Speed limits in a large area of Fremantle stretching from the port to South Beach are set to be reduced to 40 kilometres per hour.
A committee of Fremantle Council last night accepted a proposal to create a 40 km/h speed zone in South Fremantle, covering all local roads west of Hampton Road.
The new speed zone will adjoin an expanded 40 km/h zone covering the Fremantle city centre.
Some distributor roads within the area will also have their speed limits reduced to 50 km/h, like South Street and Queen Victoria Street, while others, including Ord Street and Hampton Road, will retain their 60 km/h limit.
The existing 30 km/h limit along Fremantle's famous Cappuccino Strip will also be retained.
The City of Fremantle had applied to Main Roads WA to reduce the speed limit along the flourishing South Terrace strip in South Fremantle to 40 km/h and to reduce the city centre limit to 30 km/h.
While Main Roads supported lowering the limit along South Terrace and surrounding local roads it did not support a further reduction to the speed limit in the city centre.
Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the push to reduce the speed limit in South Fremantle had been driven by the local community.
"South Fremantle is really taking off, with some terrific new shops, restaurants and cafes and more that will be opening soon," Mayor Pettitt said.
"The South Freo locals - through the South Fremantle Precinct Group - have been very clear in their desire to slow down the traffic in that area, which is why we installed those temporary speed humps along South Terrace a few years ago.
"It's great that we've been able to deliver this outcome for the local community and make South Fremantle an even nicer, more pedestrian-friendly place."
While welcoming the creation of the new South Fremantle speed zone, Mayor Pettitt said he was disappointed Main Roads didn't support a 30km/h limit in the city centre.
"At the heart of the City's Integrated Transport Strategy is a low-speed city centre core in which cars, pedestrians and cyclists all share the space," Mayor Pettitt said.
"There are examples across the world of how this helps to create far more attractive, vibrant and successful city centres.
"There's also good data that shows why reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h in the city centre is a good idea.
"If a pedestrian gets hit by a car doing 40km/h their chance of survival is 60 per cent, but if the car is doing 30 km/h the chance of survival is 90 per cent.
"We will continue to work with Main Roads to establish a 30 km/h zone in the city centre."
Last night the council's Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation Committee voted to accept the speed zoning proposal for the Fremantle city centre and South Fremantle area west of Hampton Road.
The committee requested City officers continue to progress the project with Main Roads and commence the preparation of signage and community engagement to advertise the changes.
The new speed zone is expected to be implemented in March 2021.
The committee also requested officers continue to work with Main Roads to establish a 30 km/h city centre zone as soon as possible.
