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Plan for NSW corridor

Parramatta Road redevelopment will focus on better bus services and bus priority lanes

A new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system with bus priority lanes will be integral to the transformation of the Sydney to Parramatta route over the next 30 years.

Regional buses experience slow travel times, often less than10 kilometres an hour in the peak and unreliability, due to unpredictable traffic conditions and congestion between the two centres.

New South Wales (NSW) planning minister Rob Stokes released the draft Parramatta Road Urban Transformation Strategy this week, which aims to reduce congestion by improving bus and rail services.

“This draft plan has been a collaborative effort, and I’m pleased it addresses community feedback which called for more details about public transport, better walking and cycling options, as well as proposed building heights and density,” he says.

“The precinct plans provide principles and targets for growth and development, an integrated land use and transport plan prepared jointly by UrbanGrowth NSW and Transport for NSW.

“We look forward to heari ng from the community through the large range of consultation options available.”

The corridor presents a challenge for planners, with more jobs and public transport services situated in the east, closer to the Sydney CBD, and higher than expected population growth in the west.

New kerbside bus lanes along Parramatta Road from Burwood to the Sydney CBD will be created, with more frequent ‘turn up and go’ rapid bus services introduced.

The draft strategy has been prepared in collaboration with councils along the corridor, and makes use of their knowledge of local access and traffic issues.

NSW minister for transport and infrastructure Andrew Constance says the draft strategy sets a new blueprint for future transport options along the corridor.

“This is all about doing the groundwork now so future development comes with the knowledge transport is being planned for,” he says.

Sydney’s light rail network may also eventually be extended out to Parramatta.

The draft plan is open to public consultation over the next three months, with UrbanGrowth NSW leading public engagement events in townships and commercial hubs between the two centres.

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