Decision details

2019/563435

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Committee endorse the following:

(A)      Provision of a 2.6 to 2.8 metre wide two-way separated cycleway on the western side of Chalmers Street, Surry Hills between the points 0.0 metres and 73.2 metres south of Randle Street;

(B)      Provision of a 2.6 metre wide two-way separated cycleway on the northern side of Randle Street, Surry Hills between the points 0.0 metres and 2.4 metres east of Chalmers Street;

(C)      Provision of a traffic island on the western side of Chalmers Street between the points 73.2 metres and 77.0 metres south of Randle Street, with a gap to enable cyclists riding northbound on Chalmers Street to access the separated cycleway; and

(D)      Footpath widening on the northern side of Randle Street between the points 8.0 metres and 25.7 metres east of Chalmers Street.

It is also recommended that the Committee note the following:

(E)      Installation of three aspect bike lanterns at the intersection of Chalmers, Devonshire and Randle Streets.

Voting Members for this Item

Advice

The Committee unanimously supported the recommendation.

Background

Sydney's Cycling Future was published by Transport for NSW in December 2013 and identified Chalmers Street, Surry Hills as a strategic bicycle corridor. The Sydney Centre Access Strategy was also published by Transport for NSW in December 2013 and identified Chalmers Street between Prince Alfred Park and Eddy Avenue as part of the NSW Government’s strategic cycleway network.

The City’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2018-2030 was adopted by Council in November 2018 and includes Chalmers Street between Prince Alfred Park and Eddy Avenue as a planned regional cycle route.

Chalmers Street between Prince Alfred Park and Eddy Avenue is a key corridor for people cycling between Green Square, Redfern and Sydney CBD. The City’s permanent count station on the Prince Alfred Park shared path currently records over 1,200 riders on a typical weekday and over 7,000 riders per week.

As part of the Sydney Light Rail project a two-way separated cycleway was recently constructed on the Chalmers Street light rail corridor 70 metres north of Randle Street. No dedicated facilities were provided for people riding between Prince Alfred Park and this new cycleway as part the Sydney Light Rail project. As Chalmers and Randle Streets are one-way roads, southbound cyclists are currently forced to share space with pedestrians in an area which has high pedestrian activity.

The City therefore proposed changes on Chalmers and Randle Streets, Surry Hills to improve pedestrian safety near the entrance to Central Station by providing dedicated space for people riding between Prince Alfred Park and the new separated cycleway recently constructed as part of the Sydney Light Rail project.