New plan to create greener, less congested streets in Bankstown’s CBD
Bankstown city centre is set to be transformed with a new plan to make it more attractive to pedestrians. Here are the changes you can expect.
The Express
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The streets of Bankstown city centre will be transformed to become more lush, pedestrian-friendly and less congested after a new plan was adopted by the council.
The Bankstown Complete Streets project is expected to create 30 per cent more pedestrian space — including wider footpaths and seating — 84 per cent more street trees and 4.2km of cycle paths in the CBD.
Up to 16 per cent of traffic will be moved from the city centre, according to traffic modelling predictions.
The framework was this week given the green light and will guide street and transport upgrades in the Bankstown CBD over the next 20 years.
Canterbury-Bankstown City Mayor Khal Asfour said one of the council’s first priorities will be to create a detailed design to transform the streetscape of The Appian Way.
“This will include converting the one-way busy street into a two-way shared zone, re-routing buses, planting additional trees, installing more seating and providing three-phase power to support future street events,” he said.
“Other priorities include implementing smart technologies in our car parks, creating a peak hour clearway, and writing a public domain and streetscape design manual.”
The plan includes strategies to minimise traffic through the CBD and create cultural trails linking different areas, as well as concept plans for each street.
Developed by award-winning urban planning and design practice RobertsDay alongside Environmental Partnership and GTA Consultants, the project has been short-listed for this year’s Australian Urban Design Awards.
RobertsDay Sydney director Stephen Moore said Bankstown was undergoing “significant transformation” with a growing population, the introduction of a Metro service and a new university campus proposed for the CBD.
“The city centre already faced challenges with safety, car dependency, congestion, wayfinding and amenity,” Mr Moore said.
“Council needed a transport plan as well as a place plan to stitch together the major projects and make sure the city centre is safe, accessible and appealing.”