Media release – City of Hobart, 20 April 2022

BLACK SPOT PROGRAM HELPS FUND NEW MOLLE ST TRAFFIC LIGHTS

The City of Hobart will soon commence work to install traffic lights at the intersection of Molle and Collins streets to make the popular road crossing into South Hobart safer for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and families.

The $650,000 project has been made possible with funding from the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, the Australian Government’s Community Development Grants Program and the City of Hobart.

“Every day hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists are forced to negotiate busy Molle Street traffic without the security of traffic lights to ease safety concerns,” City of Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said.

“This crossing is one of the most popular routes for people walking and cycling to work from South Hobart and is a natural gateway for those wishing to walk or run along the beautiful Hobart Rivulet Track from the CBD during their lunch breaks.

“Many in the South Hobart community have been calling for safer pedestrian and cycling across busy Molle Street and the City of Hobart is proud to make this happen with the aid of the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program.

“This project would not have been possible without the support of Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program.

“The Molle Street crossing is popular with pedestrians and cyclists, including mums and dads dropping their kids off at the Goodstart Early Learning centre, taking their children to school and visiting the popular Hamlet Hobart Café,” Councillor Reynolds said.

“The project will also create safer driving conditions at this busy intersection, helping motorists negotiate the junction.”

The $650,000 project is expected to take four months to complete and has been jointly funded by the Australian Government and the City of Hobart.

  • Black Spot Program: $300,000.
  • Australian Government Community Development Grants Program: $100,000.
  • City of Hobart: $250,000.

Key facts

  • The crossing from Collins Street over Molle Street is popular with pedestrians and cyclists, including mums and dads dropping their kids off at the Goodstart Early Learning centre, taking their children to South Hobart Primary School and visiting the popular Hamlet Hobart Cafe.
  • On average more than 2300 (2334) pedestrians and cyclists use this crossing daily.
  • Bike counters put the daily use of this crossing by cyclists at between 350 and 400 a day on weekdays.
  • Molle Street is a busy, two lane road under the management of the City of Hobart.
  • In five years from 2014 to 2019 the intersection of Molle and Collins streets saw 18 reported crashes, three involved cyclists and one a pedestrian.
  • Collins Street has been identified by the City of Hobart as a key link in the development of the city’s walking and cycling network and making this crossing safer is an important step in creating a fully accessible and connected city for everyone.
  • The current crossing acts as a barrier for many pedestrians and cyclists in the community who want to feel safe moving from the Hobart Rivulet Track and into the Hobart CBD.
  • Once installed the new traffic lights are expected to have minimal impact on drivers, similar to other traffic signals operating throughout the city area.
  • Installation of the new traffic lights will result in minimal disruption to nearby parking. Parking arrangements will be reviewed following the implementation of the traffic signals, as current surveys in the area indicate on-street parking is not fully utilised.