North-West T-way
Encyclopedia
The North-West T-way is a bus rapid transit
line in the north-western suburbs of Sydney
, Australia
. T-way is short for rapid bus transitway.
The T-way consists of two sections, one linking Parramatta railway station and Rouse Hill, the other linking Blacktown and Parklea. The lines intersect at Burns interchange in Parklea. For the most part, stops are named for the streets they are located upon.
The T-way was approved in February 2004 and the Merriville to Parramatta section opened on 10 March 2007. Sanctuary and Rouse Hill opened on 25 September 2007 upon the opening of the Rouse Hill Town Centre development. The final section, the Blacktown to Parklea branch, opened 4 November 2007. The T-way is the second in Sydney: the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way
has operated since February 2003.
The T-way was a joint venture between the New South Wales Ministry of Transport and the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales. The A$330 million contract to design, built and maintain until 2017 was given to Leighton Holdings
Pty Ltd. in 2005 http://www.leighton.com.au/about_us/projects/north_west_bus_transitway_stage_1.html/location/87/p/20/section/42513
The project was approved in February 2004 and construction began in mid 2005. Construction is expected to take just over two years and cost $524 million.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, many of the costly design mistakes made in the development of the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way have been avoided on the North-West T-way.
The 24-kilometre-long T-way includes:
The 17-kilometre Parramatta–Rouse Hill segment, which opened in March 2006, serves the suburbs of Parramatta
, Westmead
, Northmead
, Constitution Hill
, Old Toongabbie
, Winston Hills
, Bella Vista
, Glenwood
, Norwest, Parklea
, Kellyville
, Stanhope Gardens
, Kellyville Ridge and Rouse Hill
. Bus services on the Transitway stop at:
, Stanhope Gardens
, Parklea
, Glenwood
, Acacia Gardens
, Kings Park
, Kings Langley
, Lalor Park
and Blacktown
. Bus services on this route stop at:
Route T75 continues from Burns along Parramatta-Rouse Hill T-Way to:
was criticised for its lack of planning and broken promises on the T-way's construction. Parramatta Council
complained during construction that noise walls had not been built next to the homes of residents who lived along the T-way route, causing them distress. The planned cycleway alongside the T-way was not built in its entire length, and included a large deviation which Council complained would erode the cycleway's effectiveness. After the opening of the first stage of the T-way, a local cycle advocacy group identified a large gap in the cycleway, potentially compromising cyclists' safety. Some local residents had their backyards destroyed.
On the opening of the initial route several other problems were raised. Comments were made concerning the initial patronage of the T-way. While the New South Wales State Government
refused to say how many people used the T-way in its first week, a local newspaper discovered that the commuter carpark attracted as few as ten cars a day in the first week of operation. Another local newspaper reported a traffic barrier separating vehicles from the busway at Westmead railway station was causing accidents.
On April 12, 2007, the Roads and Traffic Authority
quietly scrapped the bus priority
system that would have given buses priority at all at-grade intersections. The decision was criticised as eliminating the main advantage of the T-way and not entice commuters back to public transport. Bus operators expected better patronage once the toll on the Lane Cove Tunnel
came into effect.
There have also been many complaints regarding city bus travellers from Rouse Hill and Kellyville Ridge as their trips were taking 1.5 hours and were overcrowded. Hillsbus had seen increased patronage on city services with the new timetable and is not able to cope with the demand.
Private bus operators Busways and Hillsbus operate North-West T-way services.These services are either dedicated T-way end-to-end services, or they pick up in surrounding suburbs and then use the T-way.
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line in the north-western suburbs of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. T-way is short for rapid bus transitway.
The T-way consists of two sections, one linking Parramatta railway station and Rouse Hill, the other linking Blacktown and Parklea. The lines intersect at Burns interchange in Parklea. For the most part, stops are named for the streets they are located upon.
The T-way was approved in February 2004 and the Merriville to Parramatta section opened on 10 March 2007. Sanctuary and Rouse Hill opened on 25 September 2007 upon the opening of the Rouse Hill Town Centre development. The final section, the Blacktown to Parklea branch, opened 4 November 2007. The T-way is the second in Sydney: the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way
Liverpool-Parramatta T-way
The Liverpool-Parramatta T-way is a bus rapid transit line in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. "T-way" is short for rapid bus transitway.- Route and services :...
has operated since February 2003.
