THE NORTH WEST TRANSPORT LINK - AN INTEGRATED BUS/ROAD WAY

The North West Sector of Sydney is being developed as a major growth area remote from the rail network. As a result of low population densities, long transit times to railway stations and high levels of traffic congestion on major roads, a generally lower level of service is available than that for other areas of Sydney. This paper reports on the feasibility study that looked at the potential to develop express bus transport along the proposed North West Transport Link, which follows the alignment of the Castlereagh Expressway (F2). It describes the basis of the study, the results of the household survey conducted to build a picture of possible demand, looks at the physical requirements of the system and the likely operational characteristics. The paper indicates that if we are really serious about increasing mode split in our cities in favour of public transport, as an overall community benefit, we must undertake comprehensive market driven studies on an integrated transport basis rather than the conventional traffic analysis of modes and routes in a piecemeal approach. At the time of writing (August 1992), an exhibition period of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the development of an integrated transport link along the F2 corridor is drawing to a close. The proposal, entitled the 'Northwest Transport Link' incorporates a two lane exclusive bus roadway and an upgraded bus/rail interchange at Epping Station. (A) For the covering entry of this conference, see IRRD abstract no. 843369.