Gladys Berejiklian reveals four new metro routes for Western Sydney
The Sydney Metro is on track to find the missing link to the west, with planning for four new routes now well under way. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the lines would link the western suburbs to the existing network in a bid to take more cars off roads. SEE THE NEW ROUTES.
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The Sydney Metro is on track to find the missing link to the west, with planning for four new routes now well under way.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday said the lines would link the western suburbs to the existing network in a bid to take more vehicles off the city’s choked roads.
“This Metro is going to change lives, it’s going to reduce congestion, and take people out of their cars and onto the public transport system,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The new tracks complement five existing Metro projects which have already been announced, including the Metro Northwest which is set to open in May.
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The proposed new metro routes will be a Metro West extension, from Westmead to Western Sydney Airport; a North South Rail Line extension, from St Marys to Rouse Hill via Schofields, and from Western Sydney Aerotropolis to Macarthur; and the Metro Southwest extension, from Bankstown to Liverpool.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the final cost for the projects could only be determined once the final business cases for each are complete.
“These are mega projects which can take seven to eight years to plan and build,” he said.
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“It’s part of a longer term strategic plan under Future Transport 2056, we would expect to have much of this in place over the next 20 years or so.”
Ms Berejiklian also unveiled plans to convert the M1 from Wahroonga into a so-called “smart” motorway on Thursday.
The $200 million upgrade will fit the busy road with new technology that can monitor traffic conditions, manage congestion and help ensure faster responses to any incidents.
“This technology will improve the flow of traffic for drivers, whether they travel from Sydney’s west on the M4, the southwest on the M5 or from the Central Coast on the M1,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“At the same time we are also upgrading existing roads and building new motorways setting NSW up for decades to come.”
Improvements to the M1 will include smart on-ramps with quick change traffic lights to manage the flow of vehicles onto the motorway, variable speed limit signs, additional traffic sensors and CCTV cameras, and variable message signs on motorways and approach roads warning motorists about the conditions ahead.
The moves are in addition to the $470 million already spent converting the M4 into a “smart” motorway, where a fourth lane has been added and opened to traffic between Roper Rd and the M7.
The full M4 upgrade between Parramatta and the Blue Mountains is scheduled for completion by next year.
The new metro routes will be:
-Metro West extension, from Westmead to Western Sydney Airport
-North South Rail Line extension, from St Marys to Rouse Hill via Schofields; and from Western Sydney Aerotropolis to Macarthur
-Metro South West extension, from Bankstown to Liverpool
Ms Berejiklian said once operational the Metro network will provide turn up and go train services every two minutes.
“Four additional Sydney Metro projects announced today are on top of the five Metro projects the government already has underway,” she said.
Work will start over the next four years on early planning for these projects.
“Metro North West from Rouse Hill to Chatswood is almost complete, under budget and will open in May,” Ms Berejiklian said.
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