Cambridge Street traffic rose 55%, Newtown - Enmore trial review reports

Daily traffic rose from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles on Cambridge Street, while the Local Transport Forum backed keeping London Street closed and called for more work on Simmons Street access.

Council: Inner West Council

Meeting: 19 October 2026, 11:00 AM

Recorded status: proposed


BRIEF

Inner West Council minutes report a 55 per cent rise in daily traffic on Cambridge Street, from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles, in a review following the London Street and Simmons Street trials. The minutes do not date the two counts. The Local Transport Forum recommended retaining the London Street closure but called for further review of Simmons Street access. These are recommendations, not a final council decision.


KEY FACTS

- Cambridge Street traffic increased from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles per day, an increase of about 55 per cent. The minutes describe post-trial monitoring but do not date the two counts.

- The recorded 85th-percentile speed on Cambridge Street was 41.7 km/h in a 40 km/h zone.

- Traffic also increased on Belmore, Station Street North, Reiby and Marian streets.

- The forum recommended making the London Street closure permanent and undertaking detailed public-domain planning and design.

- The forum recommended further review of the Simmons Street partial closure instead of making it permanent at this stage.

- The trial closures ran from December 2025 to May 2026.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The increase from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles per day is 869 vehicles, or approximately 55.14 per cent, correctly rounded to 55 per cent.

- The record describes traffic monitoring and data collection after the trial period, not necessarily during it. It does not date the two Cambridge Street counts.

- The traffic figures do not by themselves establish that the closures caused every increase.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- Will Inner West Council consider the recommendations at its November 2026 meeting as expected, and what decision will it make?

- If the recommended further review proceeds, what alternative Simmons Street configuration will officers recommend?

- If Council adopts the London Street recommendation, when would detailed public-domain designs be released?

- Will the broader Newtown–Enmore review be undertaken through the proposed LATM study, and what measures would it assess?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- If adopted, the London Street recommendation would make the trial closure permanent and provide for detailed public-domain planning and design.

- Under the Simmons Street recommendation, officers would further review the trial and examine alternative partial-closure configurations that improve access.

- Council consideration was expected to include discussion in November 2026; the supplied record does not establish a final council decision.

- The report proposes investigating broader Newtown–Enmore traffic and pedestrian improvements through a LATM study; whether and when that study would proceed is not established.


SOURCE PASSAGES

Cambridge Street recorded the largest increase among the named streets, rising from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles per day, with an 85th-percentile speed of 41.7 km/h in a 40 km/h zone. Traffic also increased on Belmore, Station Street North, Reiby and Marian streets.
"Traffic volumes increased on Cambridge, Belmore, Station Street North, Reiby and Marian Streets, with Cambridge Street recording the largest increase in traffic volume from 1576 vpd to 2445 vpd and an 85th percentile speed of 41.7 km/h, marginally above the posted 40 km/h limit." (Item 4, traffic monitoring summary)

The report describes monitoring after the six-month London Street closure and Simmons Street partial closure trial, which ran from December 2025 to May 2026. It says traffic data were collected following the trial and that the trial created additional pedestrian space in an area with high pedestrian activity and limited public open space.
"LTF1026(1) Item 4 London Street and Simmons Street, Enmore - Engagement Outcomes for the Trial Road Closures (Damun-Stanmore Ward / Newtown Electorate / Inner West PAC) Local Transport Forum Meeting 19 October 2026 7 SUMMARY This report presents the outcomes of community engagement and traffic monitoring undertaken after the six-month trial closure of London Street and partial closure of Simmons Street at Enmore Road from December 2025 to May 2026. The trial created additional pedestrian space in an area with high pedestrian activity and limited public open space. Following the trial period, Council collected traffic data and undertook community consultation to assess the impact." (Item 4, heading and summary)

The recorded recommendation was to make the London Street trial closure permanent and undertake detailed public-domain planning and design.
"RECOMMENDATION 1. That the community feedback be noted for the trial closures of London Street and Simmons Street between December 2025 to May 2026. 2. That the trial closures ofLondon Street be made permanent with detailed public domain planning and design being undertaken." (Item 4, recommendation 2)

The recorded recommendation calls for further review of the Simmons Street trial closure and for council officers to examine alternative partial-closure configurations to improve access.
"3. That the trial closure of Simmons Street be further reviewed and that Council Officers examine alternate partial closure configurations which allow for improved access. 4. That the Local Transport Forum note the traffic volumes across the remaining Newtown–Enmore survey locations were broadly consistent with the projected volumes from the 2023 Traffic Impact Statement and remained within the environmental capacity of local roads." (Item 4, recommendation 3)

Ms Fascioli said surrounding street closures and turn restrictions had made access difficult for homes, service vehicles, removalist trucks, waste collection vehicles, patient transport and ambulances.
"Ms Fascioli said surrounding street closures and turn restrictions had made access to homes difficult for residents, service vehicles, removalist trucks, waste collection vehicles, patient transport and ambulances." (Item 4, public speaker advice)

Mr Keyzer raised increased traffic and turning movements around Cambridge Street and Cambridge Lane, as well as business servicing vehicles blocking narrow lanes.
"Ms Fascioli also suggested reviewing parking layout on a nearby wider street to create additional angle parking. Mr Anthony Keyzer, who said he lived on Cambridge Street in Stanmore, focused on the London Street closure and the effects on surrounding streets. He raised increased traffic and turning movements around Cambridge Street and Cambridge Lane, business servicing vehicles blocking narrow lanes, and the limited usefulness of the outdoor seating area in hot weather." (Item 4, public speaker advice)

Officers said the approximately six-metre carriageway could potentially accommodate two-way traffic while retaining elements of the public-domain treatment. Reversing the existing one-way direction was also identified as an option for investigation.
"Council officers advised that the approximately six-metre carriageway width could potentially accommodate two-way traffic while retaining elements of the current public domain treatment. Alternative arrangements, including reversing the existing one-way direction, were also identified as options warranting further investigation. Officers emphasised that any changes to Simmons Street should not be considered in isolation, as traffic circulation throughout the wider Newtown-Enmore precinct is influenced by numerous existing one-way streets, turn restrictions and previous traffic management Local Transport Forum Meeting 19 October 2026 9 measures." (Item 4, discussion of Simmons Street options)

The chair said the usual council process was expected to include discussion at the November 2026 Council meeting.
"The Chair thanked the speakers and noted that Council would consider the item through the usual process, expected to include discussion at the November 2026 Council meeting. Public Speakers Virginia Fascioli and Anthony Keyzer left the meeting at approximately 11:24am." (Item 4, chair's advice)


SOURCES

https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/10/LTF_19102026_MIN_4290.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/inner-west-infocouncil-local-transport-forum-19-oct-2026-11-00-am-19-oct-2026-11-00-am-minutes-cambridge-street-traffic-rose-55-newtown-enm-a1d384ad6f/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.