Sydney’s light rail agreement toots a ‘more peaceful’ city, CBD transformation

SYDNEY’s light rail project carries with it a range of initiatives which will help move away from motor vehicle-dominated cityscapes to a more peaceful and pedestrian-friendly approach.

 

The City of Sydney and Transport for NSW, the State Government’s transport department, have signed an agreement setting out the standards under which the new Sydney light rail project will be built through the NSW Local Government Area (LGA) division.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the agreement was a major milestone for the project and would ensure Sydney has an efficient light rail system with world-class design. 

“This agreement sets out the binding conditions for the project that will transform the city centre and Surry Hills,” Ms Moore said. “The city had been working with design experts and with Transport for NSW to ensure our vision and design standards were delivered along the full route from Circular Quay to Moore Park.

“The light rail project will return 40 percent of George St to pedestrians and make it a beautifully designed space for people, free of the noise of the hundreds of buses that now choke it every day.

“The NSW Government has made clear that Devonshire Street is its preferred route so we have worked to ensure the project will give residents and businesses the best possible outcome,” the Lord Mayor said.

Sydney City is contributing $220 million towards the light rail project. In 2012 the NSW Government began the extension of the Inner West Light Rail line and announced the $1.6 billion CBD and South East Light Rail project.

These light rail lines form the new Sydney Light Rail network services running north from Central to Circular Quay along George St, west to Pyrmont and Dulwich Hill, and south east through Surry Hills to Moore Park, Randwick and Kingsford.

The Lord Mayor said over the past 10 years Sydney has actively encouraged quality development and pursued design excellence in urban design. Since 2004 city projects have won more than 40 national and international design awards.

Ms Moore said the agreement confirmed that the Surry Hills route would be built in accordance with the same leading design standards used for all the city’s village main streets, including high-quality paving, furniture and trees. It also guarantees footpath upgrades, new plazas and pocket parks.

The development agreement requires a functioning light rail service extending from Circular Quay to the University of NSW and to Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. It specifies high design standards for paving, lighting, trees, smartpoles, street furniture and light rail stops.

The light rail brings with it an upgrading of both footpaths along the length of Devonshire St in Surry Hills, with high-quality concrete tile pavers and there are new plazas and pocket parks, with street closures required adjoining Devonshire St.

There is also a new park for Surry Hills to be dedicated to the City as community lands on the current Olivia Gardens site.

Part of the redevelopment minimises above-ground infrastructure in Moore Park to maximise accessible open space and there is a pedestrian and cycleway connection incorporated into a new bridge crossing Eastern Distributor to Moore Park.

Integrated into the light rail redevelopment is the pedestrian precinct for part of George St, from Bathurst St to Hunter St; and there is wire-free light rail for the new pedestrian area of George St between the Town Hall and Wynyard stops.

Lord Mayor Moore said opportunities were being explored to mitigate the loss of on-street parking without affecting open space so that pedestrian and property access was maintained and all reasonably practicable steps were made to minimise construction impact.

She said there was also potential for the future expansion of the light rail network to Walsh Bay/Barangaroo and Green Square.

www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

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