2017-8 NSW State Budget - Roads

[swtt]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/projec ... ea9f9f1db6

[neilrex]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-13/n ... ng/8612746

Admin - bus references deleted as that is covered in another thread

[tonyp]

The M6 (which will complete a motorway between Bomaderry to within a couple of km of the Sydney CBD) will be the final blow that kills off the south coast railway. I hope they're planning a very good bus commuter service to replace it.

People driving from the south coast basically split four ways into Sydney after Heathcote:

Liverpool via Heathcote Rd
Due north via the A6
Due north via the A3
City and east via the Princes Highway

The last of these is the only one that parallels a railway and also delivers into a catchment where it's most difficult to find a parking place at destination compared to the other three, yet it's the corridor thay've chosen to duplicate with a motorway. This will have a devastating effect on the south coast rail similar to the loss of patronage that occurred on the East Hills line when the M5 was completed. A 3 hour journey by train is simply uncompetitive witha 2 hour journey by car. It's insane transport planning and I think the reason for it is simply to create another motorway to hand over to the tollroad sector for their profit.

[Stu]

Where's all of the money coming from to create these motorways? There can't be much money left over from the sale of the 'poles & wires' which went into the West Connex and the CSELR (cost blowout). No doubt these new motorways will cost a fortune to build which will not be value for money and then a private consortium will charge exhorbiant prices for the use of the new motorways. This is how is is done - NSW style.

[grog]

The M6 (which will complete a motorway between Bomaderry to within a couple of km of the Sydney CBD) will be the final blow that kills off the south coast railway. I hope they're planning a very good bus commuter service to replace it.

People driving from the south coast basically split four ways into Sydney after Heathcote:

Liverpool via Heathcote Rd
Due north via the A6
Due north via the A3
City and east via the Princes Highway

The last of these is the only one that parallels a railway and also delivers into a catchment where it's most difficult to find a parking place at destination compared to the other three, yet it's the corridor thay've chosen to duplicate with a motorway. This will have a devastating effect on the south coast rail similar to the loss of patronage that occurred on the East Hills line when the M5 was completed. A 3 hour journey by train is simply uncompetitive witha 2 hour journey by car. It's insane transport planning and I think the reason for it is simply to create another motorway to hand over to the tollroad sector for their profit.

I (perhaps foolishly, and certainly optimistically) hold out a tiny slither of hope that there may still be internal disagreement over the route (A6 vs Princes Hwy) based on this:

There had been hopes after the multibillion-dollar electricity privatisation bonanza and increased proceeds from the Land and Property Information Service sale that the government could commit funds to the construction of an F6 or M6 in next Tuesday’s Budget. But it is understood the government wants to do more planning work to establish the best route for such a motorway first.

[tonyp]

I (perhaps foolishly, and certainly optimistically) hold out a tiny slither of hope that there may still be internal disagreement over the route (A6 vs Princes Hwy) based on this:

There had been hopes after the multibillion-dollar electricity privatisation bonanza and increased proceeds from the Land and Property Information Service sale that the government could commit funds to the construction of an F6 or M6 in next Tuesday’s Budget. But it is understood the government wants to do more planning work to establish the best route for such a motorway first.

Good luck with that! You have until 2019 apparently:

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/stor ... sion/?cs=7

[grog]

Yep, I'm not holding my breath. I'm nothing if not an optimist!

[tonyp]

While contemplating the eventual demise of the south coast railway at the hands of the M1, I came across this example of my experiences on the other side of the continent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGgVC_rOi4&t=3s

Then I came across this familiar still-life scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZptAyPtbYE

The M1 is just visible at the right - the one with the traffic going at twice the speed of the train.

I grant that it's unfair to compare the Perth and south coast lines overall while there are still the curves between Waterfall and Coledale, but it's possible to select sections of both lines with generally, on balance, similar straightish, flatish profiles:

Perth to Warnbro (last station before Mandurah) is 47.6 km; Thirroul to Bombo is 47.3 km. Trains used on both lines are specified for 130 km/h.

