The myth of fast light rail in Sydney persists despite absolutely no
evidence of better performance so far. Buses would achieve the same sort of
journey times if they were given the same sort of prioritisation. Indeed,
the evidence in the eastern suburbs is that the buses have the faster
journeys in spite of their battle with traffic.
What I'd prefer to see with future tram projects in Sydney is to have them
in regions further out where there is a need for greater capacity along
heavily-trafficked corridors, rather than in an inner area that already has
a cornucopia of transit options. This corridor between Burwood and Sydney
will have two parallel rail lines to the north and south with gigantic
capacity between them and has the IWLR not far to the north of Parramatta
Rd (and intersecting with it). In this context, buses are perfectly
adequate to serve the remaining corridor (Parramatta Rd) between these
other lines, particularly if their operation is improved with more
prioritisation, more use of higher capacity (articulated) buses, plenty of
doors and all-door loading. So far, however, the demand along the
Parramatta Rd corridor is not all that high, to the extent that the
articulated buses originally allocated to the inner west are underutilised
and are now being transferred to North Sydney and the northern beaches
where there is a more pressing need for them.
A higher priority needs to be given to light rail on corridors with far
more urgent needs and no heavy rail alternatives are available or in the
pipeline, like Bondi Rd and Victoria Rd. Reinstatement (and linking) of
part of the North Sydney and Manly system would also be a great one.
Further west, there are plenty of potential opportunities, like the
Liverpool-Bringelly-WSA corridor and conversion of the Parramatta-Liverpool
T Way (which was designed for conversion to light rail). There are plenty
of areas of Sydney, particularly in the west, without higher-capacity
transit that should be prioritised over areas that have plenty of it. We've
discussed this before. The eastern half of Sydney is historically generally
quite well supplied with transit. Western Sydney, an area with the
population of Brisbane or Perth, is under-supplied with good public
transport.
Tony P
On Wednesday, 6 January 2021 at 23:11:37 UTC+11transit...@...
wrote:
> Dear All
>
> Sometimes the Greens get it right.
>
> Regards
>
> Dudley
>
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject: This could (finally) transform Parramatta Rd
> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 04:09:48 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Jamie Parker MP ja...@...>
> To: Dudley Horscroft transit...@...>
>
>
>
> Dear Dudley,
>
> *Light rail will transform Parramatta Road*
>
> For several years, I've been pushing Councils and the NSW Government to
> revitalise Parramatta Road and make it easier to get around our city by
> creating a light rail link between Burwood and the CBD.
>
> Last month the Minister for Planning added his support, saying the
> revitalisation of Parramatta Road - including new mass transit along the
> corridor - needs to happen quickly.
>
> I’m so pleased that after years of meetings, petitions and advocacy, our
> campaign to transform Parramatta Road is gaining more support. *Read the
> full story in the **Sydney Morning Herald **here.*
> https://www.jamieparker.org/r?u=KANR0YvKVYJzrcqBk6rLkFoFm5cS-g1HhIN79TQzyBz5JO2a08W2USqJW1HXyWxbfSd7oo2QZo8zhTkGWghGhJowdlvy69HH-1dIzqRmDa21vGjRJ5HKq_P7i5wRazsPoaOVdYiRYJrQgXDUiNh15H8Q7Rb1LMn9PdCDeQpgRJaSOQsatPmPOclqKC7sIUvC&e=1f975f3a3732020674d87f1537306c110fe6fc26&utm_source=jamieparker&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_matta_light_rail_s&n=1
>
> *Thank you to the 2,500 local residents who have already signed the
> petition
> https://www.jamieparker.org/lightrail?e=1f975f3a3732020674d87f1537306c110fe6fc26&utm_source=jamieparker&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_matta_light_rail_s&n=2
> calling for light rail for Parramatta Road. *
>
> Your support sends a clear message that our community wants investment in
> transformative, world-class public transport in the inner west.
>
> [image: Inner West Light Rail Map - Committee for Sydney]*Proposed City
> and Inner West transport network including Burwood-City light-rail. Image:
> Committee for Sydney*
>
> The alternative is more buses that we know will only increase congestion
> on Parramatta Road and in the CBD.
>
> The government’s own analysis even shows that a bus trip from Burwood to
> the city would take about 39 minutes, compared with a 22-minute tram
> journey along the same route.
>
> WestConnex was originally justified on the basis that it would help to
> transform Parramatta Road into a walkable high street. *Light rail would
> help to reduce congestion, fumes and noise and make Parramatta Road
> somewhere where business can thrive and be a more pleasant place to live
> and work. *
>
> With WestConnex set to be complete in 2023, this opens up a short window
> of opportunity for restoration before lower traffic volumes are filled by
> induced traffic.
>
> *This means the time to act is now. *
>
> In the New Year we’ll be pushing the Minister for Transport to listen to
> the evidence, back the community and invest in light rail for Parramatta
> Road.
>
> I’m so glad to have your support on this issue and will be doing
> everything possible to make our vision for a truly world-class public
> transport system for Sydney a reality.
>
> If you would like more details on this or any other issue, please feel
> free to contact me either by emailbal...@... or call
> 02 9660 7586.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
>
> Jamie Parker MP
> *Member for Balmain, Parliament of NSW*
>
> *P.S. If you know someone who would use a light rail on Parramatta Road,
> forward this email to them and ask them to sign the petition
> https://www.jamieparker.org/lightrail?e=1f975f3a3732020674d87f1537306c110fe6fc26&utm_source=jamieparker&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_matta_light_rail_s&n=3. *
>
>
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