Customer focused, technology driven services will become the future of the NSW Transport system, with a new draft 40-year blueprint unveiled today.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance released the Future Transport 2056 draft strategy alongside the release of the Greater Sydney Commission’s draft Greater Sydney Region Plan – the first time long-term planning and transport have been done in direct collaboration.
Greater Sydney Chief Commissioner, Lucy Turnbull has delivered a plan to create three cities across Sydney; the traditional Harbour City in the east, the Central River City at Parramatta and a Western Parkland City.
To support the three city plan, the NSW Government’s new transport strategy aims to improve public transport so that by 2056, 70 percent of people will live within 30 minutes of work, study and entertainment.
Future Transport 2056 will also target improving safety, efficiency, reliability and integration of services.
Mr Constance said the State is undergoing a once in a lifetime transformation, but the government cannot be blind to the future needs of Sydney commuters.
“Five years ago, we provided a blueprint about what transport would begin to look like over the next 20 years. With most of those projects either being built now or in planning, it is time to refresh the blueprint given what we’ve achieved. This time we’re looking at what’s possible over the next 40 years, not 20,” Mr Constance said.
“NSW is the best place to live, work and play, so we need to keep planning how to connect people with growing communities.”
Some visionary transport projects identified for investigation in Future Transport 2056 include:
- A potential mass transit/ train link to link from Parramatta to Kogarah, eliminating the need for travel via the Sydney CBD.
- A future plan to link Norwest and Parramatta by mass transit/ train.
- Potential light rail extensions across Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle
- Potential for expansion of the Metro network to extend the reach of the 30-minute city with fast and frequent services.
- Future rapid bus links servicing the East, Inner West, Bays, Bankstown, Parramatta and other regions.
- Investigations into missing strategic road links across Greater Sydney.
Future Transport 2056 is a comprehensive strategy to ensure the way we travel is more personal, integrated, accessible, safe, reliable and sustainable. There are three parts to the strategy; programs that are committed to or funded by the NSW Government over the next ten years; projects that are under investigation and visionary projects in the 20 year plus timeframe that are being identified now for future consideration as our population grows.
The draft Future Transport 2056 strategy will be open for comment until December 3. To view the strategy and meet our travelling team – go to future.transport.nsw.gov.au