The City of Sydney will trial a public transport only zone to try and improve late night safety
The City of Sydney will trial a public transport only zone over the coming weeks in an attempt to improve safety and reduce congestion in Kings Cross after dark.
The trial will be conducted in partnership with NSW Police, Transport for NSW and the NSW Taxi Council.
It will see Bayswater Road between Darlinghurst Road and Ward Avenue closed to private vehicles from 9pm to 6am on the next three Saturdays.
Taxis, buses, emergency vehicles and business and residential vehicles will be able to access Bayswater Road throughout the trial, and the secure car park will remain open to all vehicles.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore says the trial is the latest in a range of measures implemented by the city and State Government agencies to boost safety in Kings Cross.
“Sydney’s late-night precincts face a variety of complex challenges, and the city is committed to taking action wherever we can,” she says.
“This trial has the potential to reduce taxi and public transport passenger waiting times, helping people get home quickly and safely.”
NSW Police will be stationed at both ends of the transport-only zone to manage vehicle access.
Residents and businesses who regularly park in streets impacted by the closure will be issued with a permit to allow access to their properties.
The city has also engaged independent experts to evaluate the success of the trial and its impact on traffic in surrounding streets through traffic counts both before and during the trial periods.
The city will make data from both counts available on the Sydney Your Say website, and the community will be able to give feedback on the results until April 30.