Agreement for Sydney light rail project signed

The City of Sydney and Transport for NSW have signed an agreement setting out the standards under which the new Sydney light rail project will be built through the LGA. The City is contributing $220 million towards the project.

According to Lord Mayor Clover Moore, the agreement “sets out the binding conditions for the project that will transform the city centre and Surry Hills”. She said the City has “been working with design experts and with Transport for NSW to ensure our vision and design standards were delivered along the full route from Circular Quay to Moore Park”.

The development agreement confirms that the Surry Hills route will be built in accordance with the same design standards used for all the City’s village main streets. Furthermore, pedestrians will have access to 40% of George Street, which Moore said will become “a beautifully designed space for people, free of the noise of the hundreds of buses that now choke it every day”.

Light rail will revitalise George Street.

Other requirements include:

• a functioning light rail service, extending from Circular Quay to the University of NSW and to Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick;
• high design standards for paving, lighting, trees, smartpoles, street furniture and light rail stops;
• upgrading both footpaths along the length of Devonshire Street in Surry Hills, with high-quality concrete tile pavers;
• high-quality new plazas and pocket parks where street closures are required adjoining Devonshire Street;
• a new park for Surry Hills to be dedicated to the City as community lands on the current Olivia Gardens site;
• minimising above-ground infrastructure in Moore Park to maximise accessible open space;
• a pedestrian and cycleway connection incorporated into a new bridge crossing the Eastern Distributor to Moore Park;
• compliance with City of Sydney codes and standards to meet urban design requirements;
• the pedestrianisation of part of George Street from Bathurst Street to Hunter Street;
• wire-free light rail for the pedestrianised area of George Street between the Town Hall and Wynyard stops;
• exploring opportunities to mitigate the loss of on-street parking without affecting open space;
• the maintenance of pedestrian and property access, with all reasonably practicable steps made to minimise construction impact; and
• the potential for the future expansion of the light rail network to Walsh Bay/Barangaroo and Green Square.

“We have worked to ensure the project will give residents and businesses the best possible outcome,” the Lord Mayor said.