Route 96: Stop 133 Fitzroy Street and Acland Street, St Kilda
What's happening
Following in-principle approval from Port Phillip Council, PTV and Yarra Trams have been progressing the design and development of Fitztroy Street and Acland Street stops. The options presented to council reflected feedback provided by the community during the early design consultation.
We will continue to work with Council and the local community to progress the project's development and ensure the upgrade of Route 96 works in harmony with the City of Port Phillip's revitilisation of the St Kilda Village Precinct.
Click on the links below to view the council endorsed options for Fitztroy Street and Acland Street.
Stop 133 Fitzroy Street - Option 3 (PDF) 167kB
Stop 133 Fitzroy Street - Option 3, accessible version (RTF) 60kB
Acland Street - Option 4 (PDF) 259kB
Acland Street - Option 4, accessible version (RTF) 64kB
About the early designs
Stop 133 Fitzroy Street is located at the intersection of Fitzroy Street and Canterbury Road/Grey Street in St Kilda. This junction is served by tram routes 96, 16 and 3A. In order to improve tram operations, customer access and safety at the junction, designs are being developed for a new accessible tram stop along with options for the possible relocation of Stop 133.
The Acland Street tram terminus is located at the intersection of Barkly and Acland streets in St Kilda. The terminus operates as a single track, kerb-side tram stop next to a busy footpath lined with popular cafes, restaurants and retail outlets.
To improve reliability and accessibility at the Acland Street terminus, the Route 96 project team has developed early designs which accommodate a terminus with two tracks and a level access tram stop. These designs are based on community feedback, technical studies and consultation with the City of Port Phillip and other key stakeholders and build upon the existing strengths and condition of Acland Street as a whole.
Some facts - what the Acland Street proposals do and don't include
The proposed upgrades will make improvements for public transport users by reducing journey time and increasing the reliability of services. The upgrades will also make improvements for people who currently have difficulty using public transport due to their use of a mobility aid, inability to step up to or down from the tram, are travelling with infants in a pram, or are carrying luggage. These improvements will increase local amenity, making it easier for people to get to these areas by public transport while enhancing the local environment.
We understand there are people in the community who are concerned about the impact these proposed changes could have on Acland Street, and that’s why we have been working with local communities, councils and groups such as the St Kilda Village Traders Group to find a solution that balances the needs of the local area and provides inclusive, accessible public transport for all.
We’d like to take this opportunity to provide some clear details about what the proposals do and don’t include.
There is no proposal to ‘grade separate’ Acland Street, change the level of the tram tracks along the street or install separation barriers along the street
All pedestrians, including those using mobility aids and parents with prams will still be able to cross Acland Street. To integrate a level access stop at the end of Acland Street with the surrounding streetscape, the tram track level would only need to be adjusted alongside the platform.
The end result would be similar to the footpath and tram stops in Bourke Street Mall, where the tracks are lower at the tram stop, but there is level access across the tracks for the remainder of the street.
E-Class trams are only 1.5 metres longer than Bumblebee trams
The new E-Class trams are 33.45m long, which is less than 1.5 metres longer than the Bumblebee trams that currently service Route 96. One of the many great features of the new trams is that they can carry more passengers than any of our other trams through smarter design and better use of interior space.
Tram stops on Acland Street currently service 30,000 trips per week and the new E-Class trams will provide the capacity for even more people to get to and from Acland Street on the popular tram route, without having to run more services.
The proposed upgrade will create more opportunities for alfresco dining – not less
The proposed upgrade will not take away Acland Street's alfresco dining; it will create more opportunities for footpath trading through increaed footpath and public space. We know alfresco dining and room for pedestrians is improtant for both customers and businesses. In a pedestrian intercept survey carried out by Trafficworks on Thursday 6 and Saturday 8 December 2012, 67% of respondents on Thursday and 85% of respondents on Saturday indicated that:
- wider footpaths;
- reduced car traffic and parking areas;
- more bike infrastructure;
- pedestrian only space, and
- increased seating / dining space would encourage them to visit Acland Street more often.
Read supporting technical reports
Fitzroy Street and Acland Street, St Kilda, Traffic Study Report
This report contains parking inventory and car park occupancy survey, pedestrian intercept survey and pedestrian traffic survey.
Fitzroy Street summary (PDF) 57kB
Fitzroy Street summary - accessible version (RTF) 87kB
Acland Street summary (PDF) 126kB
Acland Street summary - accessible version (RTF) 99kB
Full report (PDF) 27.89MB
Acland Street Traffic Redistribution Report
Acland Street Traffic Redistribution Report Summary (PDF) 118 kB
Acland Street Traffic Redistribution Report Summary - accessible version (RTF) 81kB
Full report (PDF) 9.52 MB
Acland Street Economics Assessment Report
View the summary at haveyoursayatportphillip.net.au
View the full report at haveyoursayatportphillip.net.au
Fitzroy Street Conversion Economic and Business Impact Assessment
View the summary at haveyoursayatportphillip.net.au
View the full report at haveyoursayatportphillip.net.au
Draft Fitzroy Street Stop 133 Traffic Impact Assessment
Draft Fitzroy Street Stop 133 Traffic Impact Assessment full report (PDF) 7.45 MB
Tram stop upgrades - business and passenger perception surveys
Think Tram: A Report for VicRoads (passenger perception survey) full report (PDF) 1.02 MB
Think Tram Collins Street Platform Tram Stops Survey full report (PDF) 469 kB
Think Tram St Kilda Road Tram Stop Upgrade Passenger Perceptions Survey full report (PDF) 826 kB
Further information
The Route 96 Project team will continue to work with the City of Port Phillip and the local community through Council's Fitzroy and Acland streets Community Reference Groups. For further information about these groups, visit the City of Port Phillip's website.
