Mike Baird/Gladys Berejiklian/Duncan Gay med rel: Faster journey times with $633 million Northern Beaches Transport Action Plan

NSW Premier Mike Baird, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Roads Duncan Gay today said journey times in the Northern Beaches would improve with a $633 million investment over the next five years towards key public transport and road improvements.

The investment includes $400 million in major road improvements for the Northern Beaches to reduce congestion and improve travel times around the new Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest and the surrounding precinct.

The NSW Government will also invest $125 million to get on with the job of delivering kerbside Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), resulting in faster, more reliable ‘turn up and go” bus services for customers travelling from the Northern Beaches to the CBD. More than $100 million will also be invested in new transport interchanges and extra parking for commuters using buses.

Mr Baird said the major road improvements and the BRT program will reduce congestion, and include new bus bays, upgraded intersections, road lanes and bridges to improve traffic flow and bus travel to the Sydney CBD.

The NSW Government also announced that $5 million from Restart NSW will be committed for strategic and feasibility studies to establish a Northern Beaches Motorway tunnel.

“This exciting package of initiatives builds on what we have already achieved for the Northern Beaches and will make a big difference in our community,” Mr Baird said.

A $400 million package of road projects required for the Northern Beaches Hospital, a world class health facility at Frenchs Forest scheduled to open in 2018, includes:

· Underpasses on Warringah Road at Forest Way and Wakehurst Parkway
· Widening and upgrades along Warringah Road
· Widening of Allambie Road south of Warringah Road
· Investigating the connection of Aquatic Drive with Wakehurst Parkway
Providing access to the Hospital via the intersection of Warringah Road and Hilmer Street
· Upgrades and improvements to Frenchs Forest Rd, Forest Way and Allambie Rd

Mr Gay said the first stage of road upgrades will be in place to provide access to the hospital when it opens in 2018, with more work to improve access and reduce congestion for the surrounding area to follow.

“These investments will integrate the hospital with the surrounding community and reduce delays in the area at peak times, increase average travel speeds, improve traffic flow and cut waiting time at 11 intersections in the area,” Mr Gay said.

Ms Berejiklian said the BRT project will transform public transport in the region.

“Buses are a core component of the Northern Beaches, and the NSW Government is determined to make real improvements in the area of public transport for this community,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Because journey time and the reliability of bus services are a key concern for the community, work is now underway to get the Bus Rapid Transit going so we can streamline bus travel and provide a ‘turn up and go’ service.”

Once the program is up and running, buses will depart regularly – all day, every weekday – between Mona Vale and the CBD. The Northern Beaches BRT program will improve the operation of 900 buses travelling into the CBD each day and improve customer journey time and reliability.

Mr Baird said providing new rapid services will be supported by a $30 million investment in new bus interchanges at Mona Vale, Dee Why, Brookvale and Mosman.

“The community has spoken – customers want bus services that are easier to use and we’ll be working with councils to significantly upgrade interchanges so they offer convenient, accessible facilities that are safe and secure,” he said.

Ms Berejiklian said a further $67 million will fund new bus customer car parking at Mona Vale, Narrabeen/North Narrabeen, Warriewood and Brookvale. These facilities will provide parking for up to 800 more motorists to connect with the BRT route.

“This program of works includes good quality, convenient parking facilities at interchanges, to encourage more people out of their cars and onto public transport,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Complementing the investment in Northern Beaches BRT infrastructure will be a further $11 million allocated to provide more frequent bus services for the area, with buses starting earlier and finishing later during the week and on weekends.