Category Archives: Transport

‘Bus Improvement’ Project – McEvoy St & Botany Rd

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Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is proposing changes to the intersection of McEvoy Street and Botany Road as follows:

  • No right turn from McEvoy Street into Botany Road (to take you in the direction of Green Square)
  • Narrower footpaths to allow additional car spaces
  • A new bus lane on Botany Road that will extend from the Metro Station all the way to Green Square – supposedly to handle the morning peak (?)
  • A ‘gentler radius- for those turning left at McDonalds from McEvoy Street into Botany Road – for ‘faster turns’
  • A new turning lane from Botany Road into McEvoy Street
  • Removal of about 20 trees.

Why we think you should be concerned…….

  • Where is the evidence that this is required? TfNSW has not released any traffic figures that justify the estimated $22 million expense
  • This is not a ‘bus improvement project’ ‘- the additional bus lane is not heading into the city and is NOT the direction of the normal morning peak!
  • How does this fit in with the Integrated Traffic and Transport Plan for the area – oh wait, there isn’t one!
  • There is no real consultation period – TfNSW is seeking ‘feedback’ yet only notified a VERY small group of people
  • We believe this is WestCONnex Phase 2. Some of you may remember a mad plan in 2019 called Alexandria to Moore Park (A2MP) which proposed massive changes all the way from the Sydney Park end of McEvoy Street all the way to the big intersection at Anzac Parade – this is A2MP by stealth – the first of a thousand cuts.
  • There is no evidence that traffic has increased – the traffic volumes have decreased in the 10 years since RMS’s original predictions
  • improvements to bus services are questionable – even though this is presented as a bus improvement project, the changes proposed primarily benefit private vehicles through increasing the road capacity
  • The proposed turn bans will divert traffic from state roads into local streets, increasing traffic volumes and reducing safety and amenity in residential neighbourhoods

Where to find out more

Transport for NSW info

Note – the amount of information on the TfNSW site is sadly lacking in detail……..

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/botany-road-and-mcevoy-street-intersection-and-bus-corridor-improvements

Jake Coppinger’s blog post

Jake, Founder of UrbanSpectra asks some good questions in his blog. Click here to explore what he says

How to give your feedback – deadline by 28 September!!

What else you can do

Tell your friends and neighbours and get them to provide their feedback!

ARAG Submission?

ARAG is considering making a submission on the community’s behalf. To do this, please let us know.

September Update – What’s happening in Alexandria

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Woolies Metro Conversion, Fountain Street, Alexandria – Community Meeting – Wed 13 September, Alexandria Town Hall at 7pm.

ARAG is holding a community meeting with a Q&A on Wednesday, 13 September, 2023, 7pm at the Alexandria Town Hall, Garden Street, Alexandria. At this meeting hear from Justin Nolan, Director of Metro, Woolworths Group & Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.

The rollout of Woolworths Metro to Fountain Street, Alexandria has gained over 1400 signatures to local resident Andrew Wong’s petition against the conversion, attracted media coverage by 2GB, SMH, Nine News. Local residents have also voiced their concerns over local social media pages with issues ranging from inflated prices, a dominance in the the area already with 3 Metros close by, increased use of products with plastic packaging. The proposed loss of a fully stocked supermarket within a walking distance area is forcing many to drive on already congested roads in search of cheaper prices.

ARAG is holding a special community meeting to hear from Justin Nolan, Director of Metro, Woolworths Group & Lord Mayor Clover Moore, City of Sydney.

Be part of a grassroots community for a real community consultation with Woolworths. Hear what their plans are and be there to ask face to face questions & raise any concerns you have.

FB event page: More details on the event & RSVP, click here
Petition: https://www.change.org/p/don-t-downgrade-woolworths-alexandria-to-a-metro

Media Coverage links:
2GB Interview with Vanessa Knight, AGAG
Click below for the news articles: 2GB, Sydney Morning Hearld, Nine News, Channel 7, 9news.com.au

Alexandria and Erskineville Traffic and Transport Study Community Forum

A public meeting is been held by Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore to discuss the outcomes of the Community Consultation about the City of Sydney’s Erskineville and Alexandria Traffic and Transport Study (“the study”) which closed on 30 June 2023.

City staff will present the results of their community consultation about the Study. There will be time to ask questions and provide further feedback.

