CBD & South East Light Rail

[STMPainter2018]

I am so frustrated as anything right now. Because I just know that so many asshats are gonna try to blame all of today’s messes on the trams somehow even though it wasn’t even their fault, and this why they should’ve never been brought back etc. Accidents happen, but every nitpicking gunzel and keyboard warrior who doesn’t know XXX about transport is just gonna use this as an example to criticise modern day transport management and recovery operation, the construction of the trams themselves, on top of the anti-tram arguments I just mentioned. And I’m **** **** sick of it! People have already started doing so in the comments of the SMH post reporting today's news AND on the TDU email group among others and I’m over it! Trams are back, they’re staying, XXX like this is gonna happen from time to time and the recovery process is not gonna be perfect or efficient; GET OVER IT! Sorry, I just had to let that out. These kinds of arguments go on all the time everywhere and it's exhausting. It's partly why I've been staying away from this place now for the most part (aside from the fact that my rants make me come across as a pathetic lunatic and that's just not who I am in real life but anyway).

[boronia]

As at 21:00 tonight there are 0 comments against the SMH report on the incident.
And to add to it, two buses crashed at High St and Anzac Pde this afternoon, effectively blocking both lines. This would have had the L3 as a Town Hall - Moore Park service again.

[tonyp]

The bus accident looks as expensive as the tram accident. Not a good day.

[Nugget]

As at 21:00 tonight there are 0 comments against the SMH report on the incident.
And to add to it, two buses crashed at High St and Anzac Pde this afternoon, effectively blocking both lines. This would have had the L3 as a Town Hall - Moore Park service again.

I had a friend who posted me the bus accident and said that this wouldn't have happened if they had deckers instead of bendies.

[tonyp]

I had a friend who posted me the bus accident and said that this wouldn't have happened if they had deckers instead of bendies.

Tell him this wouldnt have happened if they''d had bendies!

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=90937

[tonyp]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/ ... d5bcf3294c
Advertising blitz to warn people to stay safe around Sydney trams

Too many passengers are risking their lives around Sydney’s network of trams by not paying attention to their surroundings. Check out the video of near misses.
Miranda Wood, The Sunday Telegraph

August 2, 2020 6:00am

dailytelegraph.com.au1:51
CCTV footage of near misses with pedestrians and trams
Sydney Light Rail drivers are reporting a large number of near-misses as people walk in front of trams. Transport for NSW is expanding its public safety campaign to prevent th...
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These are the close-call moments for pedestrians nearly hit by trams — while one man wasn’t so lucky.

Three weeks after transport authorities released footage of reckless and dangerous behaviour of Sydneysiders around trams, come these even more shocking CCTV images — as well as a new safety campaign.

Footage from Lewisham, in Sydney’s inner west, captured a man hit by a tram after he walked straight into its path as he was leaving the station.
Some pedestrians are not paying attention around the Sydney with a collision recently in Lewisham.
Some pedestrians are not paying attention around the Sydney with a collision recently in Lewisham.

In another video at Eddy Ave, opposite Central Station, a tram was forced to brake suddenly when a man dashed in front in wet weather at night.

Transport for NSW Greater Sydney chief operations officer Howard Collins said Sydneysiders had to “ditch the distractions” with tram drivers reporting too many pedestrians were risking their lives.

“A fully loaded tram weighs around 120 tonnes, which is as heavy as a blue whale and it can’t stop quickly, needing several metres to stop in an emergency,” Mr Collins said.

“People are distracted with mobile phones and take chances dashing across the tracks in front of a tram.
A pedestrian scoots out in front of a tram in George St.
A pedestrian scoots out in front of a tram in George St.

“On occasion pedestrians will offer a wave of apology thinking it’s a minor inconvenience, but on board that tram is a driver who was forced to activate their emergency brakes, potentially endangering dozens of passengers in their care.”

Latest figures show since December 1, 179 incidents were reported on the light rail including 157 near-misses with pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists and 22 collisions — four with people.

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Of the near misses, nearly 70 involved pedestrians with most narrow escapes occurring in the CBD and Surry Hills.

Mr Collins said: “Trams are quiet and we have a tram every four minutes between Circular Quay at Moore Park and every eight minutes in the southeast, so it’s important for pedestrians to watch out for oncoming trams and only cross the tracks where it is safe to do so.”
Another passenger is putting himself at risk at Central Station.
Another passenger is putting himself at risk at Central Station.

An advertising blitz warning pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to stay safe around trams will start on Sunday with Transdev Sydney Light Rail chief officer Brian Brennan saying: “If everyone remembers to: ‘Look left and right, check for trams,’ we can prevent people walking into the path of trams”.

“We have had far too many near-misses, particularly involving pedestrians, and we urge everybody to remain aware of their surroundings when travelling on and around our network.”

