Traffic and Transport in North Sydney

Transport is essential for connecting communities and businesses. North Sydney Council works with residents, State Government, transport operators and other organisations to help provide a high quality transport network.

However, travel has environmental, health and other costs. North Sydney Council has 62,000 residents and 51,000 people who work in the area, as well as other visitors to the area. All of these people generate a lot of demand for travel by public and private transport within the North Sydney area. There is also a large amount of through traffic generated by regional travel through the municipality, particularly on the Warringah Freeway to access the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel.

2020 Vision

The North Sydney  2020 Vision (5.7MB) has a section on transport issues. The report states:

For a reliable, and accessible and sustainable transport system, we will:

• Promote equity of access to public and community transport.
• Incorporate true environmental and social costs in our transport planning.
• Pursue improvement and expansion of sustainable transport options.
• Encourage the use of alternative modes of transport to the private car.

Some of the stated aims with regard to transport include:

• The impact of the private car on our community and environment is dramatically reduced.
• The frequency, quality and diversity of public transport throughout North Sydney is increased.
• Pedestrians and cyclists enjoy easy and safe access throughout North Sydney.
• Transport management is coordinated at a regional level.

North Sydney Traffic and Transport Strategy

The North Sydney Traffic and Transport Strategy states in terms of equity that, "vehicle users should pay for the costs of works associated with making their journeys compatible with these principles" and with respect to the environment, "the environmental effects of vehicular trips should be minimised by encouraging people to make fewer trips and use their car less."

Council has various strategic plans for the management of traffic and transport in North Sydney. These include:

 North Sydney Traffic Strategy 1993 (2.79MB)
 North Sydney Strategic Traffic and Transport Study 1999 (7.49MB)
 North Sydney Sustainable Transport Action Plan 2010-13 (155KB)
 Transport Strategies and Public Transport Funding - Position Statement 2006

Sustainable Transport

North Sydney Council is particularly committed to sustainable transport and encouraging movement away from the single-occupied privately-owned vehicle. That is, walking, cycling, car share and public transport. > More information

Cycling

Cycling is an easy, sustainable and active means to get around North Sydney. North Sydney Council has been expanding the network of bicycle paths and bicycle signage. The "Cycling North Sydney" brochure helps guide cyclists as to the best routes to get around North Sydney and beyond. > More information

Walking

Walking is also an easy, sustainable and active means to get around North Sydney. North Sydney Council has been expanding the network of pedestrian signs and walking location maps. The "Walking North Sydney" brochure identifies pedestrian links through the North Sydney area. > More information

Public Transport

North Sydney is well serviced by public transport, including trains, buses and ferries. Additional information on public transport routes and timetables can be found on the State Government website.

You can now obtain real-time bus information using your mobile. Simply send an SMS with the bus stop number to 0488 TXT BUS (0488 898 287) and you will receive information about the Sydney Buses services due at that stop within the next 30 minutes. > More information 

Car Share

Car share provides a viable option for individuals who don't need a car full time, but need to supplement public transport usage, walking or cycling with occasional private car use. There is the potential to reduce car ownership, road congestion and pollution and deliver environmental benefits. > More information

HarbourLink

One major project which Council is developing is HarbourLink. This is an elevated shared pedestrian and cyclist path with minimal grade, spanning approximately 2 kms from the deck level of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to St Leonards Park and Falcon Street along the Warringah Freeway corridor. > More information

Management of Roads

Council is responsible for the maintenance and management of local and regional roads and traffic within North Sydney. This includes all those roads not mentioned below as State roads.

The RTA are responsible for the maintenance and management of State roads, which include the following:

• The Warringah Freeway
• Miller Street, from Northbridge Bridge to Falcon Street
• Falcon Street
• Military Road
• The Pacific Highway
• Berry Street, from the Pacific Highway to the Warringah Freeway
• Arthur Street, from the Pacific Highway to Berry Street
• High Street, from the Pacific Highway to Alfred Street North

North Sydney Traffic Committee

Any proposed changes to traffic or parking arrangements must be considered by the North Sydney Traffic Committee before they can be implemented. Council has been delegated certain powers from the RTA with regard to traffic matters upon its roads. A condition of this delegation is that Council must take into account the Traffic Committee recommendations.

Traffic Committee meetings are held at six week intervals at 10am in the Supper Room.

> Traffic Committee meeting dates, agendas and minutes

The Traffic Committee meeting is a public meeting, so anyone may attend. However, you may only address/speak to the Committee if you have an item on the agenda. > More information.

If you want to request an item be placed on the Traffic Committee the issue/ request must be submitted in writing to Council, addressed to the General Manager. The agenda for each Traffic Committee meeting closes 2½ weeks before the meeting. However, some issues/ requests may take several weeks to investigate.

There are four voting members on the Traffic Committee - the RTA, the NSW Police, the local State Member of Parliament and North Sydney Council. Council only gets one vote at the meeting - this is determined by the majority vote of the Councillors present at the meeting. The Mayor generally chairs the Traffic Committee meeting. However, in the absence of the Mayor one of the other Councillors will chair the Traffic Committee meeting.

Further information:

 Council Delegations (49KB)
 The Operation of Traffic Committees (391KB)

Traffic Calming and Other Traffic Facilities

Traffic projects such as traffic calming and other traffic facilities are planned on an annual basis. As part of its Traffic Strategy, Council undertakes a review of the priorities for traffic projects each year. The traffic strategy implementation procedure adopts a methodology that allows the community's high priority traffic projects to be ranked according to a number of criteria, including safety, residential amenity, pedestrian amenity, cyclist amenity, through traffic control, public transport benefits and equity.

Residents are invited to submit suggestions for traffic calming and other traffic facilities in writing to Council, addressed to the General Manager. These works will be considered for the following financial year. Council receives many requests for funding of various traffic devices in numerous locations. Each community sees its own problems as requiring "immediate action" and as being essential for the safety or amenity of its members. By maintaining the North Sydney Traffic Strategy process, especially with the constant review and updating by the members of the community, Council is confident that, over time, most traffic related issues and requests can be equitably addressed.

Read the most recent Traffic Strategy Review for 2009/2010:

EPS11: Traffic Facilities Program 2009/2010 (913KB)

Other Links

Information on other issues can be found in the following locations:

> Parking
> Road Safety