Design and construction
Leighton Holdings
Leighton Holdings is Australia's largest project development and contracting group. It is active in the telecommunications, engineering and infrastructure, building and property, mining and resources, and environmental services industries...
Pty Ltd. in 2005 http://www.leighton.com.au/about_us/projects/north_west_bus_transitway_stage_1.html/location/87/p/20/section/42513
The project was approved in February 2004 and construction began in mid 2005. Construction is expected to take just over two years and cost $524 million.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, many of the costly design mistakes made in the development of the Liverpool-Parramatta T-way have been avoided on the North-West T-way.
The 24-kilometre-long T-way includes:
- 21 km of bus-only roads connecting to 3 km of bus lanes on existing roads
- 30 bus stations
- 10 new bridges
- 2 new underpass
- 20 km of off-road cycleway
Parramatta–Rouse Hill stations
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, Westmead
Westmead, New South Wales
Westmead is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Westmead is located 26 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
, Northmead
Northmead, New South Wales
Northmead is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Northmead is located 26 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Parramatta and The Hills Shire...
, Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill, New South Wales
Constitution Hill is a suburb of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Constitution Hill is located on a hill 28 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Western Sydney region...
, Old Toongabbie
Old Toongabbie, New South Wales
Old Toongabbie is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Old Toongabbie is located 29 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.- History:Toongabbie is...
, Winston Hills
Winston Hills, New South Wales
Winston Hills is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Winston Hills is located 28 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and the Greater Western Sydney region....
, Bella Vista
Bella Vista, New South Wales
Bella Vista is a suburb of north-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bella Vista is located 33 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the The Hills Shire. Bella Vista is part of the Greater Western Sydney region and the Hills...
, Glenwood
Glenwood, New South Wales
Glenwood is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Glenwood is located 40 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
, Norwest, Parklea
Parklea, New South Wales
Parklea is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 40 kilometers north-west of the Sydney CBD and is a part of Greater Western Sydney...
, Kellyville
Kellyville, New South Wales
Kellyville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kellyville is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire, part of the Hills District region.-History:...
, Stanhope Gardens
Stanhope Gardens, New South Wales
Stanhope Gardens is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Stanhope Gardens is located 39 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of City of Blacktown...
, Kellyville Ridge and Rouse Hill
Rouse Hill, New South Wales
Rouse Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rouse Hill is located 42 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire...
. Bus services on the Transitway stop at:
- Parramatta (Transport Interchange (Buses and Trains), with connections to Westfield ParramattaWestfield ParramattaWestfield Parramatta is a shopping centre in Parramatta, a city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The centre is owned and managed by The Westfield Group. It has a net leasable area of approximately 137,269m² and contains 488 shops built over five levels, making it Australia's fourth...
)(Parramatta) - Westmead (Westmead)
- Hospital (Westmead)
- Mons (Westmead, Northmead)
- Briens (Northmead)
- Constitution Hill (Constitution Hill)
- Fitzwilliam (Constitution Hill, Winston Hills, Old Toongabbie)
- Johnstons (Toongabbie, Winston Hills)
- Powers (Seven Hills, Winston Hills)
- Abbott (Seven Hills North, Astoria Park)
- Joseph Banks (Kings Langley, Astoria Park, Bella Vista North)
- Troubadour (Kings Langley, Bella Vista South)
- Norbrik (Glenwood, Norwest, Bella Vista North)
- Meurants (Glenwood,Norwest, Bella Vista Waters)
- Celebration (North Bella Vista Waters, Norwest, Glenwood)
- Balmoral (Kellyville)
- Burns (Interchange)(Park and Ride)(Kellyville)
- Riley (Park and Ride) (Kellyville, Stanhope Gardens)
- Merriville (Kellyville Ridge)
- Sanctuary (Kellyville Ridge, Rouse Hill, Beaumont Hills)
- Rouse Hill (Interchange)(Rouse Hill, Schofields)
Blacktown–Parklea stations
The seven-kilometre Blacktown–Parklea section serves KellyvilleKellyville, New South Wales
Kellyville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kellyville is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire, part of the Hills District region.-History:...
, Stanhope Gardens
Stanhope Gardens, New South Wales
Stanhope Gardens is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Stanhope Gardens is located 39 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of City of Blacktown...
, Parklea
Parklea, New South Wales
Parklea is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 40 kilometers north-west of the Sydney CBD and is a part of Greater Western Sydney...
