The NSW government has released its Future Transport Strategy 2056, which aims at establishing the long-term planning needed to provide greater transport connectivity while responding to the pressures of population growth.
The report, along with the Greater Sydney Region Plan and State Infrastructure Strategy, was released following community feedback on the draft version presented in October last year.
The document details long-term plans for Sydney (envisaged as a three-city Greater Sydney) and regional NSW, with a goal of getting people to where they need to be faster and more reliably.
“Our transport system already serves 7.75 million residents, 800,000 businesses and 30 million visitors,” said state transport minister, Andrew Constance, upon the release of the strategy document.
“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.”
According to the Strategy report, maintaining a “world class, safe, efficient and reliable transport system over the next 40 years”, will require planning that adapts and responds to the rapid changes in technology expected over the coming decades.
This will require, it states, a shift in focus “away from individual modes of transport, toward integrated solutions”, and suggests that “planned centres and cities will enable a shift from private cars to public transport and active transport modes such as walking and cycling”.
In response to community feedback, the government has committed upgrading public transport along Parramatta and Victoria Roads within 10 years, improving services along the Richmond rail line, and exploring options for passenger services to the Wilton growth area.
“For Sydney, people want more public transport projects committed to and work on major projects started sooner,” Constance said.
Other long-term plans include the possible development of a rail link between Hurstville and Macquarie Park via Rhodes, an improved Sydney connection to Western NSW by investigating a solution for crossing the Blue Mountains, and rail links between Greater Parramatta with Epping, and Kogarah via Bankstown as part of a 10 to 20-year strategy.
Constance also indicated that Sydney Metro may expand, with the development of line from the CBD to Malabar via Eastlakes and Maroubra Junction, as well as a a separate link connecting 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,” he said.
Constance said the Strategy was focussed on delivering transport benefits across NSW, particularly in regional areas, where the population is expected to grow by 700,000 and freight movements are to increase by 25% over the next 40 years.
“In a major shift, this plan focuses on connections between regional cities and centres rather than on Sydney.
“To cater for increasing populations and freight movements, we are looking at the state as a whole transport network, rather than planning in isolation.”
Roads, maritime and freight minister Melinda Pavey said the Strategy outlined 227 projects across regional NSW up to 2056.
“This strategy will guide the transport infrastructure pipeline over the next forty years, ensuring our beautiful regional communities are connected to regional centres and can thrive well into the future,” Pavey said.