Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Rozelle Parklands project

posted Sunday 6 September 2020

The Rozelle interchange is a crucial part of Westconnex's M4-M5 link. The ground above the interchange is to be landscaped into a facility to be known as Rozelle Parklands. T4NSW sought public feedback on plans for this facility. Action for Public Transport submitted:

Action for Public Transport (NSW) Inc. ("APTNSW") is a transport advocacy group active in Sydney since 1974. We promote the interests of beneficiaries of public transport - passengers and the wider community alike.
APTNSW welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Urban Design and Landscape Plan (UDLP).
Beyond those who live within walking or cycling distance, good public transport connectivity is vital in maximising residents' access from the region, encouraging use of active transport and minimising parking space requirements. We have several times in recent years commented unfavourably on plans which claim to speed bus services up, with consequent benefits to general traffic speeds, by removing lightly-used bus stops. We point out that a bus stop does not delay buses at all when they don't have to stop for a passenger; if that's usually the case, then the stop can't be blamed for delaying everything. And the best way to help general traffic is to make public transport attractive and competitive.
Parklands light rail access appears to be well planned for with a pedestrian and cycle bridge including landscaping, linking the site to Rozelle Bay stop over the City West Link road. This would connect the park to many potential users.
The 433 bus (City to Balmain via Glebe) would be the closest bus route and potentially gives Parkland access to residents of Glebe, Forest Lodge, Rozelle and Balmain. Currently there is a gap in stops between The Crescent at Johnston St and Robert St in Balmain near the corner of Victoria Rd. These two stops are at least 900m apart. Once the park is opened, users would have about half a km walk from either stop. The draft plan shows no apparent bus stop location, even though the route adjoins the site.
We recommend that an accessible stop for route 433 be established in The Crescent between the two existing stops, including provision (at grade or via footbridge) to cross The Crescent at that point.
Turning to buses from city via Anzac Bridge, Victoria Rd (442 etc, 501 etc), their nearest current stops to site appear to be a pair in Victoria Rd roughly at Graham St. This is about a 500m walk from the park site. We recommend that consideration be given to providing a pair of stops closer to The Crescent to improve access to the park. Again, there should be safe foot access across Victoria Rd at the stops; regrettably there's no safe foot access near the Graham St stops.
Finally, we discuss the 470 bus (City to Lilyfield). Its terminus is in Lilyfield Road about 500m from the Parklands site (using Cecily St corner as a reference). We recommend that the terminus be moved eastward along Lilyfield Rd, improving Parkland access for residents of Annandale and Lilyfield. Another benefit of this move would be providing a bus stop closer to the light rail station, facilitating tram-bus interchange.

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