Part 1 Western Sydney Light Rail Feasibility Report - Parramatta City ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis report was commissioned to examine the feasibility of a Western Sydney Light Rail Network centred onParramatta and covering the central area of Sydney. The Feasibility Study refines the public transportnetwork originally suggested by Parramatta City Council in November 2011, identifying a proposed futurelight rail network. This document sets a framework for land use and transport planning moving into the futureand aims to achieve strategically aligned government outcomes.The results of the Feasibility Study show light rail can deliver city building outcomes and not just improvedpublic transport. It is also more effective at enabling the Parramatta and Western Sydney region tosustainably grow, accommodating projections for population and employment growth. This strategy has beenfurther reiterated in the State Government’s draft Metropolitan Strategy which says “50% of Sydneysiders willbe residents in Western Sydney and will be serviced by Parramatta” (Pg22).Divided into two parts, Part 1 of the Feasibility Study (this document) is the first step in investigating publictransport improvements for Western Sydney, with Parramatta at its centre. The study builds upon policiesand priorities produced by all levels of government including Local, State and Federal and identifies that bylinking key activity centres in the Western Sydney region, light rail can be a suitable public transport and cityshaping model.As a city building initiative, the proposed Western Sydney Light Rail Network aims to deliver new andimproved regional public transport links which drives employment and facilitates residential growth alongcorridors and in centres in a sustainable city form – improving economic productivity and the liveability ofWestern Sydney and Sydney as a whole. This proposed increase in public transport accessibility will alsobegin to tackle existing social disadvantage by increasing access to the growing range of educational andemployment opportunities in the region.The study draws attention to the geographic central area of the Sydney metropolitan region with Parramattaas its centre. The proposed regional light rail network aims to change the shape of the region from a SydneyCBD-centric focus towards a ‘city of cities’ model as outlined in the draft Metropolitan Strategy. The studyalso considers the role of Greater Parramatta and reviews several sites and precincts that are under currentand potential future development plans, including Parramatta Square, ‘auto alley’; Westmead medicalprecinct; urban renewal of State Government sites in North Parramatta, Parramatta Stadium and Universityof Western Sydney to name a few.Taking these regions into consideration, the study focused on a 15km radius around Parramatta, stretchingfrom Macquarie Park and Strathfield in the east to Rouse Hill in the north-west, Bankstown and Liverpool inthe south and Wetherill Park and Blacktown in the west. This revealed 15 possible corridors, filling themissing gaps in an integrated public transport network for Western Sydney. These were first assessedagainst transport and land use criteria to identify the top five corridors. Alignments were identified withinthese corridors and a second process of assessment was undertaken considering transport; environment;economy; social health; and land use criteria to identify the preferred five alignments. The third stage of theassessment considered more detailed assessment, and the addition and economic analysis and patronagemodelling to identify a proposed first stage.The project team, led by Council, considered all of the information developed during the course of the projectand has concluded the preferred feasible first stage of the Western Sydney Light Rail Network is acombination of alignments 1 (Parramatta to Castle Hill) and 2b (Parramatta to Macquarie Park viaEastwood). This first stage network forms the basis for Council’s vision of a future network.Identifying key corridors, Parramatta to Macquarie Park and Parramatta to Castle Hill as the proposed firststage, the study addresses areas that are currently served by a lower level of public transport, and in thefuture will provide significant opportunities to connect to key infrastructure initiatives such as the North WestRail Link, as well as provide a new direct connection to Macquarie Park with its growing employmentopportunities.The Parramatta to Castle Hill route estimates patronage of 9,000 to 10,200 in morning peak period (3½ hrs)or 5,000 in the peak hour, and would strengthen the existing public transport corridor. This route will have theadded benefit of a key interchange with the North West Rail Link at Castle Hill. As indicated, high riseii