Proposed Transport Cuts : A Long Way to Go and No Hope of Getting There
EcoTransit Sydney is calling upon the state government to look much more seriously at the decisions to delay public transport development to meet its budget requirements.
"Cancelling what remains of its serious rail infrastructure projects is no way to regain the confidence of the people of NSW. In fact it just confirms that they cannot deliver on their public transport promises, and that's what got them into this mess," said EcoTransit Sydney spokesperson, Leah Mason.
EcoTransit Sydney believes that proposals to cut the remaining clearways works and to shelve the South West Rail Line will destroy any hope of making significant improvements to the public transport network in the foreseeable future.
"Shelving the North West Metro is a good idea, but failing to reinstate the rail plans that it replaced is just madness. The North West Rail Line was going to cost roughly one third of the estimated cost of the North West Metro, and it is ready to go now. That puts $8 billion back in the kitty, and takes some pressure off the dangerously overcrowded CityRail network," said Ms Mason.
EcoTransit Sydney also questions the wisdom of continuing to consider expansion of Sydney's road network while cutting permanent public transport options.
"Why is it that proposals for spending over $10 billion on an extension of the M4 are still on the table but the rail infrastructure has to go? Why does the Treasurer continue to support $150 million dollars being spent on duplicating a bridge that will contribute almost nothing to improving congestion or the reliability of public transport? Why is it that the only plan for connecting Rouse Hill to the City is another road that will feed the M4 and M5 tollways? The NSW Government must recognise that the days when you could get the private sector to build a tollway in exchange for some road closures and rent-free public land are over," she said.
EcoTransit Sydney has advocated lightrail as a much cheaper alternative to relieving the pressure on Sydney's transport network, and believes that the NSW Government should consider this as a serious option for meeting its commitments on congestion and public transport.
"They must also open their eyes to the biggest thing in public transport globally - light rail. It's cheaper than heavy rail, much cheaper than metro rail, and faster to build. That's why cities all over the world are going with it, including Australian cities like Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra," she said.