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| Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc. |
| P O Box K606 |
| Haymarket NSW 1240 |
| 24 November 2023 |
Action for Public Transport (NSW) Inc. is a transport advocacy group which has been active in Sydney since 1974. We promote the interests of beneficiaries of public transport - passengers and the wider community alike.
We make this submission on the Pyrmont-Ultimo Transport Plan available at T4NSW's page https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/pyrmont-ultimo-transport-plan.
Discussion
The major roadworks cited in paragraph 2.3.2 (page 11) seem more likely to increase road trips than reduce them. The document should acknowledge generated traffic in its discussion.
Page 22: The topic "Reduce pedestrian delay" should extend to the shortening of traffic signal cycle times. The whole point of plans for dense inner-ring suburbs is to make things easier for pedestrians not motorists.
Page 29 paragraph 5.1.4 S25 (extending the Goods Line path): We don't think this is as important as public transport development - see below. What really needs extension is Central Walk westwards to Henry Deane Plaza; this work would significantly shorten walks from/to Central platforms in many directions.
Page 29 paragraph 5.1.5 - S27 - Glebe L1 station: The Glebe escarpment is hardly within the subject area and already has a ramp from the southern end of Bayview St to the L1 station that doesn't solve the core problem.. What about a lift from the east end of the inbound L1 platform down to the footpath at the Burton/Bridge intersection? It would be convenient to the new fish market.
Page 29 paragraph 5.1.5 - S29 - another possibility would be a high-capacity bus route (and express, to the extent this is possible) to link the Pyrmont area to the Bays Precinct on one side and to the Camperdown-Ultimo Collaboration area (see Figure 2-2) on the other. This would presumably use Harris St, reinforcing it as the natural spine of the area (see fig 5-3).
We would suggest some additions to the document, namely:
The plan should discuss pedestrian access to the Metro West station proposed for Pyrmont. In particular, the walking route between the metro station and light rail should be as direct and convenient as possible and also clearly legible. Despite current inquiries into Metro services, the new station is very likely to be in Pyrmont Bridge Road near the Pyrmont Bay L1 stop; a preferred pedestrian route should be identified immediately.
We think there is opportunity to speed-up the light rail service between Ultimo and Central station. Trams on that section take about six minutes to travel 500 metres. Some people could get there sooner on foot. Trams should get priority, always at the Darling Drive crossing and when appropriate at the Sussex/Thomas, Castlereagh and Pitt intersections.
Pyrmont has several attractions which between them generate a significant number of trips from other suburbs. There are the museums, the aquatic centre, the casino/theatre complex and the convention centre. Some of these trips can be late at night and are affected by the nightly shutdown of buses, trains and most trams.
The document should canvass opportunities for new all-night services to increase public transport ridership.
We think planning should start now to improve and expand the L1 service. At the CBD end there should be a second terminus which should be reachable by trams without crossing George St. An obvious candidate site would be up the Goods Line alignment behind UTS building 6. Another would be putting tracks across the old Pyrmont road bridge to a terminus near Darling Park.
Capacity could be increased and the service improved for many by separating the line into Dulwich Hill and Pyrmont services. The Dulwich Hill trams would branch off somewhere between the Western Distributor and the depot into a new tunnel under Harris St to about Wentworth Park station. The other trams would stay on the existing track.
There may be possibilities for future expansion towards Balmain, perhaps using the old Glebe Island road bridge; these should be investigated and corridor protection should follow.
The existing fish market is being relocated. Fish Market tram station will need a new name that should reflect its catchment area.