Moved by Councillor Worling, seconded by the
Chair (the Lord Mayor) –
It
is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
in
2016, the then NSW Minister for Roads, Duncan Gay announced cycle ramps would be
built on both ends of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by 2020 for $35 million;
(ii)
the
northern connection is due to start construction by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) in mid-2024. However, Transport for NSW has remained
silent on timing for the delivery of the southern connection since they
exhibited plans in November 2017;
(iii)
the
southern cycling connection between the Harbour Bridge and the Kent Street
cycleway is currently via Upper Fort Street (mixed traffic) and along the
Cahill Expressway (shared path);
(iv)
this
current arrangement puts several different road users in conflict: people
cycling to work, families and children walking to Fort Street Public School and
people driving their children to school. It is not safe or appropriate as it
requires people walking to share steep, narrow paths with fast travelling
motorists and cyclists; and
(v)
the
newly renovated Fort Street Public School now caters for 550 students, more
than double the previous school population. This, together with the delivery of
the northern cycle connection, is expected to increase the number of people
using the Harbour Bridge each day when it opens in late 2025;
(B)
Council
further note:
(i)
the
City has been advocating for Transport for NSW to progress the southern cycling
connection, however interim measures are needed in consultation with Fort
Street Public School and Schools Infrastructure NSW to address the unsafe
situation on Upper Fort Street and the shared path, as soon as possible, such
as:
(a)
converting
Upper Fort Street and Watson Road to a 10km/h shared zone or reducing speed
limits on Upper Fort Street and Watson Road to at most 20km/h, noting that Fort
Street School’s approved Green Travel Plan assumes that these streets are both
10km/h shared zones already;
(b)
reducing
vehicle speeds through traffic calming measures, clearer signage including
school zone markings, footpath widening and a driver education program; and
(c)
reviewing
parking restrictions in the area and the school’s pick-up and drop off
arrangements to reduce vehicle movements and conflicts; and
(ii)
on 7
May 2024, the Lord Mayor raised this issue in a letter to and meeting with the
Minister for Transport calling on her to accelerate delivery of the southern
connection to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and in the meantime ensure Transport
for NSW works with the City to address road safety concerns around Fort Street
Public School; and
(C)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to write again to the Minister for Transport with a
copy of this motion requesting that Transport for NSW work with the City on
implementing the interim safety solutions outlined in (B)(i)
with priority given to reducing road speeds, in consultation with relevant
stakeholders and subject to any approvals required.
Carried unanimously.
X099886