A supplementary Review of Environmental Factors (REF) has been prepared for the Newcastle Light Rail Associated Road Upgrades.
Transport for NSW in conjunction with Newcastle City Council and NSW Roads and Maritime Services has developed a number of traffic improvements along and around the light rail route. These improvements are designed to complement the introduction of light rail, and support transport movements within Newcastle’s city centre.
The proposal includes the reconfiguration of key intersections, upgrades to surrounding roads, and changes to inner city bus and parking arrangements to allow traffic to continue to move efficiently when light rail is complete. The proposed road upgrades will be located within the existing road corridors surrounding Stewart Avenue, Hannell Street, Parry Street, Hunter Street, King Street, Steel Street, and Darby Street.
The supplementary REF is on display from Monday 21 November to Monday 19 December 2016. You are invited to review the REF and make a formal submission by emailing projects@transport.nsw.gov.au or writing to Newcastle Light Rail, PO Box 2324 Dangar NSW 2309.
All submissions must be received by 5pm Monday 19 December 2016.
Over the past decade the vibrancy of Newcastle’s city centre has been impacted by a declining residential population and employment, poor connectivity and a lack of new investment.
The NSW Government has committed more than $500 million to revitalise Newcastle’s city centre.
The Newcastle Urban Transformation and Transport Program has been established to deliver the NSW Government’s commitment to revitalise the city. The Program aims to bring people back to the city centre by strengthening connections between the city and the waterfront, creating employment opportunities, providing more public space and amenity, and delivering better transport.
The Newcastle Light Rail project is a key part of this integrated land use and transport program and will encourage investment and the revitalisation of Newcastle.
About Newcastle Light rail
Newcastle Light Rail is 2.7 kilometres of light rail track from the new transport interchange at Wickham to Pacific Park (see map in slideshow images below).
There will be six stops along the way, starting at the transport interchange, Honeysuckle (near Hunter Street TAFE), Civic, Crown Street, Market Street and Pacific Park.
This high capacity transport system will help cut city centre congestion and provide a frequent, reliable and comfortable travel option through the city centre.
Current works
- Site and service investigations
To help prepare for construction of Newcastle Light Rail, Transport for NSW has engaged Parsons Brinckerhoff to undertake geotechnical investigations in Newcastle, Newcastle East and Newcastle West.
- Corridor clearing work
To help prepare for construction of Newcastle Light Rail, Transport for NSW engaged Downer to remove redundant rail infrastructure including ballast, signalling equipment and pedestrian footbridges at Argyle Street, Perkins Street, Wolfe Street and the Queens Wharf Bridge. Work to clear the corridor is now complete.
Approval
- Approval for the light rail to proceed
In April 2016, the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) went on public display and the community was invited to have its say on the Newcastle Light Rail project.
In August 2016, Transport for NSW released the Submissions Report responding to community and stakeholder feedback on the REF, and its formal determination that the Newcastle light rail project will proceed.
A number of improvements have been made since the REF was released to incorporate ideas put forward by the community and stakeholders, including:
- Removing the raised tracks in Hunter and Scott streets, improving urban amenity.
- Revising the track alignment at Worth Place, and, adding a track-slab west of Worth Place instead of ballast so that light rail in this section will be quieter, look better and deliver more open space for walking and riding. These changes will also deliver a smoother ride and faster journey time for customers.
- Future proofing light rail by adding a second track across Stewart Avenue, to reduce construction and traffic disruption when future extensions are given the green light.
- Delivering a new pedestrian crossing over the light rail track at Cottage Creek, to improve pedestrian safety and improve access to the western Honeysuckle precinct.
- Relocating the light rail eastern construction compound to open up more of the corridor sooner, for public space or other uses.
- Reconfiguring the electrical supply, which will reduce construction impacts.
In addition, the NSW Government has committed to undertaking additional work to thoroughly consider community and stakeholder views. The Newcastle Program team will work with Newcastle City Council and other key stakeholders to develop a Parking Strategy, a Cycleway Strategy and an Urban Design Concept for Hunter and Scott streets.
Downer EDI has been announced as the Managing Contractor to deliver light rail in Newcastle. Enabling work for light rail is expected to start later this year and major construction in early 2017.
Visit the Newcastle Urban Transformation and Transport Program
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website to download the REF and Technical Papers, the Submissions Report and the Determination Report for this project
