Stretch of Railway Street in Bluff Point becomes regional WA’s first safe active street

A suburban Geraldton street has become regional WA’s first safe active street with the completion of a $1.73 million project. The State Government project aimed to improve safety by reducing the speed limit to 30km/h, introduce raised plateaus to slow vehicles down and boost bike network connectivity. It covers 1.4km of Railway Street in Bluff Point, stretching from Smith Street to Green Street, and connects to community facilities such as Spalding Park Reserve, St Lawrence’s Primary School and the Geraldton Commercial Centre. It provides a safe alternative route to busy roads such as North West Coastal Highway and Chapman Road. In addition, a 500m shared path has been installed to connect the safe street to the Chapman River Regional Park path network. The State Government has also committed $4.24 million for the Geraldton Cycling Network Expansion project, which will build an additional 8.3km of paths for cyclists and pedestrians. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said she was pleased Geraldton was the first site in regional WA to have a safe active street. “The Railway Street safe active street offers an active transport route from areas where people live to nearby parks, schools and businesses, and links to some of the area’s best natural landscapes, forming an important recreational asset for the local community,” she said. Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said she was thrilled to see the project completed, which would make it a “safer place for cyclists and pedestrians, and provide a new connection to the Chapman River Regional Park, which is a popular destination for families in Geraldton”.