First contact: How to get people to Western Sydney International Airport
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8 October 2019
Liverpool City Council has unveiled its futuristic “first contact” vision of how the future Western Sydney International Airport will be connected to Sydney via Liverpool’s CBD.
Developed in consultation with world-renowned sustainable public transport expert Professor Peter Newman AO of Curtin University, the Fifteenth Avenue Smart Transit (FAST) Corridor will help deliver the connectivity the future airport needs when it opens.
Liverpool CEO Kiersten Fishburn said that this builds on last week’s announcement by Roads and Maritime Services on the next steps to upgrade Hoxton Park Road – a key section of the route – and includes dedicated lanes for rapid transit from Liverpool to the new airport.
A trackless tram, guided by GPS and LIDAR, can be delivered more cost effectively and with less disruption than light rail.
“It’s great to see that government agencies are getting on with delivering this rapid transit project,” Ms Fishburn said. “The future airport is entirely in Liverpool’s LGA and the work now underway by both levels of government will help ensure that it is future-proofed for innovative modes of transport such as a trackless tram.
“This corridor is a practical, achievable and cost-effective solution to airport connectivity. Part of this corridor is already built. We just need to fill in the missing links.”
Western Sydney Business Chamber Executive Director David Borger said Liverpool City Council should be applauded for the long-term vision that it is taking for the transport corridor that will connect the growing city to the new airport.
“The FAST corridor is more than just a quick journey between the new airport and Liverpool – it is a transit oriented development approach that will also create new homes, jobs and a balanced lifestyle along the corridor for new and growing communities.
“The NSW Government is looking at the opportunity to embrace new technologies such as trackless trams – the FAST corridor is the perfect place to trial this exciting new mode of travel to match the innovation of our new 21st century airport for Western Sydney.”
Property Council Western Sydney Regional Director Ross Grove said Liverpool City Council had a future vision for the fastest-growing region of the country.
“High quality public transport from Liverpool to the new Airport will support a standard of residential and commercial development along this key corridor,” Mr Grove said.
“This is not just a story about an Airport, it’s also about creating great places. We’re talking about places people are proud to live in and where the commute to work and to international connectivity is easy.”
Ms Fishburn said Council had already commenced detailed design work on the FAST corridor which would extend for approximately 19 kilometres between Liverpool and the future airport site. The FAST corridor is likely to use a similar alignment to the already established Parramatta to Liverpool T-Way, Hoxton Park Road and Fifteenth Avenue.