of important bike corridors that will be developed in the coming decade to play a crucial role in moving people about in our massive and still growing city.
It has been identified in a number of transport studies at both the state and local government sector as the best option for east west bike traffic through the region.
Like all bike projects, there has been much huffing and puffing by people who still have not realised that we have no more capacity to expand motorised travel, yet we have to find ways to move hundreds of thousands of extra people around every few years.
Public and active transport are all we have left to do the job.
The Port Phillip zone extends along Inkerman Road/Street between Orrong Road and Fitzroy Street, and is Port Phillip's top priority for Council delivery.
There is a shared zone within the City of Glen Eira from Hotham Street to Orrong Road, from where the street is in the hands of Glen Eira.
Port Phillip will consider several design options. It says it is not convinced of the safety benefits of a bi-directional bike facility that has been explored by Glen Eira.
At the completion of the concept designs, Port Phillip city councillors will consider the next steps of the project, including to proceed with community consultation on the concept designs and funding sources.
Concept design development will continue through 2021 with community engagement in 2022, detailed design in 2023, with construction scheduled for 2024/25.
Construction of the corridor in the next two to five years aligns with planned re-sheeting of about 20% of Inkerman Street reducing disruption and costs.
Port Phillip reports that safety measures installed on Inkerman Street as a result of the project means that the project may qualify for Federal Government or TAC funding assistance.