Perth to Warnbro takes 38 minutes with 9 intermediate stops.

Thirroul to Bombo takes 48(Up)-52(Down) minutes, also with 9 intermediate stops.

Yours truly takes the train to Perth and the car to Thirroul.

[Fleet Lists]

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/newsroo ... afety-city

Roads, Maritime and Freight budget delivers infrastructure and safety from the city to the bush
20 June 2017

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey today announced $8.5 billion to continue building and improving our road, maritime and freight infrastructure, tackling congestion and reducing travel times, boosting freight productivity and making NSW roads and waterways safer.

Mrs Pavey said this Budget balances the NSW Government’s commitments to people living in both regional and metropolitan areas of the state.

“We’re tackling congestion in the city, building and upgrading roads in regional areas, and providing the critical freight infrastructure improvements the bush needs to support its growing businesses and communities,” she said.

“This Budget is also focused on making our roads safer, whether they are in Bourke or Bankstown, Cooma or Camden - the lives of road users matter everywhere and that’s why we’re sharing the safety spend across the state.

“Tackling congestion is a focus of this Budget, with current estimates showing that traffic congestion costs us $6.1 billion a year.

“As Sydney’s population continues to grow, so will demands on our roads. The congestion busting and road building investment in this budget means people will spend more time with their families and less time in traffic jams.”

Budget highlights for Roads, Maritime and Freight include:

$1.5 billion to continue the NSW and Australian Government funded Pacific Highway upgrade program including completing all projects between Port Macquarie and Glenugie near Grafton, continued construction between Glenugie and Ballina and planning for the future bypass of Coffs Harbour
$648 million for NSW and Australian Government funded road upgrades to support the new Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, including completion of the first stage of both The Northern Road and Bringelly Road upgrades
$282 million to improve road safety in NSW, including $19.2 million in federal funding, through safety-targeted road improvements, education and high visibility police enforcement
$264 million to reduce congestion on Sydney roads by addressing critical pinch points, and commencing the implementation of the Smart Motorways program on the M4 Motorway
$208 million for major road upgrades in regional New South Wales
$188 million for Central Coast roads, including widening works on the M1 Pacific Motorway and completion of intersection upgrades on Wyong Road
$154 million for increasing road freight safety and productivity, including continuing construction of the replacement Clarence River bridge at Tabulam
$153 million for road upgrades to support population and economic growth in Western Sydney, including completing the second stage of the Schofields Road upgrade in north west Sydney
$137 million for upgrades on the Princes Highway, including completing the Berry bypass and starting to build the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade
$137 million to continue upgrading the roads surrounding the new Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest
$132 million to continue planning and corridor preservation for future links on the Sydney Motorway Network including the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link
$117 million for major road upgrades in the Sydney Airport precinct
$79 million for upgrades on the New England Highway, including commencing construction of the Scone bypass
$58 million for upgrades of the Newell Highway, including completion of realignments at Grong Grong and Trewilga
$50 million for planning and delivery of freight rail infrastructure upgrades at key sites
$49 million for upgrades to Hunter roads
$77 million to improve maritime safety in NSW, with education programs, Boating Safety Officers and our Old 4 New lifejacket exchange program
$19 million for the country rail investments including preservation of the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor and the Fixing Country Rail pilot program

“This is a grassroots budget which sees us work with local communities, providing $252 million in grants and subsidies to local councils,” Mrs Pavey said.

“These grants are included in a record $1.8 billion for the maintenance of road, maritime and freight assets, including bridge rebuilding, pavement rehabilitation, traffic facilities maintenance, drainage upgrades, wharf maintenance and grants and subsidies to local councils.”

In the recent Commonwealth May budget, NSW was successful in securing $2.28 billion in 2017-18 for capital road and rail infrastructure projects.