Approach Roads
Public Transport
North Sydney and the CBD

 

Approach Roads

Transfield-Kumagai and their consultants argue that there is sufficient capacity on the approach roads to be able to cope with the extra traffic that may be generated by the Tunnel during peak periods. They say that the congestion on the approach roads at the moment is caused by cars queuing to get onto the Harbour Bridge which is a bottleneck for the traffic. These points are disputed by their opponents.

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Public Transport

During the morning peak 80% of work trips into the city are by public transport (20% by car). This high proportion is because of the accessibility of public transport, constraints on parking in the city and congestion on the roads. Those in favour of the Tunnel argue that bus services will be improved because of the freer flowing conditions crossing the Harbour and the improved ability to predict crossing times for timetabling of buses. They point out that the rail facilities on the bridge will be retained and there will be little loss of patronage.

Opponents argue that improving road facilities compared with public transport facilities will cause people to change from public transport, particularly trains, to using their own vehicles. The increased use of vehicles, they say, will put more pressure on existing roads leading to further demands for new roads. The extra cars on the roads will contribute more to air pollution and the Greenhouse Effect and take up more urban space for parking lots and parking buildings.

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North Sydney and the City

Those in favour of the Tunnel argue that the Tunnel will reduce traffic in the City because it will be easier for traffic to bypass the City altogether. However, opponents argue that the Tunnel will bring more traffic into the City and into North Sydney because more people will use their cars once the congestion across the Harbour is relieved. They argue that this extra traffic will take up spare long-term and short term parking, fill local streets, interfere with local traffic, increase illegal parking and increase traffic on residential streets making them more unpleasant to live in.

It is also argued that the improved access to the City and North Sydney will encourage the growth of employment in those areas at a time when the government is trying to decentralise employment opportunities.

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