Traffic and Transport

The new vehicle access arrangements for the Depot site will comprise:
• A left turn ramp (bus only) from the City West Link Road,
• The existing access at the end of William Street (at Derbyshire Road),
• A new access (Bus Only) on Balmain Road at the Alfred Street intersection,
• A new car park on Balmain Road to replace existing driveway at Charlotte Street

Bus Services
There are currently 17 bus routes serviced by the Leichhardt Depot as well as school and special services.

The Depot currently provides a total of 608 services on a normal weekday. The routes provided by the Depot are detailed in the table below.

The number of services per day out of the Depot will increase to approximately 1,160 services with the exact number being subject to scheduling and timetable variations that occur from time to time.

Traffic Impact Assessment
The proposed development largely represents a ‘pro-rata’ expansion of the existing depot in terms of operational fleet, on-site staff, drivers and bus services which will ‘ramp up’ over a 3 to 5 year period. The ultimate operational fleet will be expanded from 88 buses (plus 10 held for maintenance etc) to 180 buses, (plus 20 held for maintenance etc) including 20 articulated buses.

The total depot workforce will increase from the current 204 persons to some 500 persons with a maximum daytime shift of 220 persons comprising 40 on-site and 180 drivers. The current provision of some 610 services per day out of the depot will increase to some 1,160 services, however the exact number will be subject to scheduling and timetable dictates and will vary from time to time.

The existing minor ancillary movements including cash pick-up (1 per day) fuel deliveries (2-3 times per week) as well as food/beverage and parts deliveries will only increase marginally.

The traffic flows along William Street have diminished substantially with the closure of Moore Street West and are now only some 5 to 10% of their former level. Within the development proposal staff parking will be accommodated in the basement car park access from Balmain Road. Thus the current traffic movements associated with staff parking both on the site and on-street as well as service vehicle movements will be removed from William Street and, even though there will be some increased bus movements accessing via William Street, there will be no net increase above current traffic levels.