The Tourism & Transport Forum has released a plan for the future of transport in Sydney
Peak national industry body Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) has released its plan for the future of transport in New South Wales as the State Election nears in March.
The plan details a range of rail, light rail, road, ferry and bus projects that should be implemented to help improve productivity and bust congestion across Sydney.
TTF chief executive Margy Osmond says Sydney is a world-class city but the transport system is yet to reach worlds-best practice.
“TTF’s transport agenda, Getting ahead of the game, outlines the projects and initiatives that our policy research has identified are needed to make Sydney an even better global city,” she says.
“The agenda focuses on delivering better transport options to people in high growth areas like Western Sydney, but also on making the most of existing infrastructure investment.”
Osmond says Transport for NSW projections indicate with only modest increase in capacity the network will run out of capacity by the mid to late 2020s.
“Sydney’s bus network is also in need of modernisation as buses are caught in congestion in the CBD and on major roads serving the city centre,” says Osmond.
“The first priority for Sydney’s public transport infrastructure must be the construction of a second harbour rail crossing and a new CBD line as it will deliver a massive 60 per cent boost in capacity and a vital link to the North West rail project.
“TTF is calling on the government and the opposition to support an early start to this project and, importantly, to include a new station at Barangaroo on the new CBD line which will allow this new financial and cultural precinct to be better linked to the network.”
TTF is also calling the political parties to expand their ambitions for public transport infrastructure to include an extension of the Eastern Suburbs line to Bondi Beach, planning and funding for a rail link to the proposed Western Sydney Airport, an investigation of a metro-style express link between Parramatta and the CBD and more public transport infrastructure for existing and proposed major precincts.
“Significant progress has been made over the last four years but more will need to be done if we are to maintain Sydney’s status as a truly great global city,” says Osmond.