Bus priority lanes, station rebuild: The bold plan to fix ailing Chatswood bus interchange

There are calls for new bus priority lanes to be built for a busy Sydney bus interchange to address safety issues and ease overcrowding and congestion.

Overcrowding has become a frequent occurrence for commuters.

Chatswood’s rapid population growth has sparked calls for a major overhaul of the CBD’S bus interchange with concerns the key transport hub is already operating beyond capacity.

Willoughby Council is seeking urgent meetings with the state government to lobby for upgrades to the Chatswood Bus Interchange to ensure it can keep up with soaring patronage and population growth.

The interchange is a key connection point for many bus routes, connecting passengers to parts of Sydney including the northern beaches, the CBD and Olympic Park.

It is also used by lschool and community bus services, along with rail commuters that use the bus interchange to connect to Chatswood Metro Station.

Willoughby mayor Tanya Taylor said capacity constraints meant commuters were often left “stranded” when buses failed to arrive – including students from schools including Castle Cove and Chatswood Public Schools.

Chatswood is a key connection point for local and regional bus services.

Ms Taylor said the much-needed upgrades could include creating dedicated bus lanes in and out of Chatswood at peak times to address congestion.

She has also called for an increase to size of the interchange, as well as ensuring there were enough bus drivers to deliver promised schedules.

Willoughby mayor Tanya Taylor.

The station is a key transport connection point.

“Chatswood has become a major transport hub but there needs to be investment to ensure it can function properly,” Ms Taylor said.

“One of the key limiting factors is the current capacity and the ability for buses to get in and out of Chatswood on congested roads.”

Ms Taylor said the current demands on the interchange were presenting safety risks.

”We’ve had reports of schoolchildren having to walk directly in front of buses on the way to the station,” she said.

The interchange is used by commuters to connect to the Chatswood Metro Station.

“When buses are cancelled, they layover on local streets and that’s causing more congestion and safety issues.”

Transport for NSW in a statement said “there are currently no planned initiatives to upgrade the Chatswood Interchange”.

“Transport for NSW planning for bus services includes consideration for changes that may be required in the future for population or network growth and expansion,” a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said.

“This may include identifying current and future demand against existing interchange capacity such as at Chatswood.”

Willoughby Council has warned the need for better bus infrastructure will increase over the next decade as an estimated 10,000 new residents move into the area.

A council report states that extension of the Sydney Metro line from Chatswood to the CBD – due for completion next year – will further strengthen the importance of Chatswood as a “major multi-modal transport interchange”.