Public Transport in the Hunter Where to from here? Ed Duc – Howard Dick Newcastle Institute 13 May 2015.

Public Transport in the HunterWhere to from here?

Ed Duc – Howard DickNewcastle Institute

13 May 2015

Where are we Now?• Heavy rail truncated, Wickham the designated

terminus and LR projected for Hunter Street.• These decisions are all problematic and mostly

contrary to advice from Transport NSW.• Still no integrated transport system planning• There is still no consensus on a better way

forward (or backwards)• Can we set politics and opinions aside and go

back to transport basics?

HIPTI (2010-2012)• Hunter Independent Public Transport

Inquiry (HIPTI) began mid-2010 under sponsorship of The Newcastle Herald.

• Aim to seek a consensus approach to planning public tpt in the Hunter

• Independent and professional• Findings published serially by The Herald

with Findings mid-2012.

HIPTI Findings (CBD)

● No public transport case for removing heavy rail between Hamilton and Newcastle Station and no justification for a Wickham interchange.

● However, should truncation proceed, there would be opportunity to introduce the first stage of a light rail system eventually linking the CBD to the University, John Hunter Hospital, the Link Road, and even the Airport.

● Corridor could then be landscaped and the fences removed, as well as the large steel stanchions.

● Temporary interchange at Hamilton station until a proper multi-modal interchange developed in the Woodville triangle.

Three years on >>>>• Politics and opinion has continued to

dominate public discourse and policymaking• Almost no-one has wanted a professional

approach or a consensus• Transport for NSW (TNSW) advice ignored

even by its own Minister (Berejiklian) !!• Unsound governance (Nile Inquiry)• Outcome is continuing uncertainty • ////.…(HD)

Professional transport planning

• Transport planning is a substantial and internationally recognised body of expertise– Engineering, Economics, Town Planning

• In NSW responsible dept is Tpt NSW under Long Term Transport Master Plan (2012)

• In Newcastle, tpt planning devolved to DP&I– further delegated to agencies = UrbanGrowth, HDC– Infrastructure agencies with planning powers !!!

Developers are poor tpt planners• Developers seek to maximise value for their

lots, not improve systems or even precincts• Ultimately developers are sellers, not holders• HDC seeks to maximise its land value by

terminating heavy rail at Wickham• UrbanGrowth seeks to improve views from its

high-rise apartment buildings in the Mall• Light Rail on Hunter Street not a regional asset

Politicians are poor planners• Politicians (NSW) work to a 4-year cycle– too short for long-term transport planning

• Politicians look to electorates, not systems– pork-barrelling, not strategic planning

• Ministers do need to make final decisions but should be on professional/transparent advice

• BUT TNSW gutted of professional expertise• Previous MoT abrogated responsibility for

Hunter.

Back to Basics

• Urban Renewal Strategy vision = Newcastle should be the regional capital of the Hunter

• So what is the HUNTER transport system and how do we best integrate and improve it? – With limited budget– Over short, medium and long Time horizons

• What structure will best guide tpt planning? • What structure will best manage the system?

Hunter transport corridors

Scoping the System

• Intercity network: M1 + Rail• Regional network: Lake, MTL/C’nock, Port, NTL– Sprawling multi-nodal city = 5 LGAs– also University, John Hunter Hospital, Mater

• Local networks from home to work, school, shops (car, bus, rail + bike)

• Precinct movements (n.b. pedestrians)– CBD, C/town, Warners Bay, Belmont, Maitland, etc.

The challenge of Integration• Cities work efficiently when people can move

easily between networks to complete timely and safe door-to-door journeys

• For drivers, the challenge is where to park• For cyclists and pedestrians, the big challenge

is safety• For public transport users, the challenge is

connectivity = frequency, reliability

Master Plan = Hunter Lite• NSW Long Term Master Plan 2012/HRTP 2014– Overwhelmingly focuses on roads and road traffic– No commitment to improving passenger rail

system except for faster intercity trains (=good)– No commitment to light rail– No commitment to express buses– No commitment to integrating rail/bus services– No commitment to extending park-and-ride– No commitment to local management

Newcastle Central Station• Transfers to/from intercity and regional

networks are most efficient at a central point – widest circle of connection, least congestion

• Proposed interchange at Wickham fails both transport tests

• Most logical central location is Woodville Jctn– intersection of Maitland and C.Coast/Sydney rail– ample room for road connections in all directions– ample room for associated facilities to add value

Implications of Woodville

• Scope for a modern (21st c.) intercity station• Scope to connect to a genuine Light Rail axis– East to Newcastle + West to University, Wallsend

• Scope to run intercity trains on to Maitland• Scope to integrate with a network of express

buses and local buses• Scope to serve big sports events,

entertainment, conferences, etc.

Glendale interchange• Any integrated PT system must bring in Lake

Macquarie (200,000 vs NTL 150,000)• Glendale is the agreed best location for a Lake

interchange (not Cardiff, B’meadow Wickham)– Most central point on the rail line– Transport access in all 4 directions (road, bus)– Ample room for development as a CBD– Good scope for medium-density residential

• Why are Federal/State govts blocking it ????

Governance for Planning

• Revise Master Plan/HRTP to address system needs for rail, light rail, buses = all Hunter

• TNSW the lead authority for tpt planning• Dept Planning separated from Infrastructure

to insulate from conflicts of interest• Regional office of Dept of Planning take back

planning authorities from UrbanGrowth, HDC

Governance for management

• TNSW/MoT have failed comprehensively to plan and manage public tpt in the Hunter.

• The will and knowledge to manage public tpt in the Hunter does not reside in Sydney.

• A Hunter Transport Authority should be established with responsibility to TNSW and in close liaison with a regional office of Planning

• Hunter Councils on the Advisory Board.

Functions of HTA

• Professional staffing• Responsible for Hunter Regional Transport Plan• Coordinate rail, bus and ferry timetables• License private bus operators and taxis• Allocate public transport subsidies• Coordinate with RTA, Councils on roads/traffic• Accountable to TNSW, Minister for the Hunter,

local councils, community

Why run Light Rail in the corridor?● Faster transit (priority signals at Darby, Steel Sts)● Reuse existing rail, remove redundant infrastructure.● Install within months without extended disruption

for businesses in Hunter Street● Less congestion in Hunter Street (and no platforms)● Much cheaper to install (inc. no decontamination)● Funds saved ($100M++) can be used to complete

Glendale interchange, etc.● Hunter Street is not Light Rail but a Sloooow Tram.

On street running causes problems

Can we break the Stalemate?• Some want to remove heavy rail– Truncation has happened but the challenge is to

restore and improve the transport system• Some want to restore heavy rail– Why not run proper Light Rail in corridor (Stage 1)? – From a proper multi-modal i/change at Woodville?

• Release funds to spend on Woodville, Glendale• Hunter Transport Authority to plan/manage

the Hunter system with local accountability?