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

Action for Public Transport is a transport consumer group. Our members are users and beneficiaries of public transport. We have no affiliations with any political party.

General comments:

The abbreviation DFO should be explained to the reader. Perhaps there should be a dictionary of abbreviations and acronyms.

Any maps that encompass the study area, such as figure 8.8, should highlight the study area so that the reader can see the relation between the map's subject and the study area.

The October 2013 change in train timetables to use the Homebush rail turnback has resulted in inconvenience to many rail passengers. A group called Restore Inner West Line has been formed to seek improved rail services. We trust that you are aware of the issues which the turnback has caused for train travel in the area.

We agree that re-opening Pippita railway station is an interesting option. We think it should be investigated further. There would appear to be opportunity north of the M4 for converting car parking to a bus-rail interchange, some space for commuter parking and perhaps some retail and other functions to facilitate public transport. The station need not be wholly south of Parramatta Rd. Whether or not the station re-opens, there should be good foot connections across Parramatta Rd and the M4 at that point. It would seem possible for the station to be wholly or partly straddling Parramatta Rd and for its platforms to form part of the foot connection across the two highways.

Specific comments on your recommendations by land use scenario (pages ix and x):

• Traffic: we agree with your recommendations.
• Parking: we agree with your recommendations however we think that parking levies should be extended to Scenario 1.
• Buses: we agree with your recommendations. We think there should be a weekend shuttle bus service betwen Strathfield station and the DFO supplementing 525 and 526 services.
• Cyclists: we agree with your recommendations.
• Pedestrians: we agree with most of your recommendations. We think there should be a new crossing of Parramatta Rd near Courallie Avenue in all scenarios - highways should not sever living spaces without good reason. We think the footpaths in high-activity areas north of Homebush station should be widened in Scenario 1.

Other matters:

• Westconnex: Please note our view that Westconnex will not achieve anything for mobility of this region as it only will have capacity for perhaps 4000 additional vehicles per hour each way. This capacity is likely to be absorbed immediately by extra traffic from outside the study area.
• Trains: We suggest that Council should press Transport for New South Wales to build a Sydney Rapid Transit line underneath Parramatta Rd instead of putting Westconnex there. Without new transport capacity of this order, Scenario 3 will not work.