Light rail is only going to make surface travel worse for CBD commuters in Sydney, particularly in the Eastern Suburbs. Heavy rail is the only solution for a modern city and electric driven buses should fill the network in between heavy rail hubs.
However if the NSW Government is not going to pay for heavy rail to the most densely populated areas of the Eastern suburbs and link Bondi Junction to the Airport via Randwick City then light rail will be an expensive bandaid fix.
If light rail is going to work it should adopt the following principles.
1. It should link heavy rail hubs with high population centres.
2. It should not run down major roads and cause traffic problems and safety issues
3. It should be for multipurpose use. i.e.) commuter use on weekdays and sporting and leisure use on weekends
Light rail routes should be thoroughly discussed by the community now and not after the NSW Government gets around to doing anything about it.
The Randwick City Comprehensive LEP and DCP are currently under review and now is the time for Council to consult and identify probable light rail corridors.
I strongly believe using my principles above that these routes should not travel along Anzac Parade from Kensington to the City but should flow East-West across the main traffic flow linking Green Square station to Randwick to the Racecourse, the University and the Hospital. Further South a second route should link Mascot station with Kingsford and Maroubra. This will feed the heavy rail network without creating more traffic issues on arterial roads in Eastern Sydney.
