Greens Public Transport Vision for Sydney
We could do it in the 1940s - why can’t we do it now?
Given that the peak in oil availability is either nearby or a past event and given that oil prices will continue to rise, The Greens believe that it is prudent and responsible for a state government to protect its population from the impacts of a rapidly deteriorating environment and the economic stress that escalating fuel bills will place on the budgets of individuals and families.
Sydney’s population has become reliant upon their cars because successive Labor and Liberal Governments have failed to plan for an effective public transport system. Instead governments continue to focus solely on the cost, not the benefits of public transport and ignore the potential social, economic and environmental cost of their failure to act.
The Greens believe that the time to act is now.
The Greens believe that Sydney needs a comprehensive above ground and underground rail network plus light rail transport systems in higher density areas to assist the population to travel to work, school and university on a daily basis. We also believe that Sydney needs a system of dedicated bicycle lanes within
the City limits and beyond.
The Greens recognize that cars often compete with public transport for limited road space. Where necessary The Greens will reallocate road space back to various forms of public transport such as light rail, hybrid buses and cycleways by providing the infrastructure to get people out of their cars and on to public transport and bicycles. We believe that if a safe, reliable & comfortable public transport system is in place people will use it.
As an urgent priority, The Greens will invest heavily in public transport to protect and serve the people of Sydney because we recognize that a failure to do this will lead to serious social and economic harm - particularly to heavily car dependent areas of Sydney - as oil supplies tighten and the price of fuel escalates.
What do The Greens want to do ?
- Reduce car dependence by Sydney residents with a corresponding large increase in the share of trips by public transport, walking and cycling
- Create realistic options for a large number of people to choose not to own a car
- Oversee a big reduction in Greenhouse gas emissions by replacing hundreds of millions of car trips with trips on public transport, cycling and walking
- Protect individuals and families from the potentially harmful social and economic impact of fuel bills on their weekly budget.
How will the Greens do it ?
- Improve the availability and appeal of public transport. A system that is frequent and runs on time.
- Integrate ticketing for trains, light rail, buses and ferries
- Create an affordable and efficient integrated network with high quality interchanges that display real time information
- Create a safe, effective and widespread bicycle commuting network
What’s the plan ? A massive expansion in public transport infrastructure.
1. Expansion of Heavy Rail
The Christie Report identified links to the City from the Northwest, Southwest, Northern Beaches and the Parramatta River corridor. The report also identified numerous cross routes that created important links between major population and employment centers.
The Greens support the implementation of the Christie Report recommendations because it will eliminate a large number of cross Sydney car trips, with consequent reductions in Green House emissions, cost savings to households and reductions in traffic congestion.
Accelerated and staged implementation of recommendations of the Christie Report as follows :
- Extend the Epping to Chatswood line to North Richmond via Castle Hill
- Central Metro Line - Dee Why to Cronulla via Chatswood and City (NB Assess Light Rail alternative)
- Parramatta Metro line - Hoxton Park to Castle Hill via Parramatta
- Castlereagh to Parramatta link
- River Metro line from Parramatta to Sydenham via Ryde, City and UNSW
- Link to Epping from Parramatta (NB Assess Light Rail alternative)
- Castlereagh to Castle Hill via Kings Langley
- Link Glenfield to Bringelly
- Link Chatswood to Woy Woy
View: Christie diagram of the Sydney rail network
Download: Extended rail Christie report figure 5.9 description (Microsoft Word)
Park & Ride
The Greens will provide additional park & ride and cycle & ride opportunities at train stations by developing the airspace above train stations to encourage current car drivers to make at least part of their journeys on public transport.
The Re-introduction of a Sydney Light Rail Network
In the 1940’s the Sydney trams carried upwards of 400 million passengers using what was one of the largest street - based tramway systems in the world. Sydney’s bus system carries less than half that number of passengers today. The gap has clearly been filled by the car. The result is an increase in traffic congestion, a reduction in air quality and a huge increase in greenhouse emissions
The Greens vision is to rebuild the Sydney light rail network so that it integrates with the heavy rail system and Sydney’s buses. Light rail will reduce the need for inner suburban residents to own and use private cars.
Download: The way it was and the way it could be (PDF)
Where to start ?
Five proposed mass transit corridors were developed (Report by Gary Glazebrook to the City of Sydney in 2005) by analysing current patronage volumes, ease of implementation, future growth potential and the existence of competing heavy rail systems The Greens would build light rail infrastructure along these corridors and link Circular Quay with Railway Square in the CBD as a first step. The approximate cost of this network is estimated to cost between $1.2 and $1.6 billion including rolling stock. The network would include :
- Complete the North/South link between Railway Square and Circular Quay either via George St, or Pitt St/Castlereagh St
- City to Burwood via Parramatta Rd
- City to Burwood via Lilyfield
- City to Mascot via Green Square
- City to Bondi via Bondi Junction
- City to Maroubra Junction via UNSW
Download:
- Key light rail routes (PDF)
- Description of Key Light Rail Routes (Microsoft Word)
- Light Rail CBD options (PDF)
Buses
The Greens would phase out diesel buses and introduce cleaner hybrid (gas/electric) buses that would continue to service routes that were not covered by the new light rail system.
