The New South Wales Government released its Future Transport Strategy 2056 and two supporting infrastructure plans, after receiving community feedback from people across the state.
Extensive community feedback to the 40-year-vision for transport planning in NSW means that work on upgrades to transport along Parramatta and Victoria Roads, and in key Western Sydney communities, will be fast tracked.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said, “Our transport system already serves 7.75 million residents, 800,000 businesses and 30 million visitors.
“By 2056, NSW will have more than 12 million residents and we want to improve public transport and roads so that by 2056, 70 per cent of people live within 30 minutes of where they work or study.”
The new strategy delivers long-term plans for the state of NSW, Regional NSW and the three cities of Greater Sydney, as outlined by the Greater Sydney Commission.
“For Sydney, people want more public transport projects committed to and work on major projects started sooner,” Mr Constance said.
In response to feedback, the NSW Government today committed to:
- Investigate a trial of on demand ferry services following the success of existing on demand bus pilots
- Upgrading public transport along Parramatta and Victoria Roads within 10 years
- Bring forward investigations into a new bus interchange serving the Western Parklands city around the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis
- Improve services along the Richmond rail line and investigate passenger services to the Wilton growth area
In the longer term, the NSW Government will:
- Explore the possibility of a rail link between Hurstville and Macquarie Park via Rhodes
- Improve the connection between Sydney and Western NSW by investigating a solution for crossing the Blue Mountains
- Investigate rail links between Greater Parramatta with Epping, and Kogarah via Bankstown as part of a 10 -20 year strategy
Another feature of the strategy is possible extensions to Sydney Metro, including a line from the CBD to Malabar via Eastlakes and Maroubra Junction and a separate link that would connect Eastlakes with Sydney Airport, Kogarah and Miranda.
“We will have the city-shaping Sydney Metro open next year in the Northwest, so the next stage is to build on this infrastructure and incorporate new technologies and travel choices,” Mr Constance said.
Building better connections between regional centres and nearby communities is also a focus of Future Transport 2056, and traditional infrastructure will be upgraded with a new rail fleet on the way and potential electrification to Bathurst, Goulburn, Nowra and The Hunter.
