Residents will appeal to the RMS to adjust the traffic lights at the corner of Tooronga Terrace and King Georges Road to allow for more frequent pedestrian crossings.
The appeal comes after they lost the battle to save a raised pedestrian crossing further down Tooronga Terrace that has been in use since the 1960s which they said acted as a traffic calming measure for rat runners.
Georges River Council decided the pedestrian cross should go following legal advice and on the recommendation of the RMS.
While residents have asked the council to rethink the decision to remove the crossing, they have also suggested a number of alternatives to slow down traffic in Tooronga Terrace.
Beverly Hills North Progress Association spokeswoman Kathryn Calman has written to Georges River Council mayor Kevin Greene calling for more traffic calming measures to be introduced on the street.
“The removal of the crossing as a traffic calming measure will induce more cars, travelling at higher speeds, through a high pedestrian area,” Ms Calman said.
“The signalised lights at the corner of Tooronga Terrace and King Georges Road cater for motorists only, with significant wait time for pedestrians.
“Pedestrians forced to wait for very long periods at the signalised crossing will try to leg it to catch the train or bus.
“I see this adding further danger to people, especially commuters running for public transport.
“If the council insists on removing the crossing, then a condition should be imposed on the RMS to provide more frequent opportunities for pedestrians to cross at the lights.
“And this condition should be met before the crossing is removed.”
Ms Calman said the RMS should also install traffic calming speed humps along Tooronga Terrace, and a new roundabout at the end of Warrawee Place to lower traffic speeds.
“My main concern is that Tooronga Terrace is a non-arterial road. It’s a high volume pedestrian area. Once they remove the crossing we will get more volume of high speed cars.
“The implementation of the M5 East toll is expected to cause some 40 per cent of existing M5 traffic to shift out onto local roads, as detailed in the Westconnex new M5 Environmental Impact Statement.
“Tooronga Terrace will be swamped by even more M5 rat runners.
“If the crossing has to go these other measures will make it safer for pedestrians. It’s about slowing the traffic down.
“I”m hoping for a happy compromise that doesn’t end up with the Beverly Hills station area becoming even more of a high volume traffic area at the expense of people.”