Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Action for Public Transport (NSW) is a transport advocacy group active in Sydney since 1974. We promote the interests of beneficiaries of public transport; both passengers, and the wider community. We make this submission on the Review of Environmental Factors dated February 2017 as it relates to route 422 services.

General remarks

According to the Executive Summary of the REF, the Bus Priority Program supports Sydney's Bus Future by delivering projects that make buses more reliable. That is reasonable, but the whole idea is priority for the bus passengers. The mass removal of bus stops speeds the buses up but mightn't help passengers. Note that a bus stop which is hardly ever used doesn't delay buses at all because they don't have to stop there, so the only reason to remove it would be to free kerb space for parking etc.

One wonders whether removing any bus stop is legal under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), as it disproportionately worsens the trip for people with limited mobility.

It is essential that any new bus stop locations be equipped with shelters where not already under a shop awning, and with seats and timetable information. All this should be ready the same day that the stops enter service.

It is surprising that this change is being managed by the road-focused RMS instead of by a public transport department. That might explain any emphasis on bus priority over passenger priority but doesn't justify it.

Specific remarks - route 422

The relocation of bus stop 49 on the Princes Highway closer to Brodie Spark Drive is a good idea because it should generate extra passengers from Sydenham and Tempe to the Woolworths supermarket at Wolli Creek. The same remark applies to passengers from the South arriving via West Botany Street It may encourage extra commuters from the South to interchange at Wolli Creek station. The adjacent traffic signals facilitate pedestrian safety.

Moving stop 49 closer to Brodie Spark Drive than the planned relocation spot may improve the benefits further - a bus shelter should be provided at the new location.

Bus stops 50 and 51 are only a short distance from the Wickham Street stops but, due to the heavy traffic on West Botany Street and the problems accessing the Wickham Street stops from the 50/51 stop area through the traffic signals, bus stops 51 and 52 should be retained.

Bus stops 52, 53, 54 and 55 don't seem very important as Bryant Street is easy to cross and anyone walking along it can choose to walk downhill however see remarks above about removing bus stops.

Bus stops 57 and 58 should be retained due to the difficulty of crossing the Princes Highway around there.