, Glenwood
Glenwood, New South Wales
Glenwood is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Glenwood is located 40 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
, Acacia Gardens
Acacia Gardens, New South Wales
Acacia Gardens is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Acacia Gardens is located 40 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
, Kings Park
Kings Park, New South Wales
Kings Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kings Park is located 40 km west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
, Kings Langley
Kings Langley, New South Wales
Kings Langley is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kings Langley is located 39 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
, Lalor Park
Lalor Park, New South Wales
Lalor Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lalor Park is located 35 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Blacktown. Lalor Park is part of the Greater Western Sydney region...
and Blacktown
Blacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
. Bus services on this route stop at:
- Westpoint (Interchange)
- Blacktown Railway (Interchange)
- Devitt (Blacktown)
- Sackville (Blacktown)
- Bessemer (Industrial Blacktown)
- Turner (Blacktown)
- Vardys (Marayong)
- James Cook (Kings Langley)
- Wilson (Acacia Gardens, Glenwood)
- Sorrento (Glenwood, Parklea)
- Stanhope (Parklea, Stanhope Gardens)
- Burns (Interchange) (Kellyville)
Route T75 continues from Burns along Parramatta-Rouse Hill T-Way to:
- Burns (Interchange)
- Riley (Stanhope Gardens, Kellyville)
- Merriville (Kellyville Ridge)
- Sanctuary (Rouse Hill, Beaumont Hills)
- Rouse Hill Town Centre (Interchange)
Criticisms
The T-way and its operations has come under criticism in several areas. Even before its opening, the Roads and Traffic AuthorityRoads and Traffic Authority
The Roads and Traffic Authority is a former New South Wales government agency that was responsible for major road infrastructure, licensing of drivers, and registration of motor vehicles. The RTA directly managed State roads and provided funding to local councils for regional and local roads...
was criticised for its lack of planning and broken promises on the T-way's construction. Parramatta Council
City of Parramatta
The City of Parramatta is a Local Government Area in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.Initially in 1861 it was formed as Municipality of Parramatta...
complained during construction that noise walls had not been built next to the homes of residents who lived along the T-way route, causing them distress. The planned cycleway alongside the T-way was not built in its entire length, and included a large deviation which Council complained would erode the cycleway's effectiveness. After the opening of the first stage of the T-way, a local cycle advocacy group identified a large gap in the cycleway, potentially compromising cyclists' safety. Some local residents had their backyards destroyed.
On the opening of the initial route several other problems were raised. Comments were made concerning the initial patronage of the T-way. While the New South Wales State Government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
refused to say how many people used the T-way in its first week, a local newspaper discovered that the commuter carpark attracted as few as ten cars a day in the first week of operation. Another local newspaper reported a traffic barrier separating vehicles from the busway at Westmead railway station was causing accidents.
On April 12, 2007, the Roads and Traffic Authority
Roads and Traffic Authority
The Roads and Traffic Authority is a former New South Wales government agency that was responsible for major road infrastructure, licensing of drivers, and registration of motor vehicles. The RTA directly managed State roads and provided funding to local councils for regional and local roads...
quietly scrapped the bus priority
Bus priority
Bus priority or transit signal priority is a name for various techniques to speed up bus public transport services at intersections with traffic signals amongst other methods. Trams and light rail vehicles can also be given priority...
system that would have given buses priority at all at-grade intersections. The decision was criticised as eliminating the main advantage of the T-way and not entice commuters back to public transport. Bus operators expected better patronage once the toll on the Lane Cove Tunnel
Lane Cove Tunnel
The Lane Cove Tunnel is a A$1.1 billion, 3.6 km twin tunnel tollway in Sydney, Australia, connecting the M2 Motorway at North Ryde with the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon. It forms part of Sydney Metroad 2 and the 110 km Sydney Orbital Network...
came into effect.
There have also been many complaints regarding city bus travellers from Rouse Hill and Kellyville Ridge as their trips were taking 1.5 hours and were overcrowded. Hillsbus had seen increased patronage on city services with the new timetable and is not able to cope with the demand.