When: Thursday, 21 September, 2023, 6pm-7pm
Where: Alexandria Town Hall, 73 Garden Street, Alexandria

City of Sydney Community Engagement Summary Report can be downloaded here:

For more details about the Traffic Study click here

Build A Bridge – North and South Eveleigh connection Campaign

Help our neighbours Friends of Erskineville, REDWatch along with ARAG in a joint campaign for an active transport bridge across the train tracks at Eveleigh.

Locally, we’re campaigning for an active transport bridge across the train tracks at Eveleigh to connect Waterloo Metro, Alexandria & South Eveleigh one one side to Carriageworks, North Eveleigh, Darlington & Sydney University.

With already 1200 signatures, help continue the momentum by signing the petition to Jo Haylen, Minister of Transport.

Build A Bridge petition Click here

June Meeting – Electric Vehicles (EV) and EV Infrastructure

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Join us for our ARAG community meeting this Wednesday, 14 June 2023, at 7pm at Alexandria Town Hall, 73 Garden Street, Alexandria.

This meeting we will be about Electric Vehicles (EV) and EV infrastructure, also covering some of the key issues regarding the Alexandria Erskineville Traffic Plan and presenting the results of the Alexandria Sunday Funday.

EV & EV Infrastructure

Andrew Hall, City Relations Manager from Jolt Australia is our invited speaker to talk us through EV charging in general and how enterprises like Jolt are working with local councils.

City Of Sydney – Proposed Improvements for traffic and transport in Alexandria and Erskineville

Click here for details and artist impressions of City of Sydney proposed improvements for traffic and transport in Alexandria and Erskineville

Community consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 30 June 2023. Have your say using the interactive map or email sydneyyoursay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Chris Standen, an Erskineville resident and has a PhD in transport planning from the University of Sydney, has developed and submitted a response to the Council’s study. He has provided ARAG with his response to be shared with Alexandria residents. Click below to view.

Chris Standen Submission letter to City Of SydneyDownload

Two community meetings: New Cycleways; Explorer Street Redevelopment.

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Residents may be interested to (virtually) attend either or both of two meetings next week.

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On Tuesday 8 December, from 6pm to 7pm, Jenny Leong, Member of Newtown, will be holding a virtual meeting to discuss a proposed redevelopment of public land at Explorer Street, South Eveleigh (between Henderson Road and the railway).

For more information, or to register, visit: https://www.jennyleong.org/sth_eveleigh_housing_redevelopment

cyclewaysOn Wednesday 9 December, Lord Mayor Clover Moore is holding a virtual meeting about proposed cycleways in Alexandria and Erskineville.

For more information, or to register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/alexandria-and-erskineville-cycling-connections-community-online-event-tickets-130751720917

Opportunity to submit questions on A2MP & the Traffic Study

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Those of you who attended the ARAG meeting on Wednesday 13 May know that unfortunately the meeting was cut short and we were unable to complete the Question and Answer session with the Council staff who attended on the:

  • Alexandria to Moore Park Roadworks
  • Planned changes following the Traffic Study conducted by the Council to manage the impacts of WestCONnex on our streets.

The presentation by the Council can be found here and we invite you to submit questions to ARAG via the info@arag.org.au mailbox which we will pass on to the Council.

Answers will be published on our website as soon as we receive them.

If any of your neighbours were unable to make the meeting, please encourage them to participate and ask any questions

Parking, Metro Quarter, Trucks + Traffic = ARAG Meeting, Wednesday 12 September

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This month’s meeting will be held at:

  • 7pm, Wednesday 12 September
  • Alexandria Town (73 Garden St)

The agenda for this meeting is:

  • Parking
  • Metro Quarter Update
  • Trucks invading Alexandria
  • Council Traffic Study  next steps

Please bring your positive suggestions on what can be done to improve the situation.

PS. ARAG’s submission to the Impact of WestConnex Inquiry is available here.

 

Extra traffic study briefing – Thursday

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By popular demand, there will be an extra community drop-in session to discuss the proposed changes to Alexandria streets.

The drop-in session will be:

  • 5:30pm to 7pm,  Thursday May 24 at
  • Alexandria Town Hall

The proposal includes several full and partial road closures, single-lane slow points, extra traffic signals and continuous footpath treatments (*).

Thursday is your last best chance to have your questions answered.

Comments on the plan close 1 June.

For more information, or to have your say, visit sydneyyoursay.

(*) continuous footpath treatment means a shared space where pedestrians have right of way over cars. Instead of being a road that pedestrians are allowed to cross, it is a footpath that cars are allowed to cross.

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