Local Campaigns
EcoTransit is also keeping an active eye on other developments, alongside local community members.
M4 East - with Marrickville Transport Action Group, NoM4East and R.A.T.S
EcoTransit has been involved in the campaign for increased levels of public transport in the inner west of Sydney, since early 2004. We have engaged with the State Government's proposal for another motorway tunnel by demonstrating the benefits of improving congestion by increasing the number and type of public transport services in this area. As you can probably guess, this proposal has significant implications for much of the inner west, but it is just as important for those people who have no other choice than to drive into the CBD. The M4 East proposal also requires a number of other developments including the "Marrickville Truck Tunnel" and the "Inner West Motorway".
Every traffic study shows this motorway will deliver traffic chaos to the community that has the misfortune to have it built in their suburb. Estimates based on the M4 East studies show peak hour traffic could rise by as much as 40% on major arterial roads near the exits. Whether this is in Camperdown, Glebe or Annandale the results would be disastrous for the inner west.
All options required the extension of the M4 toll to be financially viable but when challenged on this the government committed to use public funds to prop up tollways instead of tolls. The government's own Richmond Review shows inner suburban traffic will not be financially viable without significant public funds to subsidise them. The estimated costs are now as high as $4.8 billion to build the Inner West Motorway and the Government remains publicly committed to funding it if necessary. There is no funding in the budget for this project. Either the government will have to go into debt to fund it - or it is lying about the removal of the toll on the M4.
New Information about the M4 East
See our collection of documents on the M4 East (includes stuff you were not supposed to see!)
Dulwich Hill Light Rail Extension and Greenway
Let’s extend the light rail service now!
Sydney is crying out for more public transport capacity and the Rozelle goods line is just sitting there, waiting to be used.
If the NSW Government consented to extension of the current light rail service to Dulwich Hill, the communities of Leichhardt, Haberfield, Summer Hill, Lewisham and Dulwich Hill would get an additional six kilometres of fast, reliable, public transport that’s immune to soaring petrol prices and never gets stuck in traffic.
The streets of the Inner West were designed for light vehicular traffic, pedestrians, bicycles and trams, not for thousands of cars. Under the Carr and Iemma governments, public transport has been neglected, motorway development has been favoured, and, as a result, traffic congestion and air pollution have increased. We now have an opportunity to redress this situation and it can be done quickly, with little expense, and without the need to bulldoze heritage suburbs.
The light rail extension to Lilyfield was completed in less than a year. Extending to Dulwich Hill could be completed just as quickly. The line is already in place and having been built to carry heavy freight, requires only inexpensive, easily-constructed stops and minor alterations to signals and overhead wiring. Metro Light Rail already has enough rolling stock to provide services as far as Lewisham. With a guaranteed future, investment in more rolling stock could proceed quickly.
F/M 6 Public Transport Corridor - with Marrickville Transport Action Group, C.A.R.T.S, Sutherland Shire Environment Centre
EcoTransit Sydney was successful in persuading the NSW Government to reconsider using the M6 corridor as another motorway, clearing the path for its use as a public transport and recreational corridor. That was back in December 2003. In 2006 however, there is talk of overturning this decision and giving the residents of the inner west even more gridlock. It will also destroy part of the Royal National Park, RAMSAR listed wetlands and the only playing fields in several local government areas. Once again, this proposal creates further disruption through a requirement for new or expanded 'feeder' roads.
See our collection of documents on the M/F6 (includes stuff you were not supposed to see!)