New speed limit to protect students

A new 40kmh school speed zone has been introduced in Sturt St to improve safety for students of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) on Miles St.

The new speed limit, developed by the City of Melbourne in consultation with VicRoads, Yarra Trams, Victoria Police and VCASS, has been installed between Kings Way and Grant St.

VCASS principal Colin Simpson raised the issue with the City of Melbourne last year after many of his students experienced close calls with speeding motorists while trying to cross the road to the nearby tram stop.

Mr Simpson praised the City of Melbourne for its assistance in making the new speed limit a reality and said it was just the start of an ongoing effort to slow down traffic on Sturt St.

“We’re working with all key stakeholders to try and calm the area down and help manage traffic as well,” he said.

“We’re also working with Yarra Trams to install a more robust tram stop. The current tram stops are very old fashioned and don’t cater for safety of students or local residents.”  

Mr Simpson said, while the initiative was predominantly focused on improving the safety of his pupils, it was also about being “good members of the community”.  

“We pride ourselves on being good community members and there is a real potential for us to become involved at a greater level,” he said.

“We want the school to look great. We want the area to have trees and space for people to enjoy and we want to see more people visiting the area.”

The new limit is now in effect between 8 and 9.30am and 2.30 and 4pm on school days.