GROWING truck traffic on Footscray streets could become an election issue after Greens candidate Janet Rice pledged to expand curfews.

Last week, The Mail, quoting Maribyrnong Truck Action Group representatives, reported big jumps in truck traffic on Moore and Buckley streets in Footscray, pictured.

Neither street has a truck curfew limiting heavy-vehicle movements at night.

MTAG wants curfews immediately expanded to include those streets.

According to the counts, night truck traffic has increased by 46per cent on Moore Street and there has been an overall increase of almost a quarter.

Close to 2500 trucks use Moore Street daily. Buckley Street, Footscray, has seen an increase in night truck traffic of 30per cent. About 3000 trucks use the street daily.

In response, VicRoads metropolitan north-west regional director Nial Finegan said the increase was to be expected as these streets were the last remaining arterial roads in the Yarraville-Footscray area without a curfew.

There are no plans for curfews on Buckley and Moore streets.

Ms Rice said it was a "callous" dismissal of residents' concerns.

She said trucks could easily use the West Gate Freeway and Bolte Bridge to travel between the port and container yards in Brooklyn and Tottenham, but operators baulked at paying tolls. She proposed a short-term fix of expanding curfews to more streets and, in the long term, pushing to get more freight onto trains.

"I was elected to [Maribyrnong] Council in 2003 and it was an issue then and people just aren't seeing progress. In the meantime, truck numbers have continued to go through the roof."

Footscray Labor MP Marsha Thomson said the extra curfews were a simplistic approach.

"If they really want to get trucks off roads they would be supporting WestLink. I really want people in Footscray to have quality of living and to get those trucks not destined for Footscray off our roads. WestLink is part of the answer."

■Metropolitan Transport Forum and The Mail will present a public forum on transport issues in the context of November's state election. Speakers from the major parties will answer questions from the audience. Topics will include service frequency.

The forum is at Maribyrnong Council's offices from 7-8.15 pm on Monday, September 6.

RSVP and more information at www.pt4me2.org.au