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As part of the conversion of the T6 Heavy Rail Line to Light Rail between Camellia and Carlingford, Council has proposed re-imagining the whole route from Carlingford to Clyde as a wide pedestrian and cyclist path framed by a regional scale re-wilded landscape in the city: The Wilderline.
Between Carlingford and Camellia, the Parramatta Light Rail project has delivered a new pedestrian and cyclist path along with new landscaping. Between Camellia and the M4, Sydney Metro West has been conditioned to deliver the central section. To continue this work, Council is exhibiting the southernmost portion that connects the Wilderline to the existing M4 Shared Path and Clyde Station, where pedestrians and cyclists have step-free access to the Duck River Parklands and paths.
The path north of Camellia has recently opened and is already averaging 300 users per day, and this number is anticipated to increase once new sections and connections are open.
Clyde Station provides the only step-free access over the rail line for almost 2.5km between Granville and Auburn Station. It also provides the most direct access from Parramatta Road at Marsh Street and the Duck River Parklands.
A comprehensive options analysis across 6 routes was undertaken to inform the proposed alignment from Parramatta Road to Clyde Station. The analysis found that Berry Street is the option with the least impact to local businesses, the most logical and coherent experience for path users, and maximises opportunities for increased tree planting.
Comprehensive parking counts were conducted to understand how current street parking is utilised in Granville and Clyde.
In Granville, there are a total of 108 spaces within 100m of the project. Peak use was on a weekend with 58 spaces used, and 54 on a weekday within the 100m radius. On Arthur Street alone, the peak use is 43 out of 77. The project is proposing to re-purpose 28 spaces on Arthur Street (leaving 49 spaces), providing sufficient capacity on Arthur Street to accommodate current demand without an impact to side streets.
The greatest reduction in spaces is under the M4, where there are no residences with frontage to Arthur Street.
In Clyde, when parking on the verge for vehicle storage is taken into account, there is a very tight parking supply that is particularly pronounced on Marsh Street. The path on Berry Street minimises the number of spaces re-purposed on the street to three, with one space removed on Sutherland Street to ensure minimum no stopping distances to the crossing.
Where driveways cross over bicycle paths and footpaths, drivers will need to give way as they currently do to anyone on the footpath.
Once public exhibition has concluded, the results will be reported back to the Parramatta Traffic Committee and then Council for decision. Should the project be supported, Council will explore opportunities for internal and external funding to complete detail design and construction in future financial years.