Services
North West T-Way Routes
| Route Number |
Operator | Route Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| T60 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Castle Hill via NW T-Way, Baulkham Hills and Crestwood | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Powers T-Way Station Some services terminate at Barina Downs Rd, Crestwood |
| T61 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Blacktown via NW T-Way, Kings Langley and Sunnyholt T-Way | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Joseph Banks T-Way Station Joins / leaves Sunnyholt Rd T-Way at James Cook Station |
| T62 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Castle Hill via NW T-Way, Bella Vista, Norwest Business Park and Castle Hill | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Joseph Banks T-Way Station |
| T63 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Rouse Hill Town Centre via NW T-Way, Glenwood, Stanhope Gardens and Kellyville Ridge | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Norbrik T-Way Station, later rejoins / leaves at Merriville T-Way Station |
| T64 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Rouse Hill Town Centre via NW T-Way, Norwest Business Park and Kellyville | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Norbrik T-Way Station Some trips terminate at Norwest Business Park |
| T65 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Rouse Hill Town Centre via NW T-Way (direct) | |
| T66 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Rouse Hill (Adelphi St) via NW T-Way (direct) and Rouse Hill Town Centre | |
| T71 | Busways | Blacktown - Castle Hill via Sunnyholt T-Way, Acacia Gardens, Stanhope Gardens, Kellyville Ridge, NW T-Way, Rouse Hill Town Centre and Kellyville | Joins NW T-Way at Merriville T-Way Station (to Rouse Hill Town Centre and return), leaves at Windsor Rd, and vice versa Joins / leaves Sunnyholt Rd T-Way at Wilson T-Way Station Some trips terminate at Rouse Hill Town Centre or Kellyville Plaza |
| T75 | Busways | Blacktown - Rouse Hill Town Centre via Sunnyholt T-Way (direct) and NW T-Way | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Burns T-Way Station Most Monday- Saturday services extend to Riverstone via Schofields |
| S8 | Hillsbus | Constitution Hill - Wentworthville Shops via NW T-Way and Bogalara Rd | Joins NW T-Way at Briens T-Way Station, leaves at Fitzwilliam T-Way Station |
| 5B | Hillsbus | Rouse Hill Town Centre - Sydney Olympic Park via NW T-Way, Norwest Business Park / Bella Vista and Baulkham Hills | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Celebration T-Way Station Operates only when there are major events being held at Sydney Olympic Park |
| 617X | Hillsbus | Rouse Hill (Adelphi St) - CITY (Railway Square) via Kellyville, NW T-Way, M2 Motorway and Lane Cove Tunnel | Joins NW T-Way at Riley T-Way Station, leaves at Abbott T-Way Station Some peak hour services operate from Riley T-Way Station, some peak hour services terminate at CITY (QVB) |
| 740 | Busways | Plumpton - Macquarie Centre via Quakers Hill, Stanhope Gardens, Glenwood, NW T-Way and M2 Busway | Joins NW T-Way at Norbrik T-Way Station, leaves at Abbott T-Way Station |
Sunnyholt Road T-Way Routes
| Route Number |
Operator | Route Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S7 | Busways | Parklea Garden Village - Blacktown via Sunnyholt T-Way | Does not Stop on T-Way but travels down it |
| T61 | Hillsbus | Parramatta - Blacktown via NW T-Way, Kings Langley and Sunnyholt T-Way | Joins / leaves Sunnyholt T-Way at James Cook Station Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Joseph Banks T-Way Station |
| T70 | Busways | Blacktown - Castle Hill via Sunnyholt Rd T-way, Glenwood and Norwest Business Park | Some trips terminate at Lexington Drive, Bella Vista |
| T71 | Busways | Blacktown - Castle Hill via Sunnyholt Rd T-Way, Acacia Gardens, Stanhope Gardens, Kellyville Ridge, NW T-Way, Rouse Hill Town Centre and Kellyville | Joins / leaves Sunnyholt Rd T-Way at Wilson T-Way Station Joins NW T-Way at Merriville T-Way Station (to Rouse Hill Town Centre and return), leaves at Windsor Rd, and vice versa Some trips terminate at Rouse Hill Town Centre or Kellyville Plaza |
| T74 | Busways | Blacktown - Riverstone via Sunnyholt Rd T-way, Stanhope Gardens and Schofields | Joins / leaves Sunnyholt Rd T-Way at Stanhope T-Way Station |
| T75 | Busways | Blacktown- Riverstone via Sunnyholt Rd T-Way, NW T-way and Rouse Hill | Joins / leaves NW T-Way at Burns T-Way Station |