Pedestrian and Cycle Access to Ashfield Station

Pedestrian Crossing across Commuter Carpark Driveway Brown Street Ashfield 19 June 2018

Last night, it was pointed out that I had raised the issue of giving pedestrians priority at the traffic lights directly outside the Ashfield Railway Station at a Traffic Committee meeting, which I chaired.

Commuter Carpark Brown Street Ashfield 19 June 2018

A little while back a Notice of Motion was put up to thank the state government for building a commuter car park at Ashfield Station in Brown Street.

In voting against the motion, I expressed my view that commuter car parks in the inner west are such a bad idea as they bring additional vehicles into the station precinct, endangering and inconveniencing those who walk and cycle to trains.

C0219(3) Item 21 Subject: Notice of Motion: Ashfield Commuter Carpark

 From:            Councillor Julie Passas   

Motion: THAT Council call upon the State Labor members for Summer Hill and Strathfield to deliver a similar carpark and facilities at an appropriate location if Labor is successful at the March 19 State Election.

Background

The State Liberal Government has delivered on their 2015 election promise for a Commuter Carpark at Ashfield Station. The need for this facility is well known and it is reaching capacity by 7.45am daily. It is clear that the carpark should be expanded by adding extra levels or a separate facility at other locations ie. Summer Hill, Canterbury or Lewisham. I recall at the 2015 State Election the Member for Summer Hill stating that she would hold a State Liberal Government to account on the implementation of the Ashfield Commuter carpark. They were and have been accountable.

Source: Agenda Council Meeting, 26 February 2019, http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/02/C_26022019_AGN_3669_AT_WEB.htm

Motion Defeated!

C0219(3) Item 21  Notice of Motion: Ashfield Commuter Carpark

Motion: (Passas/Byrne)

THAT Council call upon the State Labor members for Summer Hill and Strathfield to deliver a similar carpark and facilities at an appropriate location if Labor is successful at the March 19 State Election.

Motion Lost

For Motion:    Crs Byrne, Drury, Iskandar, Macri, Passas and York

Against Motion:   Crs Da Cruz, Hesse, Kiat, Lockie, Porteous, Stamolis and Steer

Source: Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting held on 26 February 2019 http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/02/C_26022019_MIN_3669_WEB.htm

Traffic Committee Meeting 4 March 2019

LTC0319 Item 27    Pedestrian Crossing at Ashfield Station - Brown Street and        Hercules Street, Ashfield

Councillor da Cruz raised concerns regarding waiting time for pedestrians at the pedestrian crossing outside of Ashfield railway station at intersection of Brown Street and Hercules Street.

RMS representative advised that traffic signals require pedestrians to activate the ‘green’ crossing time. 

Source: Minutes of Local Traffic Committee meeting on 4 March 2019, http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/03/LTC_04032019_MIN_3655_WEB.htm

This article questions the whole concept of commuter carparks.

$500m for station car parks? Other transport solutions could do much more for the money (April 8, 2019 5.53am AEST)

"Half a billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, but that really depends on what you’re spending it on. In Tuesday’s federal budget, the Coalition government announced its Commuter Car Park Fund, a A$500 million, ten-year package intended to make it easier for people in the suburbs and regions to drive to their local railway station."...
https://theconversation.com/500m-for-station-car-parks-other-transport-solutions-could-do-much-more-for-the-money-114908