Transport can be described broadly as the movement of goods and people from an origin to a destination.

It is one of the most fundamental aspects of an

advanced economy, as it provides a window to the wider world.

(ABS, 2009)

By David Baker and Thea Roberts

Sydney Transport

“…our services do not link enough people with where they work, and they are in disrepair from years of under-investment by

various governments.” (Metro Metrics, p42, 2006)

“By far the biggest driver of our transport problems is the fact that

our patterns of where we live, work, learn, shop and play have

not been matched by changes in transport infrastructure or services.”

(Metro Metrics, p42, 2006)

“In 2006, Sydney residents made 15.9 million trips each weekday, a growth of about 200,000 trips. This

represents a 1.2% increase from the previous year, an upturn from several years of contracting growth…”

(Ministry of Transport, 2006)

“In 2006, Sydney residents travelled a total of 150.3 million kilometres on an average weekday…”

(Ministry of Transport, 2006)

"There's an extra 1 million vehicles on our roads and an extra 600,000 drivers since 1996."

(Linton, 2008)

“Roads can sometimes make it easier to get to some places, for

example the M7, but the question then is: access to what?” (Simpson, R. 2008)

“The automobile dominates all forms of movement to school, shops and

recreation.” (Metro Metrics, p44, 2006)

• Victoria Road

– “Commuters crawl home on

Victoria Road, Sydney's worst…”(Robbins, B 2008)

– “…the slowest artery was Victoria

Road, at 23kmh, down from 29kmh five years ago”.

(Robbins, B 2008)

– “Going home, Victoria Road

remains the most congested route”.(Robbins, B 2008)

Population of communities along Victoria Road

Total estimated

population of area

128 220

Train lines and stations

Road network

Bus lines

• Our design:– Light-rail system along Victoria Road

– Implementing the transit orientated development (TOD) scheme

– Standardise ticketing– Improved, more extensive bus system

– Dedicated bike lanes– Standardising footpath widths

Design- in situ

Design- Focus

Existing Light / monorail

Design- section

Design- Montage

Design- Montage

Design- Montage station

• Light-rail– Light rail is a type of transit service that operates relatively light

weight, self-propelled (usually by electric motors) vehicles that have steel wheels that run on standard steel rails. The technology is basically the same as that of streetcars (called trams in some countries), although light rail systems usually

operate on separate rights of way rather than streets

for most of their length and provide faster service than streetcars. (Eastside Rail Now, 2008)

“TOD is a major solution to the serious and growing

problems of peak oil and global warming  by creating

dense, walk able communities connected to a

train line that greatly reduce the need for driving and the burning of fossil fuels”

(Transit Orientated Design 2008)

This is a road with the

same number of people in cars

…and a light rail system(WordPress 2007)

SolutionsShot-term <5 years• bus usage incentives • car usage restrictions• increased bus services• integrated ticketing

Mid-term 5-10 years• light-rail service• bike lanes• increase footpath width

Long-term >10 years• Maintenance, retro fitting and improvement• Continued use • Extensions

• Prevention– Implement combination of solutions

Altering existing…

• infrastructure– Further infrastructure

is needed such as light-rail

– Slight modification to existing road network to cater for new use

– TODS- greater density in community

centres

• legislation– Restrictions on

automobile driving

– Ticketing integration– Development laws

• Limitations– Government – Existing infrastructure– Cost– Community disturbance– Resistance to change– Sceptics

• Implications/effects– Will join gaps in existing transport infrastructure

– Lower noise for surrounding residents

– More enjoyable, trust worthy and reliable travel

– Improved access for all to public transport

– Ease of traffic congestion– Decreased travel

times – Reduced cost for

the• Individual• Business• Economy

• Precedents– Australia

• Melbourne– International

• San Diego Trolley, US• Tranvia de tenerife, Spain• Manchester Metrolink, UK• Lucas, Public of Ireland

Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, US

• Alterations– Light-rail infrastructure

– Bike lane infrastructure

– Competent sophisticated bus system

– Virtually complete removal of cars– People’s perceptions of public transport,

changing the stigma

• Scope of light-rail infrastructure: – Implementation of steel railing on existing roads

– Installation of overhead electrical power supply and distribution system

– Construction of light-rail stop platform structures

– Incorporation of suitable (low growing) landscape treatments into tram-stop modifications to enhance overall security (improved sight lines).

– The new light-rail cars are progressively introduced into service

– Construction of a maintenance depot

• Time frame– First:

• Design and budget confirmed

• Planning, strategy, schedule

– Mid: • Implement ideas

• Laying down initial infrastructure, eg tracks

• Construction of materials

• Standardisation of network, roads, footpath

• Bus system updated for temporary construction and future use in integrated system

– Final:• Trail use and implementation of light rail• Detailing lines and TODS

• Consideration for future use i.e. maintenance

• Cost– $2.5 million dollars per kilometre– 22 kilometres of proposed light rail– Adding labour and extras the budget will only need to

allow $65 million, for our light rail proposal

compared to the $12.5 billion for the north-west metro line proposal

• Why/benefits?– “…seen a surge in the construction of light rail…This is a

result of several factors, including rising fuel prices, growing concern about air pollution,

realisation that busses are not a good solution for heavily trafficked routes and advances in rail transit technology.”(Eastside Rail Now, 2008)

““In these troubled economic times, there is no doubt

that a significant project to implement Light Rail will help keep the Australian economy buoyant. It will provide ongoing

economic stimuli through related development, urban design and investment, as well as

addressing the longer term public transport infrastructure

and environmental issues”, stated Mr. Reynolds”

THANKS

• Bibliography– Australian Bureau of Statistics. (last updated16/01/09) Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/ Date

accessed 19/01/09– Benns, M (2006) Bleak Outlook for Sydney’s Roads Sydney Morning Herald March 26, 2006– Eastside Rail Now, (2008) Eastside Rail Now visited 19/01/09 http://www.eastsiderailnow.org/faq_light_rail.html– Pollard, A (2008) Peakoil-annonce;Light Rail submission makes Infrastructure Australia short list UTC 2008– Robbins, B (2008) Peak-hour Speed 31km/hr Brisbane Times, December 10, 2008– Transadelade (2004)Upgrade of Glenelg tramway infrastructure

http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/DB4D0699-9D95-402C-9EB65B18A5D18F44/2961/submissionlightrailupgrade.pdf

– Transit Orientated Design (2008) Transit Orientated Design; Design for a livable sustainable future visited 20/01/09http://www.transitorienteddevelopment.org/

– Will, 2007 Light rail causes congestion? Of cause not, unless you’re a… Word Press (11/01/07) visited on 21/01/09 http://horsesass.org/?p=3705