$400m in the budget for Western Sydney Light Rail: Sydney Daily Telegraph

SYDNEY: HILLS residents have 400 million reasons to be hopeful that a Western Sydney Light Rail network will soon be a reality.

The state government has allocated $400 million to accelerate work on the project, with the first task to identify the highest priority corridor from Parramatta and carry out a detailed feasibility study.

The potential light rail routes included:

• Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Carlingford

• Parramatta to Castle Hill via Old Northern Road

• Parramatta to Liverpool via the T-way

• Parramatta to Bankstown

• Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park

• Parramatta to Rouse Hill

• Parramatta to Ryde via Victoria Road

• Parramatta to Sydney CBD via Parramatta Road

• Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Eastwood (proposed by Parramatta Council)

• Parramatta to Castle Hill via Windsor Road (proposed by Parramatta Council)

An artist's impression of the proposed $1.5 billion Western Sydney Regional Light Rail Network in Marsfield, part of the Macquarie Park Line. Source: Supplied

“This marks a new chapter in our congestion-busting agenda”, Mr Baird said.

“Today’s major commitment for Western Sydney could provide a key missing transport link and change the way people travel in and around Sydney’s West.”

ULTIMATUM: Hills mayor only supports plan if line to Carlingford is built

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said with the popular Inner West Light Rail Extension now open, the Government has the runs on the board to bring this popular mode of transport to Western Sydney.

“Building high capacity light rail is a priority for the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, with major construction getting underway next year on a $1.6 billion light rail network for the Sydney CBD and South East, after planning approval was achieved earlier this month,” Ms Berejiklian said.

An artists impression of the propoesd light rail line. Source: Supplied

Once the first stage of work to identify the best light rail route is completed, a number of viable options will be taken forward for detailed design and feasibility.

“When the rigorous scoping study and business case are developed, the funds will be available to get things started quickly,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The West Connex motorway is another of the big winners in this year’s Budget with a total of $398 million to be spent in 2014-15 on both planning and construction. $109 million of that will go toward starting the widening of the M4 and $266 million to fast track planning and land acquisition.

Roads around the second Sydney airport planned for Badgery’s Creek will be upgraded to the tune of $109 million with works to start on Bringelly Road and planning for a new motorway between the M7 and The Northern Road.

An artist’s impression of the propoesd light rail line in Westmead. Source: Supplied

For road upgrades in western Sydney, $209 million will help complete sections of Schofields Roads, Richmond Road and the Camden Valley Way and commence the Old Wallgrove Road upgrade.

The upgrade of the Great Western Freeway continues with $133 million to complete the Woodford to Hazelbrook and Bullaburra to Wentworth Falls upgrades.

“Sydney is choked with congestion and we are tackling the problem,” he said.

Bus commuters from western Sydney will benefit from the $91 million to be spent on 199 new buses.

There is $100 million over four years for western Sydney parklands including: $16 million to develop Parramatta Park and $10 million for the Pirtek stadium upgrade this year. Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said the budget has $500,000 set aside to develop a tourism and events strategy for western Sydney.

One of the centrepieces of the Baird government’s infrastructure plan for western Sydney is the major redevelopment of Westmead Hospital.

Stage one of the $400 million upgrade will be complete in four to five years.