Sydney traffic set to worsen as COVID-19 restrictions ease
Quiet time is over in Sydney, with congestion set to worsen on the roads in coming days as more people head back to work, shunning public transport for private cars due to the pandemic.
NSW
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School zones, shopping centre precincts, public parks and eat streets are expected to be our biggest pinch points as Sydney wakes from its COVID-19 slumber.
The NRMA is forecasting worsening congestion on our roads in the coming days as people enjoy greater freedom of movement.
Transport experts say people will largely shun public transport in favour of cars and cycling.
“When you consider that public transport services will take some time to get back to normal, congestion on our roads could possibly get worse than before,” NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said.
“Our call outs for breakdowns are already back to pre-COVID levels.”
Conditions on Sydney’s roads were relatively calm yesterday, apart from snarls caused by a multi-vehicle accident in Milperra, a breakdown in the Eastern Distributor and a vehicle salvage operation in Blacktown.
Overall during COVID-19, travel on the road network across Sydney has declined around 55 per cent.
There are around 560,000 people on public transport every day as opposed to 2.3 million people on the same day last year.
“If customers are not already using public transport, or on the roads in the peak, they should not start using the network during these times,” a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said.
“Employers should keep providing flexible working arrangements for their employees where possible, including working from home and flexible start and finish times.”
A survey by the Institute of Transport & Logistics Studies at Sydney University has found 84 per cent of respondents considered car travel their best option due to anxiety over catching coronavirus, with 42 per cent finding buses the least preferable option, followed by trains at 33 per cent.
Car sharing platforms have seen a spike in high usage this past week.
Despite continued restrictions and less cars on the road, more vehicles are being booked out for next week and onwards as people have decided to drive into work, with some even car sharing.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expected to announce major changes to the city’s transport system Monday, including the number of people allowed on buses and trains.
A City of Sydney spokesman said “we are working closely with the State Government on a range of options to ensure safe travel and physical distancing”.
Government sources said that is likely to include making more parking spaces available for car commuters.
North Sydney and Parramatta councils have not been involved in recent discussions.
Transport consultant Peter Thornton said he expects Sydney roads to cop the brunt of any increase.
“People will probably want to take transport which gives them the maximum chance of social distancing – and driving is the most obvious choice, unless cycling and walking is an option,” the Transportation Associates principal said.
Figures from Transurban – the company which operates seven of Sydney’s major tollways including the M2, M7 and M5 – show traffic numbers dwindled by up to 51 per cent in the week around April 12.
Numbers have picked up since April 26 to be 36 per cent down.
Originally published as Sydney traffic set to worsen as COVID-19 restrictions ease
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