[boronia]

It is not just trams, people do this with buses and other traffic too.
The crossing at Eddy Ave can be confusing because there are separate ped lights for the tram line and roadway. They are not coordinated. Perhaps they need railway style bells (and barriers) on the tram crossing. Same for the Elizabeth St/Chalners St crossing. Some of the crossing lights have been red when there aren't trams approaching- this certainly reduces their impact.

Perhaps George St needs more physical barriers protecting the tram line - garden planters, etc.- to deter people off the tracks.

[gilberations]

.

Perhaps George St needs more physical barriers protecting the tram line - garden planters, etc.- to deter people off the tracks.

That would make it worse for the tram drivers as they would have less visibility to see the pedestrians coming

[Campbelltown busboy]

.

Perhaps George St needs more physical barriers protecting the tram line - garden planters, etc.- to deter people off the tracks.

That would make it worse for the tram drivers as they would have less visibility to see the pedestrians coming

Something like a fence aligning the corridor where there aren’t any traffic lights or pedestrian crossings will stop people from randomly driving or walking on the tram line

[tonyp]

Something like a fence aligning the corridor where there aren’t any traffic lights or pedestrian crossings will stop people from randomly driving or walking on the tram line

Clover Moore wouldn't allow anything higher than a few centimetres around the line. It had to blend in with the streetscape. Flashing LEDs in the pavement, activated when a tram approaches, might have helped, but too late for that. People will just have to learn.

[Swift]

A sign of the collapse of civility of this city. Another factor the planners didn't see coming. The chickens have come home to roost.
I don't see how fences or deterring structures like garden boxes would pose a problem for driver visibility when they sit above all that. It would be more of a help.

[tonyp]

Well, at least there's karma:

Clover Moore branded a ‘hypocrite’ after her bus parked in a disabled spot

A mayoral minibus belonging to Clover Moore was busted parking in a disabled parking spot last week, even though the Lord Mayor had warned against exactly that in March.
Matthew Benns, The Daily Telegraph
August 4, 2020 9:13am

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been branded an “outrageous hypocrite” after her minibus was parked in a disabled parking spot.

In March, Ms Moore went on Twitter to tell Sydneysiders that parking rangers had been told to ease up during the coronavirus pandemic and use their discretion in issuing tickets, which generate more than $40 million a year in fines.

“So don’t abuse the privilege (like parking in a disabled spot)”, Ms Moore wrote.

Pictures have emerged of Ms Moore boarding the ­illegally parked bus near Centennial Park on Thursday.
Clover Moore’s minibus illegally parked last week in a disabled spot.
Some residents say Ms Moore is a “hypocrite.”

“Oh the irony,” Sydney City councillor Christine Forster chortled yesterday. “This is the perfect illustration of how much pressure these new so-called temporary cycleways are putting on this part of the city,” she said.

Six new pop-up cycleways have been jointly agreed on by Sydney City Council and NSW Transport to get people off buses and on their bikes during the COVID-19 crisis.

“They are a disaster,” Ms Forster said. “People are not getting on their bikes they are staying home.

“Meanwhile this particular cycle lane has removed 120 badly needed car spots.”

Ms Moore had been taking her team to inspect the new pop-up cycleway on Moore Park Road, next to Centennial Park, when residents’ complaints that the new lane had ­removed all the parking came home to roost.

The driver parked the mini bus in a disabled spot in nearby Poate Road as the Lord Mayor spoke with residents.

Resident Michael Hambly said: “It is absolutely outrageous and completely hypocritical for her to have her bus parked there.”

Mr Hambly said there had been no warning Ms Moore was going to visit but once people realised she was there they rushed out to voice their concerns. Other councillors on bicycles pedalled off as residents appeared.

“What if somebody with a disabled sticker on their car wanted to park in that spot?” he asked. “I did not see anybody on the bus with any kind of disability or even a walking stick.”
The new cycle path on the corner of Moore Park Road. Picture: John Grainger

The disabled parking spot used by the mayor’s minibus is one of the more than 100 parking spots relocated to side streets due to the unpopular pop-up cycle path.

The cycleway is one of six hastily shoehorned into place by the council and Transport NSW after the coronavirus pandemic began.

Three are being delivered by Sydney City Council at Pitt Street in the CBD, Henderson Road in Erskineville and Dunning Avenue in Rosebery.

Transport NSW is responsible for the cycleways on Moore Park Road in Pyrmont, Bridge Road and Sydney Park Road in Erskineville.
The disabled spot used by Ms Moore’s bus. Picture: John Grainger

But by far the most controversial and unpopular has been the cycleway on Moore Park Road.

A spokesman for Ms Moore said: “On Thursday, the Lord Mayor visited the six pop up cycleways being delivered by the City of Sydney and the NSW government across the local government area as part of the urgent health response to the coronavirus crisis.

