Pedestrian and cyclist safety continues to be a major concern at the West Street and Railway Terrace intersection, Petersham. With the continued development and growth in population, more and more people are accessing this intersection.

As it stands, the intersection is extremely dangerous for both pedestrians and cyclists to cross. One of the key trip generators in the area is Petersham Public School. A significant number of children, who live in the northern Petersham and Lewisham areas, access this intersection every day. And every day, their lives are placed in danger due to the ongoing safety issues at this intersection.

In particular, there are three major issues:

a. Having to undertake a two staged crossing at the intersection, which requires significant waiting time.

b. Little storage space at the intersection, particularly on the NE and NW corners. Children are often forced close to the roadway when crossing, or even worse, children are forced to wait through one or two extra phases to cross this intersection.

c. Vehicles blocking the intersection and more dangerously blocking the pedestrian crossing, thus forcing pedestrians, and in particular children, to navigate around the pedestrian crossing onto the roadway. This is an accident waiting to happen.

This petition is seeking support to implement the following changes that will significantly improve this intersection.

The proposed solutions include:

1. Installation of a new pedestrian crossing on the eastern leg of Railway Terrace (at West Street) that is currently missing. This will allow pedestrians to only make the one movement across this intersection.

2. Introduction of a red-light speed camera at the intersection, to discourage drivers from queuing across the intersection. This will ensure that there is free movement across the pedestrian crossings.

3. Additional safety improvements at the intersection, including additional storage space for pedestrians and safety devices such as guardrail, bollards etc., to provide added protection for pedestrians.

We seek your support and request your signature on this petition. The petition will be used to lobby the NSW State Government, Transport for NSW and Inner West Council to make these urgent improvements.