[SMH] Monorail to be pulled down/Acquired by Government

[boronia]

Pyrmont Bridge to get "makeover":

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/b ... 6672594668

THE historic Pyrmont Bridge is stepping out from the shadow of the Sydney monorail for a long-awaited facelift.

The bridge has been dominated by the trundling transport system for 25 years but is now in line for a series of improvements.

There is the potential to resurface it to improve the shared use between cyclists and pedestrians, says Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard.

There's also scope for new fixtures such as furniture, lights and pop-up cafes.

"The Pyrmont Bridge is a unique public space and has great potential as a venue but first and foremost it is a vital transport connection and heritage asset and any uses of the bridge must be consistent with these values," he said in a statement.

The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) will hire a design consultant to develop concept plans for the bridge once the monorail is removed.

The overhaul of the bridge is part of the revitalisation of Darling Harbour, including the $1 billion International Convention Centre development the statement said.

"(It) will see this vibrant, dynamic precinct undergo one of the biggest transformations in Sydney's history," Mr Hazzard said.

Pyrmont Bridge links Sydney CBD to Darling Harbour and Pyrmont.

Labelled as a "white elephant" by NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian, the monorail departed on its final loop on Sunday.

Two carriages and 10 metres of the track will be preserved in the Powerhouse Museum.

I don't see why this had to depend on the monorail being removed. It is quite high above the bridge roadway, so should have been easy to develop around. The bridge will still have to be openable to let ships through, this was the biggest problem.

[mubd]

The Convention Centre redevelopment and the cost of maintaining the monorail was the reason for its removal, not the Pyrmont Bridge needing a facelift.

It seems the bridge will be getting a facelift only because they'll have to dig up the bridge surface to remove the monorail supports anyway.

[abesty]

Seven News

[Leyland B21]

I had to console my 8yo son last night as he really wanted to catch the monorail. We were having dinner in Parramatta and got back to the city to late. However he has taken a few photos himself of a few buses and trains. Not the best shots but for a child his age Im proud of. His enthusiasm comes from the fact he is an Aspergers Child and loves anything transport related. Ill post my shots and his shots on return to Melbourne.

Jase

[Daniel]

Seven News

Funny how one of the officials was gesturing the driver to stop but they didn't. He then whacks the windscreen and looks to be a little frustrated!

[745-Castle Hill]

Haha, yes, I was there. The driver went to far for the shot and had to reverse the monorail back a bit for the big group photo.

[Stu]

The TfNSW website has a number of interesting documents in pdf format that explain the environmental, social, heritage, and infrastructure considerations and potential impacts with regards to the demolition of the Sydney Monorail, all documents are available to download.

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/project ... al-project

[Swift]

I saw (excuse pun) the now decommissioned rolling stock stabled in their elevated holding pen late this afternoon. It would have made a good photo but I couldn't find a vantage point easily.
This might be the first time all the trains have been all stored at once in the day time. I could make out three sets parked together side by side.
Re: the Pyrmont Bridge, it would be good to see it reinstated as a road, subject to any necessary engineering works. It would certainly be a most welcome vehicular link instead of it's current rediculous use.

[boxythingy]

Use these stairs: http://goo.gl/maps/oRs30 to view it facing towards South or from here, facing North: http://goo.gl/maps/9t2um

An Interesting sight would have been to see them transfer the monorail between the main loop line and the stabling facility.

[abesty]

No time wasted removing the monorail:

[abesty]

Donations to charity

[boronia]

This is a view from the cafe balcony at the Aquatic Centre. You gotta pay to go in, though. A spectator ticket is cheap.

DSCN1125 (Medium).JPG (92.67 KiB) Viewed 2398 times

[simonl]

I read somewhere they reckon there's now enough room for an extra lane on Pitt St - not sure which part. Any chance they would make it two way between Market and Park Sts?

[Swift]

I read somewhere they reckon there's now enough room for an extra lane on Pitt St - not sure which part. Any chance they would make it two way between Market and Park Sts?

That would be pointless as cars are not permitted to drive East bound on Park St and Castlereagh St provides right turn access into Park St anyway.

[simonl]

I read somewhere they reckon there's now enough room for an extra lane on Pitt St - not sure which part. Any chance they would make it two way between Market and Park Sts?

That would be pointless as cars are not permitted to drive East bound on Park St and Castlereagh St provides right turn access into Park St anyway.

It would allow cars exiting driveways on Pitt St another way out without adding to the awful congestion on Market St, if nothing else.

[boronia]

I read somewhere they reckon there's now enough room for an extra lane on Pitt St - not sure which part. Any chance they would make it two way between Market and Park Sts?

That's the fool who writes for SMH. All they might get is a couple more parking spaces that the monorail pylons take up. The pylons are so far apart, and so small, removal of one would not even provide an extra parking space on its own.

The eastbound restrictions in Park St only apply between George and Pitt.

[Swift]

The eastbound restrictions in Park St only apply between George and Pitt.

Dang you're right. In that case Simonl's suggestion has merit. One way North bound on that stretch of Pitt St serves no benefit for traffic flow in the city.
I hope the RMS calls the shots on CBD traffic changes because Clover Moore and her anti car ideologues would rather stick another bike lane in than do anything that results in making life easier for motorists.

[boronia]

That section of Pitt St is now effectively only two lanes due to the widened footpaths.

If it was made two way, it should be left turn only at Park St for south bound traffic. You don't need more vehicles trying to get westbound there.

[Gusbus]

Now that Pitt Street will be free of the monorail supports the government could run bus services up there and possibly turn the extra lane into a peak bus lane. Hillsbuses could be redirected up Pitt Street to ease bus traffic along George St and assist in solving the daily traffic chaos that start around 5-5:30pm on George St as I believe the Hillsbuses from Central are one of the major contributors, if not the main cause of the traffic gridlock.

[Tonymercury]

Now that Pitt Street will be free of the monorail supports the government could run bus services up there and possibly turn the extra lane into a peak bus lane. Hillsbuses could be redirected up Pitt Street to ease bus traffic along George St and assist in solving the daily traffic chaos that start around 5-5:30pm on George St as I believe the Hillsbuses from Central are one of the major contributors, if not the main cause of the traffic gridlock.

And these represent what proportion of the buses there in the afternoon?

[simonl]

If it was made two way, it should be left turn only at Park St for south bound traffic. You don't need more vehicles trying to get westbound there.

Yep. Or make it two way south of Park St. The other thing you'd probably need to do is disallow right turners out of Pitt St heading north otherwise you'd need another phase in the cycle if you needed a right turn arrow. Not sure if that would have many more people turning left or going straight there, if it would, it seems a bit of a problem adding to congestion from Park into George/Druitt Sts.

[Bedford-29]

Now the Monorail history.its time to reinstate the Central to Circular Quay tram service via Castlereagh st and the return service Circular Quay to Central via Pitt st through Pitt st mall.But you can`t do that cause someone at Sydney city council changed the travel direction in Castlereagh st and Pitt st the tram service would have to travel via Pitt st to Circular Quay and Circular Quay to Central via Castlereagh st

[boronia]

There is nothing wrong with that, in fact it fits in with the current loop through Central.

This is what was proposed as a "future extension" when the line first opened. But the occupants of the Pitt St Mall knocked it on the head.

[iamthouth]

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-r ... next-month

Removal work to start 12th August 2013 and complete by March 2014.

[boxythingy]

Google wants a piece of the Monorail:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/google-scopes ... 2q9er.html