Existing bus services that run along rail routes will be reallocated to improve existing services and provide additional links to light and heavy rail. In the Sydney CBD the number of buses will be dramatically reduced by light rail.
As patronage builds on the light rail system, additional viable light rail routes will be introduced to replace high volume bus routes which will in turn free up more buses. This will improve cross-regional public transport services throughout the inner suburbs and will allow more local car trips to be taken by public transport.
Buses will continue to remain the most practical option for some lower volume Inner Sydney corridors as well as for middle and outer suburbs.
Where possible priority lanes will be allocated to buses and these priority lanes will be enforced to give public transport users priority access on Sydney’s roads.
Ferries
The Greens recognize the need to expand ferry services to cater for residential growth along the Parramatta River and increased use on cross harbour trips.
Integrate the ticketing of all forms of public transport
- One ticket from start to finish
- Day tickets that allow you unlimited travel on public transport for 24 hours
- Discounts for weekly and quarterly tickets
- Tax incentives for employers who subsidise the travel of employees on public transport
NB The Queensland state government achieved an immediate 10% lift in public transport patronage when they introduced integrated fares that covered travel from Noosa Heads to the NSW border.
2. Other initiatives to reduce car dependence
Cycleways
The Greens will increase investment in Sydney’s cycle-ways by developing a 10 year plan and creating a $200 million fund (note that this is less than 1% of the projected road budget for the same period) which will be set up to build cycleways throughout Sydney in partnership with local councils and in consultation with Bicycle NSW and Bicycle User Groups (BUGS).
The $200m will be spent on an effective and safe cycle commuting network, designed to shift 10% of passenger journeys in Sydney from motorised transport to cycling within five years. This will significantly and sustainably improve our transport problems, noise pollution, air quality and community health in a cost-effective manner. The elements of the plan will include :
- Off-road dedicated cycleways where possible
- End-of-trip and secure bicycle storage facilities integrated with heavy rail, light rail, bus and ferry interchanges.
- Programs to market and promote cycling in conjunction with Bicycle NSW and BUGS
- “Learn to cycle” programs for children
- Cycle-to-work programs for
employers - Planning laws that encourage cycle-friendly development
- Initiatives in conjunction with the health system to promote the health benefits of cycling
Car Share Schemes
Encourage the introduction and growth of Car Share schemes. These schemes operate like a car club with a small membership fee and a booking system that allows members to book cars for use. Car Share schemes will enable many people to either not own a car or take the decision not to purchase a second car. Associated with Car Share is the need for government regulation to allow for the creation of on street parking spots in central and convenient locations for Car Share vehicles. European and USA experience is that 12-15 members are serviced by one car share vehicle. Car share spots could also be created at light rail and heavy rail interchanges
Community buses
The Greens will develop a model for community buses that will enable economical and convenient transport for people with a disability, the aged and those with special transport needs. Such schemes will be run in partnership with local councils.
Pedestrian Facilities
At the local level the Greens will :
- Promote upgrades of footpaths and pedestrian walkways in partnership with local councils.
- Promote, through the health system, the benefits of walking for short trips rather than using the car.
- Organize “walking school bus programs “ for schools.
- Review the warrant system for the creation of pedestrian crossings
- Increase pedestrian safety especially for children
Financing
The Greens support public ownership of public transport and do not support Private Public Partnerships (PPP) that have been favoured by Labor and Liberal Governments. PPP’s have allowed the private sector to generate massive profits from near monopoly tollway projects and are considered by the Greens as not in the public interest. The Sydney - Mascot rail link has been a failure and has cost taxpayers a large amount of money for an expensive and ineffective service.
The Greens will finance its public transport vision by issuing government backed infrastructure bonds that will be long term securities with a competitive interest rate. These bonds will be attractive to institutional and self managed superannuation funds and will be sought after by people seeking to invest their savings. Different series of bonds will be rolled out as the heavy rail and light rail programs are implemented. The Greens consider that debt funding of public infrastructure such as public transport is a legitimate and responsible method of providing transport services to the community. Borrowing for infrastructure is understood and accepted by the large proportion of citizens who purchase a home, and has been an accepted form of infrastructure financing in NSW for close to 150 years, prior to the ideological stance against it by recent Labor and Liberal governments.
Congestion Taxes
The Greens do not consider that a congestion tax should be considered until the heavy rail and light rail plan has been implemented and realistic & affordable alternatives to the motor car have been provided.
It should be noted that by neglecting public transport and investing large amounts of money in roadways and toll-ways, both Labor & Liberal governments have created Public Private Partnerships (PPP) that are collecting in excess of $1 billion per year in road tolls. There is a significant issue of fairness here because many motorists who incur these private tolls do not have the option of public transport services and so the tolls are in a sense a private congestion tax which is being paid into the coffers of merchant banks and used to fund huge bonuses for executives of those banks.
What The Greens would prefer to see is this same $1 billion being spent on fares by people traveling on an efficient, safe and comfortable public transport system rather than being spent on private congestion taxes masquerading as tolls.
