Responding today to the challenges of the future
NSW is Australia’s leading economy, the gateway to international trade, home to diverse communities, and a biodiversity-rich environment. Our state will continue to grow in population and diversify economically. The impacts of climate change will become more apparent.
The Future Transport Strategy sets our direction of continuing to improve every part of our transport system for the benefit of customers, community and the economy. It sets a new benchmark for resilience and sustainability, expands connectivity across cities and regions and envisages new levels of digital and technological innovation.
Focus on moving people and goods, not vehicles
The Future Transport Strategy continues to focus on putting our customers and communities at the centre of everything we do.
Transport for NSW will continue to shift its focus from moving vehicles to moving people. We’re carrying on reshaping our transport networks from a collection of disparate modes into an integrated and multimodal system.
We will connect communities and businesses with our city and state-shaping infrastructure and services. Targeted improvements and local changes will deliver immediate results.
Transport at the heart of NSW’s economic growth
Our Future Transport Strategy plans for the economic growth of our state, identifying how transport can help businesses grow, keep supply chains efficient, and boost employment opportunities. It provides direction for investment, services and policy to connect people and goods.
Our transport system will help our communities thrive and be a significant contributor to NSW becoming Australia’s first trillion-dollar state.
NSW’s Six Cities Region
Transport will be integral to achieving the NSW Government’s vision for the Six Cities Region.
Our six cities are Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle City, Central Coast City, Illawarra-Shoalhaven City, Western Parkland City, Central River City and Eastern Harbour City.
The vision for the Six Cities Region includes three seaports and three international airports that operate as a system of global economic gateways, with better job and housing distribution underpinned by physical and digital connectivity.
We’re planning to make our cities more sustainable and liveable by reducing traffic congestion. We’ll grow a stronger economy by facilitating better access to employment, services and leisure.
Transport will identify key 24-hour transport corridors in and between our six cities and will improve services and infrastructure along these routes to extend late-night transport choices with a focus on safety. People and goods will be able to move across the six cities region at speed, using seamless connections. This will allow us to connect centres of innovation, learning, finance and industry across our cities and regions. This will grow our economy and give people more choice about where they live and work.
30-minute cities
Within our metropolitan cities, people currently have differing levels of access by public transport to employment opportunities, social infrastructure, health care, education and open space.
Transport for NSW is planning 30-minute cities, where people can access great jobs, housing, health care and social connections.
All public transport modes contribute to delivering 30-minute cities, which reduce private vehicle use and increase sustainable transport use.
We’ll break down the barriers that prevent people using public transport by refreshing terminals and interchanges to reduce connection times.
This will include planning transport connections for areas of new housing and business development. People will be able to catch public transport, walk, and cycle safely from the day they move into their new home.
15-minute neighbourhoods
Our vision for 15-minute neighbourhoods will allow communities to be strong, vibrant and active. We will do this by prioritising place making, walking, cycling and micromobility to support 15-minute access to everyday destinations and local transport networks.
Making these trips easier and more appealing will revitalise local centres by increasing foot traffic and support local economies. It will also promote sustainability by reducing vehicle emissions and noise which will boost amenity and create a feeling of a more connected neighbourhood and community. The 15-minute neighbourhood concept will also promote healthy lifestyles and support independent mobility for children.
Connected regional networks
Well-planned and delivered transport can connect, unite, and invigorate communities and bring vibrancy to neighbourhoods and regional centres. It allows businesses to grow, keeps supply chains efficient, and boosts employment opportunities.
Transport’s Regional Connected Network approach will support regional communities to thrive by ensuring that people in regional areas have access to efficient, resilient transport services.
Fast Rail connects people, regions and supports growth
We will transform travel times across NSW, better connect regional centres and bring people closer to employment opportunities and the services they need.
Fast Rail will also drive economic growth by creating jobs and investment, supporting more housing supply and enabling more choices where people live, work and do business.
In future, a fast rail trip from Greater Sydney to Gosford could take just 25 minutes, Sydney to Wollongong could take 45 minutes and Sydney to Canberra could take about 95 minutes.
Accessible transport for all
Across NSW, vibrant places depend on transport connections. The Future Transport Strategy focuses on providing equitable access to all people regardless of geography, ability, age and circumstances.
Inclusive and accessible transport allows all members of our communities to enjoy social and economic participation. Future Transport commits to reducing and eliminating barriers.
Transport is committed to fostering greater inclusion, recognition and celebration of Aboriginal communities in how we work and how we plan and deliver projects.
Digitally connected transport
Digital connections will give people more choice in when, how and if they need to travel. It will also open opportunities for transport to increase the efficiency of our roads and rail by using new technologies, data sharing and new modes of travel.
Quantum computing, automation, machine learning and increased data use will enable better planning, infrastructure and services. New mobility options will become more popular and commercially viable including connected and autonomous vehicles, and autonomous passenger and freight transport.
Efficient and reliable freight networks
With increased demand for goods from our growing population and for our goods overseas, we will make it efficient for businesses to move freight in and out of our ports and airports, around our regions and throughout our State. Improved freight connections in our regions and cities will reduce delivery times and costs for businesses and customers.
A resilient and sustainable future
Our future must be sustainable. NSW has already begun to transition our transport fleet to net zero emissions and to support the roll out of electric vehicles.
The Future Transport Strategy builds resilience into our networks to meet the challenges of climate change and economic uncertainty. This includes ‘building back better’ after extreme weather events, reducing waste and ensuring our transport infrastructure makes a positive contribution to places and the environment.
By planning now, we can create a future where every journey is people and planet positive.
