We have a bold vision for making Sydney a city for walking, cycling and public transport.
To meet our active transport targets, we will need to continue working with the state government to reshape how we all get around the city.
Many of the actions were first raised in our comprehensive strategy, Sustainable Sydney 2030–2050 Continuing the Vision.
Our updated access strategy and action plan continues this vision. So what’s in it and how will we get there?
View and have your say on our updated access strategy and action plan until 7 August
Making Broadway a green gateway
The success and popularity of the light rail along George Street has turned a street once clogged with trucks and buses into a haven for people walking that supports a thriving economy.
The City of Sydney wants to do the same with Broadway which is currently 9 lanes wide in some sections.
With Westconnex now open and George Street’s transformation complete, traffic on Broadway is greatly reduced.
“George Street’s transformation from a traffic clogged arterial route to a destination in its own right is nothing short of remarkable,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
“The light rail is more popular than ever, running along a world class boulevard that supports city businesses, and is a destination for locals and tourists to explore. This was made possible in part by the City’s $265 million investment in public domain improvements and the extension of pedestrianisation along the whole length of George Street.”
Broadway would become a welcoming space with large trees shading wide footpaths under the revised strategy, including a separated cycleway with a light rail connection running down the middle of the road.
The state government wants to turn the area into Tech Central and transforming Broadway would better link this green spine to major rail connections, universities, shopping districts and the health precinct in Camperdown.
A better-connected Green Square
Green Square is booming and will continue growing.
By 2036, 63,000 residents will call this area home but even now it doesn’t have the public transport connections it needs.
While the state government plans to extend the Metro West to Zetland by 2041 the precinct is expected to be fully developed several years earlier and a station in Zetland needs to be fast tracked to 2030.
The City of Sydney has also worked with developers over several years to create the eastern transit corridor – a surface connection between Green Square and the city to support light rail. While the work to make that happen is undertaken, the area must immediately be served by zero emissions bus connections.
Creating more space for our growing population
The Central Sydney planning strategy aims for 100,000 more jobs in the city centre by 2036, highlighting the need to prioritise space for people instead of vehicles.
We want to widen footpaths in areas of high activity like intersections and along whole blocks in the city. This would allow for business to activate outside in better landscaped areas with more trees and plantings.
The City of Sydney will seek to discourage unnecessary traffic driving through the city to other destinations. One of the best ways to do this will be to prioritise drivers using the Cross City Tunnel and other bypass and distributor systems.
Finding ways to encourage people to connect with and use the new Metro will also reduce the number of buses grinding through the city centre.
Transforming grey into green
The updated access strategy identifies Park Street as an ideal spot to calm traffic and cool the city with large trees.
This would unite the northern and southern parts of Hyde Park to give space back to people riding and walking, while still allowing access for essential vehicles to the city centre.
Oxford and Flinders streets would become greener to support the area’s unique cultural industry, with more entertainment and outdoor dining options. The first stage of this project will be constructing the Oxford Street West cycleway, expected to begin in October 2023.
Driving down emissions and making streets safer
As carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere continue to rise the City of Sydney is working to continue reducing emissions.
Transport currently accounts for around 20% of emissions in our local area. Encouraging more people to walk, ride or use public transport is crucial for the City of Sydney to meet its ambitious goal of being net zero by 2035.
To make local streets safer for people walking and riding, a maximum 30km/h speed limit in the city and other high activity areas is needed.
The City of Sydney is committed to 'vision zero’ – a city where there are no deaths or serious injuries on our streets.
Have your say on the access strategy and action plan by Monday 7 August
Published 13 July 2023, updated 10 April 2024