“The purpose of the visit was for the Lord Mayor to see all pop up cycleways and consider solutions to a number of issues that have been raised by the community, including loss of parking,” he said.

“It is regrettable that the mini bus, which was used to ensure staff could safely physical distance during the tour, stopped momentarily in a disabled parking spot as passengers alighted, before pulling out to park elsewhere.”

It is understood the driver had a disability parking permit on the bus but no-one on board was mobility impaired.

But the sticker meant the bus driver would have been able to dodge the $519 fine if a ranger had appeared.

[Swift]

Years ago I spotted hypocrisy Clover (or should it be Rover ) standing on the corner of Castlereagh and Market St on the roadway itself attempting to flag a taxi.
She expected one to pick her up on the corner of a controlled intersection whilst also flouting the road rules herself.

[boronia]

.

Perhaps George St needs more physical barriers protecting the tram line - garden planters, etc.- to deter people off the tracks.

That would make it worse for the tram drivers as they would have less visibility to see the pedestrians coming

The problem is pedestrians appearing "out of nowhere". Low level planter boxes would not obscure vision, nor would open form fences (already in use around Eddy Ave and elsewhere). Anything that deters them from straying onto the tracks has got to be a benefit.

They built and operate this tramway to heavy rail standards, it should be protected to similar standards. If this was a "worksite", the operator could be fined $thousands for such slack safety provisions.

[Campbelltown busboy]

Something like a fence aligning the corridor where there aren’t any traffic lights or pedestrian crossings will stop people from randomly driving or walking on the tram line

Clover Moore wouldn't allow anything higher than a few centimetres around the line. It had to blend in with the streetscape. Flashing LEDs in the pavement, activated when a tram approaches, might have helped, but too late for that. People will just have to learn.

It can be something like a low height fence

[boronia]

I've noticed a few times this week, trams displaying SYDNEY destinations (presumably) instead of NiS

[boronia]

Something like a fence aligning the corridor where there aren’t any traffic lights or pedestrian crossings will stop people from randomly driving or walking on the tram line

Clover Moore wouldn't allow anything higher than a few centimetres around the line. It had to blend in with the streetscape. Flashing LEDs in the pavement, activated when a tram approaches, might have helped, but too late for that. People will just have to learn.

Red lights in the pavement have been tried in a few places around the CBD for a couple of years., but don't seem to have had much effect on pedestrian behaviour. I did notice a set on a tram crossing, but can't remember where it was. Even fire/ambulance sirens and lights don't faze them, just keep crossing regardless.

[Swift]

This will make the roaches scatter!!
https://youtu.be/CANy4LDa0mE?t=00m22s

[tonyp]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newsl ... df2bdb80f9

Southern Courier
Kensington: Scape Australia’s plans for third high-rise near school

Kensington will soon resemble a mini CBD with yet another proposal for a high-rise tower revealed. With four high-rise blocks proposed since June, locals have called for action, arguing “greed” is being put before safety and sound planning.
Gary Hamilton-Irvine, Southern Courier

August 24, 2020 6:20pm
The three towers proposed for corners of Anzac Parade and Todman Ave in Kensington.

New high rise plans for Kensington
Student tower proposal for K2K site

A main intersection through Kensington will soon be surrounded by high-rise blocks under plans by a developer to build three student accommodation towers opposite one another.

Earlier this month, the Department of Planning gave the final tick of approval for the controversial K2K rezoning strategy, allowing buildings up to 18 storeys to be built along the light rail corridor in Kensington and Kingsford town centres.

Student accommodation provider Scape Australia owns prime sites in both town centres.
The rezoning in Kensington. Towers up to 18 storeys can be built in pockets of the town centre.

The rezoning in Kingsford.

Scape Australia has now lodged four development applications since June for 18-storey student accommodation towers to house UNSW students and “key workers”.

Three of the proposed towers are dotted around the same intersection of Anzac Parade and Todman Ave in Kensington which is also next to a light rail stop.

Randwick Council received the latest proposal last week for an 18-storey tower on the northeast side of the intersection which will feature 179 boarding rooms if approved.

The building will also include two public laneways and a public courtyard on the ground floor, as well as shops and commercial spaces.
The latest 18-storey tower proposed for 172-180 Anzac Parade, Kensington. Also pictured is the existing building.

“The site is well served by the new public transport light rail system, existing public transport network and suitably affords the opportunity to increase density,” the proposal reads.

A fourth 18-storey building can also be built on the remaining corner of the intersection under the new zoning restrictions.

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Kensington Public School’s P & C has fought hard against the K2K rezoning strategy. P & C president Jock Marmotta said he was devastated the rezoning had been approved allowing for these type of high-rise development applications.

The school is a stone’s throw away from the latest proposed tower.
Artist impression of the latest proposed tower in Kensington.

