Furore over kiss, drop, flop zone

COMMUNITY outrage is growing over bungled Penrith Station kiss-and-drop zone changes, with revelations the new site is signposted for 15-minute parking only at peak commuting periods.

South Penrith resident Debra says she is “incensed by the new underhanded and selfish attitude” of cabbies who park in public spaces at the new Jane St share kiss and ride/taxi stand. Picture: Robert Pozo

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COMMUNITY outrage over the bungled Jane St kiss-and-drop zone changes continues to grow, with revelations the new drop site is signposted for 15-minute parking only at peak commuting periods.

The debacle means spaces are rarely free in the new kiss-and-drop zone for drivers needing to drop off or pick up Penrith train commuters.

Female commuters are also upset the new location has poor lighting, and many are refusing to wait for their lifts in the zone.

The unpopular changes to traffic flow were implemented while the station undergoes a major upgrade.

The normally full car park east of the Station Master’s residence, promoted by Transport for NSW as an “alternative” 15-minute kiss and drop, is only a 15-minute area some of the time — and not on Sundays.

Transport for NSW first set the cat among the pigeons on August 19 when it turned the busy kiss and drop into a cab rank with no advanced warning to customers.

Following community fury they let commuters share the new rank — or they could use the dimly-lit carpark east of the Station Master’s residence, on Belmore St. The problem being the area has 15-minute restrictions only sometimes.

“We go past there often and it’s always full, and no cars are moving,” Emu Plains resident Sandra said.

To reach the new Jane St taxi stand from Penrith railway station people must cross the path of buses.

Signs only restrict parking to 15 minutes from 6.30am to 9.30am and 3.30pm to 7.30pm Monday to Saturday.

Penrith Council says rangers proactively patrol the area and have issued 185 infringement notices there in the past 12 months, but as Sandra points out: “The bottom line is, don’t tell us there’s 15 minutes parking — there’s zero.”

Debra, of South Penrith, said having eight 15-minute spaces for public vehicles at the Jane St stand was “not ideal”.

But cabbie tactics of taking up public spaces was doing nothing to help the already fraught situation, she said.

“Enough is enough — be fair,” she implored drivers.

TfNSW said the carpark east of the Station Master’s residence is an “alternative” 15-minute parking area but failed to acknowledge a problem with signage when contacted by Penrith Press.

The 15-minute Jane St kiss and drop was turned into a taxi rank on August 19. From September 7, the rank was changed to include eight 15-minute parking spaces for public vehicles at the front of the stand.

Maria Song, who’s run the Penrith Station newsagent for 16 years, is out of a job for 18 months because of the station upgrade. Her shop, and the station takeaway next-door, were closed on August 31.

Council’s spokesman said: “We understand both TfNSW and Roads and Maritime Services are looking at making it 15-minute 24/7 parking ... although we are unable to confirm timing.”

Taxi drivers have weighed in claiming the new arrangement is also inconvenient for the frail aged, who must walk further from the station to get to a waiting cab.

To reach the rank from the railway station they must also cross the path of buses.

“A new accessible path will be built,” the TfNSW spokesman assured the Penrith Press.

A Busways spokesman said the relocation of the taxi rank was “a matter between the NSW Taxi Council and relevant stakeholders and planning authorities”.

The sign in the kiss and drop, near the Headmaster's Cottage shows the limited restrictions.

Penrith Station carpark. An NRMA survey found commuter parking is under pressure because people have no choice but to drive.

‘UNSAFE’ AFTER DARK

WOMEN say they refuse to be picked up in the carpark east of the Station Master’s residence after dark — unless lighting is improved.

“It’s scary down there,” said one women, who regularly works nights.

But Penrith Council says it won’t improve lighting in that area because it will “undergo change as part of the overall Transport for NSW (station) project”.

Debra in the car park east of the Station Master’s residence at Penrith, which is poorly lit and isolated.

TfNSW’s spokesman told the Penrith Press lighting was “being considered”.

“The major upgrade of Penrith Station will provide safe, accessible and modern public transport infrastructure for our customers, while also increasing the capacity of the interchange as the region (grows),” he said.

“A permanent ‘kiss and ride’ area will be incorporated into the final design.”

Stuart Ayres MP with Gladys Berejiklian and Roza Sage announcing the Penrith Station upgrade in 2014. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

Council’s spokesman told the Penrith Press: “It is important that turnover is maintained at this location so that people can use it as a drop off and pick up area.”

Although council’s preference was for the station taxi rank to be in the Jane St car park, opposite Westfield Penrith, its spokesman said: “Council is satisfied for the interim with the measures taken.”

Taxi drivers are using the carpark as a turning area due to the difficulty of turning right into Station St.

Penrith train station was been voted the worst station in the area by commuters in a 2014 NRMA Seeing Red survey.

HOW THE STATION IS USED

■ The 33rd busiest station in the Sydney Trains network, Penrith Station was accessed by more than 15,000 rail users during an average weekday in 2014, with about 5000 of them using the station during the 3.5-hour peak AM period of 6am-9.30am.

■ TfNSW predicts daily rail patronage will increase by 46 per cent between 2011-16 and 2031-36. To ease the demand, TfNSW is building a new tri-level 350-space commuter car park at the station.

■ Other Penrith Station changes include: upgraded bus interchange, three new lifts, lighting, CCTV.

■ The cab rank fronting the station’s southside entry was moved temporarily to Jane St as part of the station upgrade.