Article: Missing the buses: Darling Harbour upgrade raises transport concerns

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Missing the buses: Darling Harbour upgrade raises transport concerns

Missing the buses: Darling Harbour upgrade raises transport concerns
May 22, 2013 Nicole Hasham

Transport authorities say cars will bank up, public bus zones are non-existent and traffic analysis is flawed in a plan to attract thousands of extra people to Darling Harbour.

They want a range of changes to a proposed $2.5 billion overhaul of the site comprising rebuilt exhibition, convention and entertainment centres and a new residential neighbourhood at Haymarket.

The criticism raises questions over how Darling Harbour will cope with predicted crowd numbers following its highly-billed remake, which includes an expanded outdoor event space to hold 27,000 people and Australia's largest convention space for more than 12,000 people.

It also fuels concern over the effect of heavy vehicles on main roads during the three-year construction period, especially when combined with work at nearby Barangaroo.

Improved public access has been touted as key to redeveloping Darling Harbour, where poor pedestrian and public transport links are blamed for cutting off the precinct from the city, Pyrmont and Ultimo.

But a submission by Transport for NSW says the proposal fails to include space for public buses, providing only for private bus zones. This is despite planned bus network changes after light rail work is completed.

Most people would arrive at the site on foot, however the plan did not give priority to pedestrians at traffic signals or offer pathway improvements. A busy multi-lane pedestrian crossing also lacked signalling.

Cycle facilities were limited to a single bike path on Darling Drive.

"There needs to be a further commitment to bicycle parking for visitor, employee and resident use as well as end-of-trip facilities for employees and residents," the department said.

The plan did not propose solutions for problem intersections such as Harbour and Liverpool streets, or for reducing the crash rate at the Darling Drive-Pier Street roundabout. Vehicles queuing to enter the exhibition centre car park will completely block southbound traffic on Darling Drive, and a pedestrian crossing will add to delays, the department said.

Parts of the traffic analysis used incorrect methods or ignored travel times and queue length.

Lend Lease will carry out construction work, which is due to last from December until late 2016.

The department warned the work "has the potential to be disruptive to commuters, road users and businesses".

A Lend Lease spokeswoman said it would consider the issues raised, including traffic, and report back to the Planning Department in June, adding "it's important to get this project right for Sydney".