“This is a classic case of where greed and profit is more important than child safety. I have not met a single parent or resident that welcomes the proposed high rises.”

He said the main issue for the school P & C continued to be the risk to child safety with an increase in congestion and traffic, as many children walked, cycled or rode a scooter to school.

He said as a final act, the P & C had made a request to the Audit Office of NSW to look into the decision by Randwick Council and the State Government to allow the rezoning.

He said they had received a response stating an audit of the “assessment stage” of development applications would be carried out in either 2021/22 or 2022/23 but there was no audit planned for the K2K.

Scape’s high-rise proposals for Kensington each have one level of basement parking and state that residents will largely rely on public transport. Scape Australia has been contacted for comment.
The proposed tower will have common areas and commercial space

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the light rail had been designed to support growth in areas such as southeast Sydney.

“The light rail network was designed to be sustainable and reliable with future growth in mind,” she said.

“The new light rail has been designed to have a capacity of up to 13,500 customers per hour between 7am-7pm (weekdays) in both directions, with services running every eight minutes in the South East and every four minutes in the CBD.”

Randwick Council endorsed the K2K rezoning strategy late last year before it was given final approval by the Department of Planning this month.

[Transtopic]

I just don't get this pathological hatred of tall buildings. If they're in an appropriate location, such as shopping centres around major transport nodes, then I can see nothing wrong with them. It's not as though they're building them on every residential street corner.

No need to quote full previous post.

[jpp42]

The hatred for tall buildings is understandable. They overshadow existing structures, and they bring a lot of additional residents to an area that strains infrastructure. Dense development needs to be accompanied by investment in not just public transport, but other community infrastructure like parks, schools, community centres, etc. The arguments from City of Sydney (for example) are not generally against increased density, but against increased density that isn't supported by the right infrastructure. Instead developers just make off with huge profits without contributing to the quality of life of those residents.

[Transtopic]

The hatred for tall buildings is understandable. They overshadow existing structures, and they bring a lot of additional residents to an area that strains infrastructure. Dense development needs to be accompanied by investment in not just public transport, but other community infrastructure like parks, schools, community centres, etc. The arguments from City of Sydney (for example) are not generally against increased density, but against increased density that isn't supported by the right infrastructure. Instead developers just make off with huge profits without contributing to the quality of life of those residents.

Developers already contribute towards community infrastructure through Section 94 contributions, which can be quite substantial when the aggregate for all developments is taken into account. Some Councils have been criticised for not spending it and holding large balances in their S94 accounts. Granted, the State Government could do more in terms of providing new schools for example and other infrastructure, where density is increased because of changes in planning controls. A case could be made for the Government to take a share of an uplift in values when a property is redeveloped, arising from these changes.

We can't continue to expand housing development further and further to the suburban fringe. It's not sustainable and not everyone wants to live that far out. There is no alternative but to continue with the policy of urban consolidation, meaning higher densities in the inner and middle ring suburbs. It doesn't necessarily have to be high rise either, but it's certainly appropriate in the larger urban centres.

Sydney's population density is low by world standards for major cities. Its population will continue to grow and provision has to be made for it.

[boronia]

The hatred for tall buildings is understandable. They overshadow existing structures, and they bring a lot of additional residents to an area that strains infrastructure. Dense development needs to be accompanied by investment in not just public transport, but other community infrastructure like parks, schools, community centres, etc. The arguments from City of Sydney (for example) are not generally against increased density, but against increased density that isn't supported by the right infrastructure. Instead developers just make off with huge profits without contributing to the quality of life of those residents.

A valid generalisation, but as these towers are earmarked for student accommodation, there would be little need for such infrastructure.

[Swift]

I just don't get this pathological hatred of tall buildings. If they're in an appropriate location, such as shopping centres around major transport nodes, then I can see nothing wrong with them. It's not as though they're building them on every residential street corner.

No need to quote full previous post.

As a resident of Epping you should know what they are doing to Forest Grove which was a suburban residential neighbourhood until the disease hit. A crime of the highest order.

[Transtopic]

I just don't get this pathological hatred of tall buildings. If they're in an appropriate location, such as shopping centres around major transport nodes, then I can see nothing wrong with them. It's not as though they're building them on every residential street corner.

As a resident of Epping you should know what they are doing to Forest Grove which was a suburban residential neighbourhood until the disease hit. A crime of the highest order.

I agree with you on that point and it's one demonstration of how not to do it. Nonetheless, there's nothing wrong with the high rise buildings in the Epping Town Centre on the northern side of Epping Rd. There could still be low rise apartment buildings (3/4 storeys) on the southern side, but restricted to properties with an Epping Rd frontage. This creates a buffer and transition between the high rise in the Town Centre and the single dwelling residential area to the south. The same principle should apply to all major redevelopments in existing Town Centres.