protecting the heart

The importance of addressing Sydney’s public transport issues is two-fold – to tackle climate change and achieve our 2030 target of 70 percent emissions reduction, and to plan for population growth. Low carbon or ‘climate positive’ growth areas of the future must not only have well designed, energy efficient buildings with local energy generation, but also have access to excellent public transport so that the choice not to own a private vehicle is a genuine option.

The existing Sydney public transport network is fragmented and underfunded, leading to over-reliance on the car. We urgently need an integrated transport plan to connect heavy rail and metro systems with surface transport including light rail, bus, pedestrian and cycling links.

This integrated transport strategy aims to reduce the impact of traffic on public spaces and to improve the experience of being in the City Centre, creating large pedestrianised squares and boulevards to replace traffic-clogged streets and narrow pavements.

Light Rail Concept - Hickson Road - Connecting Barangaroo to the City

- Artist impression - Town Hall Square and George Street
- Light rail in Martin Place
- Prioritising pedestrians at Gresham Street
The City's key recommendations
- integrate all NSW transport agencies with one agency with overarching responsibility and create a transport taskforce for ongoing co-operation between different tiers of government
- reflect a green transportation hierarchy in transport design with pedestrians and cyclists first in priority, then public mass transit, freight vehicles, taxis, multiple occupancy vehicles and, lastly, single occupancy private vehicles
- recognise and support bicycling priority with the construction of safe, separated cycleways
- recognise pedestrian priority in the City Centre and support progressive pedestrianising of key parts of the CBD including footpath widening, shorter pedestrian waiting times, adjustment to kerbs and crossings, pedestrian countdown timers on CBD pedestrian crossings and expanded shared zones
- dramatically reduce the number of buses entering the CBD
- introduce a 40km.hr traffic speed limit for the City of Sydney
- provide light rail for Sydney starting with the George Street / Barangaroo CBD line and the Green Square ‘green loop’ and extending to other high density corridors across inner Sydney, in particular the Moore Park / Anzac Parade route.
- integrate ticketing and fare structures, schedules and interchange to provide a seamless customer experience

protecting the heart

The City's key recommendations

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