Better Connecting the Inner West (PDF, 1.72MB)
Inner West Council has today released a blueprint calling for a permanent rapid transit service on Parramatta Road and a major upgrade of the Inner West Light Rail to support tens of thousands of new homes planned for the area.
This new vision for the future of public active transport outlines the transport infrastructure needed to support tens of thousands of new homes planned across the Inner West.
At the centre of the plan is a permanent public transport solution for Parramatta Road and a major upgrade of the Inner West Light Rail.
Both projects are essential for making increased housing supply in the Inner West feasible and achievable, especially as the NSW Government is expected to soon present details for up to 8,000 new dwellings along the Parramatta Road corridor.
The blueprint also calls for a second GreenWay, the reopening of the historic Glebe Island Bridge and new cross-region bus links to connect more residents to rail, metro and light rail services.
With new metro stations soon to open in the Inner West, the plan also highlights the need for a major expansion of safe cycling routes and secure bike parking.
Better last-kilometre connections will make these new stations more useful for everyday trips and help shift people from cars to public transport.
Overall, this blueprint sets out the infrastructure required to support a growing population and address the housing supply crisis.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said:
“People across Sydney recognise we need more homes. They also expect the transport infrastructure that makes those homes work.”
“Everyone has talked about transforming Parramatta Road for decades. With major new housing now planned along the corridor, the time for talking is over.
“We need a clear decision on a permanent high-capacity public transport solution.
“Sydney can’t solve tomorrow’s housing crisis with yesterday’s transport network. New homes need new connections.
“Transport cannot be an afterthought. It must be planned alongside new housing from the beginning.
“This blueprint shows how the Inner West can grow while remaining connected, liveable and sustainable.”
Committee for Sydney CEO Eamon Waterford said:
"Parramatta Road is the biggest missed opportunity in Sydney. For decades it's been all traffic and no plan. Now homes are coming to the corridor, and the public transport has to come with them – this is the moment to finally get it right."
“Getting from the Inner West to the city is relatively easy, but travelling north-south in the LGA can take far longer with poor or non-existent connections.
"Some of the best transport changes are just improving what’s already there.
“Running more frequent light rail services, fixing the gaps in our buses and giving people a safe way to walk or ride a bike to the station.
"At Sydenham, the bike racks are already overflowing. That's not a problem – it's people showing us exactly what to build next. Getting someone safely to a station on a bike or on foot is the cheapest, fastest fix in transport.
“That's some of the lowest cost, highest yield transport going, and it will move more people, sooner, than waiting a decade for the next megaproject.”
Better Connecting the Inner West – Our vision for transport to support more housing summary:
- The blueprint contains nine major initiatives to improve public and active transport across Sydney’s Inner West.
- Together, they provide a long-term vision for supporting population growth, increasing housing supply and creating a better connected, more liveable community.
- The plan addresses rapid transit on Parramatta Road, the Inner West Light Rail, cycling infrastructure, new bus connections, active transport and better links between rail and metro services.
For media enquiries please contact Heath Gilmore, heath.gilmore@innerwest.nsw.gov.au